Changes

==Unseating Otto Passman==

==Unseating Otto Passman==

In 1976, Huckaby was elected to Congress from the [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]]-based 5th district. First, he unseated incumbent [[Otto Passman]] in a hard-fought Democratic [[primary] held on August 14. Huckaby received 45,589 votes (52.7 percent) to Passman's 40,888 (47.3 percent). A 30-year [conservative]] lawmaker, Passman was a native of Franklinton  in Washington Parish in southeastern Louisiana and a long-term Monroe resident. Passman had been a supporter of the American involvement in the [[Vietnam War]]. A [[World War II]] [[United States]] [[lieutenant]], Passman was particularly known for his support of [[veterans]] causes and his fervent opposition to most [[foreign aid]] programs.<ref>''Louisiana History,'' pp. 336-337, 343, 345.</ref>

In 1976, Huckaby was elected to Congress from the [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]]-based 5th district. First, he unseated incumbent [[Otto Passman]] in a hard-fought Democratic [[primary] held on August 14. Huckaby received 45,589 votes (52.7 percent) to Passman's 40,888 (47.3 percent). A 30-year [conservative]] lawmaker, Passman was a native of Franklinton  in Washington Parish in southeastern Louisiana and a long-term Monroe resident. Passman had been a supporter of the American involvement in the [[Vietnam War]]. A [[World War II]] [[United States]] [[lieutenant]], Passman was particularly known for his support of [[veterans]] causes and his fervent opposition to most foreign aid programs.<ref>''Louisiana History,'' pp. 336-337, 343, 345.</ref>

However, Passman was under an ethical cloud. He was engulfed in a [[bribery]], [[conspiracy]], [[fraud]], and [[influence peddling]] scandal known as "Koreagate" that involved his acceptance of $213,000 from the [[South Korean]] [[lobbyist]] Tongsun Park (born 1935). Passman had not, however, been [[indictment|indicted]] of anything at the time of the primary. The indictments came two years later, but he was [[acquittal|acquitted]] in a high-profile trial in 1979 in which he retained the services of high-powered [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]] [[attorney]] and [[Governor|gubernatorial]] advisor [[Camille Gravel]].<ref>''Louisiana History,'' p. 341-342.</ref>

However, Passman was under an ethical cloud. He was engulfed in a [[bribery]], [[conspiracy]], [[fraud]], and influence peddling scandal known as "Koreagate" that involved his acceptance of $213,000 from the [[South Korean]] [[lobbyist]] Tongsun Park (born 1935). Passman had not, however, been [[indictment|indicted]] of anything at the time of the primary. The indictments came two years later, but he was [[acquittal|acquitted]] in a high-profile trial in 1979 in which he retained the services of high-powered [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]] [[attorney]] and [[Governor|gubernatorial]] advisor [[Camille Gravel]].<ref>''Louisiana History,'' p. 341-342.</ref>

==Defeating Frank Spooner==

==Defeating Frank Spooner==