| | Waggonner said that he spent much of his time in Congress trying to convince liberals of the error of their politics. "The trend to socialism is not accidental, but reflects the attitude of the majority, or it would not be the prevailing trend. I spend all of my time talking to the liberals in Congress, doing all I can to persuade them of the rightness of our views, not to conservatives who already share our philosophy."<ref>"Says Waggonner, Missionary Work Among Liberals Is Necessary", ''Minden Press'', June 3, 1963, p. 1</ref> | | Waggonner said that he spent much of his time in Congress trying to convince liberals of the error of their politics. "The trend to socialism is not accidental, but reflects the attitude of the majority, or it would not be the prevailing trend. I spend all of my time talking to the liberals in Congress, doing all I can to persuade them of the rightness of our views, not to conservatives who already share our philosophy."<ref>"Says Waggonner, Missionary Work Among Liberals Is Necessary", ''Minden Press'', June 3, 1963, p. 1</ref> |
| − | Waggonner opposed the efforts to [[Impeachment|impeach]] President Nixon prior to the resignation over Watergate matters. While leading southern conservatives in the U. S. House, he wielded power with Nixon that was often reserved for the Speaker or a key committee chairman. He was an influential member of the House Ways and Means Committee and a key player the Republican president needed to get legislation passed in the House. Waggonner later revealed that he also had close contacts with Democratic Presidents Kennedy and [[Lyndon B. Johnson]], neither of whom had carried the 4th congressional district in the 1960 and 1964 campaigns. | + | Waggonner opposed the efforts to [[Impeachment|impeach]] President Nixon prior to the resignation over Watergate matters. While leading southern conservatives in the [[U.S. House]], he wielded power with Nixon that was often reserved for the Speaker or a key committee chairman. He was an influential member of the House Ways and Means Committee and a key player the Republican president needed to get legislation passed in the House. Waggonner later revealed that he also had close contacts with Democratic Presidents Kennedy and [[Lyndon B. Johnson]], neither of whom had carried the 4th congressional district in the 1960 and 1964 campaigns. |
| | On August 8, 1974, Waggonner prepared a special list of House and Senate lawmakers who were among a shrinking band of Nixon supporters. The lawmakers met that night with a "visibly distraught" Nixon, who told the group that he would resign on Friday, August 9, at noon. Waggonner recalled that Nixon said, "'I am sorry I have let you down." | | On August 8, 1974, Waggonner prepared a special list of House and Senate lawmakers who were among a shrinking band of Nixon supporters. The lawmakers met that night with a "visibly distraught" Nixon, who told the group that he would resign on Friday, August 9, at noon. Waggonner recalled that Nixon said, "'I am sorry I have let you down." |