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Line 44: − − Ellender served in the upper house of Congress from 1937 until his death in the summer of 1972. At the time he was campaigning for yet another term in the Senate. Ellender was succeeded by interim Senator [[Elaine Edwards]], the first wife of then Governor [[Edwin Edwards]]. His permanent successor was his chief primary rival in 1972, former state Senator [[J. Bennett Johnston, Jr.]], of [[Shreveport]], who held the U.S. Senate seat until his retirement in January 1997. Johnston had also been Edwin Edwards' rival for the 1971 Democratic gubernatorial nomination. Line 52:
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→U.S. Senate
==U.S. Senate==
==U.S. Senate==
In the U.S. Senate, he was known for his support for school segregation through the signing in 1956 of the [[Southern Manifesto]]. Ellender was also an advocate of farm subsidies and the school lunch program, and he opposed the investigations into [[communist]] infiltration of the U.S. government conducted prior to 1954 by his [[Republican]] colleague, [[Joseph McCarthy]] of [[Wisconsin]]. Though Ellender later opposed the [[Vietnam War]], he voted for the [[Gulf of Tonkin Resolution]] of 1964. During his Senate tenure he was chairman of the Agriculture Committee and then the Appropriations Committee. He was considered a more [[conservative Democrat]] in comparison to his party colleagues, though held some [[liberal]] positions such as adamantly supporting President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]]'s social programs.
In the U.S. Senate, he was known for his support for school segregation through the signing in 1956 of the [[Southern Manifesto]]. Ellender was also an advocate of farm subsidies and the school lunch program, and he opposed the investigations into [[communist]] infiltration of the U.S. government conducted prior to 1954 by his [[Republican]] colleague, [[Joseph McCarthy]] of [[Wisconsin]]. Though Ellender later opposed the [[Vietnam War]], he voted for the [[Gulf of Tonkin Resolution]] of 1964. During his Senate tenure he was chairman of the Agriculture Committee and then the Appropriations Committee. He was considered a more [[conservative Democrat]] in comparison to his party colleagues, though held some [[liberal]] positions such as adamantly supporting President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]]'s social programs.
Following the 1946 Senate election in [[Mississippi]] where [[segregation]]ist demagogue [[Theodore Bilbo]] intimidated and threatened blacks, most of whom then were not then voters, Senate Republicans, who just gained a bare majority in the election cycle, moved to block him from being seated.<ref>[https://www.senate.gov/about/origins-foundations/electing-appointing-senators/contested-senate-elections/126Theodore_Bilbo.htm The Election Case of Theodore G. Bilbo of Mississippi (1947)]. ''senate.gov''. Retrieved February 19, 2021.</ref> Ellender defended the racist [[voter suppression]] and attempted to dismiss the charges, and gridlock ensued. Bilbo, suffering from oral cancer after decades of inciting violence and promoting bigotry, never returned to the Senate and died in August 1947.
Following the 1946 Senate election in [[Mississippi]] where [[segregation]]ist demagogue [[Theodore Bilbo]] intimidated and threatened blacks, most of whom then were not then voters, Senate Republicans, who just gained a bare majority in the election cycle, moved to block him from being seated.<ref>[https://www.senate.gov/about/origins-foundations/electing-appointing-senators/contested-senate-elections/126Theodore_Bilbo.htm The Election Case of Theodore G. Bilbo of Mississippi (1947)]. ''senate.gov''. Retrieved February 19, 2021.</ref> Ellender defended the racist [[voter suppression]] and attempted to dismiss the charges, and gridlock ensued. Bilbo, suffering from oral cancer after decades of inciting violence and promoting bigotry, never returned to the Senate and died in August 1947.
In 1960, Ellender polled some 80 percent of the ballots cast in the [[general election]] against Republican [[George Reese]] of New Orleans. In 1966, he overwhelmed two Democrats, Joseph Davis "J. D." DeBlieu (1912–2005), on the left, and [[Troyce Guice]], from the right.
In 1960, Ellender polled some 80 percent of the ballots cast in the [[general election]] against Republican [[George Reese]] of New Orleans. In 1966, he overwhelmed two Democrats, Joseph Davis "J. D." DeBlieu (1912–2005), on the left, and [[Troyce Guice]], from the right.
Ellender served in the upper house of Congress from 1937 until his death in the summer of 1972. At the time he was campaigning for yet another term in the Senate. Ellender was succeeded by interim Senator [[Elaine Edwards]], the first wife of then Governor [[Edwin Edwards]]. His permanent successor was his chief primary rival in 1972, former state Senator [[J. Bennett Johnston, Jr.]], of [[Shreveport]], who held the U.S. Senate seat until his retirement in January 1997. Johnston had also been Edwin Edwards' rival for the 1971 Democratic gubernatorial nomination.
During his last two years of office, Ellender was the Dean of the United States Senate. His long-term senatorial colleague was fellow Louisiana Democrat [[Russell Long]], the older son of Huey Long.
During his last two years of office, Ellender was the Dean of the United States Senate. His long-term senatorial colleague was fellow Louisiana Democrat [[Russell Long]], the older son of Huey Long.