Changes

When the state government proposed to move its Alcoholic Rehabilitation Center to the Vocational Rehabilitation Department to qualify for federal funds, Rogers led a floor fight that stopped the transfer. Rogers told ''The State'' [[newspaper]] in Columbia that such a move was contrary to ethical principles.<ref>''The Columbia State'' ([[newspaper]]), September 25, 1966.</ref>

When the state government proposed to move its Alcoholic Rehabilitation Center to the Vocational Rehabilitation Department to qualify for federal funds, Rogers led a floor fight that stopped the transfer. Rogers told ''The State'' [[newspaper]] in Columbia that such a move was contrary to ethical principles.<ref>''The Columbia State'' ([[newspaper]]), September 25, 1966.</ref>

Rogers did not seek reelection to the state House in 1966. On March 7, he announced that he was joining the Republican Party, and later that month he was chosen in convention as the [[Republican Party|GOP]] nominee to oppose Governor McNair in the general election. Rogers' platform stressed local control of  public schools and resistance to federal encroachment into the affairs of state government.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://library.sc.edu/scpc/rogers.html|title=Joseph O. Rogers, Jr. (1921-1999)|publisher=library.sc.edu|accessdate=May 3, 2014; specific material may no longer be accessible on-line}}</ref>  

Rogers did not seek reelection to the state House in 1966. On March 7, he announced that he was joining the Republican Party, and later that month he was chosen in convention as the [[Republican Party|GOP]] nominee to oppose Governor McNair in the general election. Rogers' platform stressed local control of  public schools and resistance to federal encroachment into the affairs of state government.<ref name=bio/>  

Rogers explained his philosophy regarding federal orders to [[Segregation|desegregate]] public schools:

Rogers explained his philosophy regarding federal orders to [[Segregation|desegregate]] public schools: