Changes

Parents:<br>

Parents:<br>

Felix Franklin and Verda Pendarvis Long​

Felix Franklin and Verda Pendarvis Long​

| relations=[[Russell Long]] (cousin)​

| relations=[[Russell Long]] (cousin)​<br>

| party=[[Democratic Party|Democrat]]​

| party=[[Democratic Party|Democrat]]​

| religion=​[[Southern Baptist]]

| religion=​[[Southern Baptist]]

==Speedy Long challenges Gillis Long==

==Speedy Long challenges Gillis Long==

After Speedy Long vacated his state Senate seat in 1964, he immediately launched a campaign against his third cousin, [[Gillis Long]] of Alexandria, for Louisiana's 8th congressional district seat (now part of the 5th district). Four years earlier, in the summer of 1960, Earl Long had won a Democratic primary by a 6,000-vote margin for the seat held by Harold B. McSween of Alexandria and also held prior to 1958 by Long's late brother, George S. Long. When Earl Long died as the Democratic congressional nominee, the nomination reverted to McSween, the choice of the Democratic State Central committee. Two years later, in 1962, Gillis Long unseated McSween in the Democratic primary.

After Speedy Long vacated his state Senate seat in 1964, he immediately launched a campaign against his third cousin, [[Gillis Long]] of Alexandria, for Louisiana's 8th congressional district seat (now part of the 5th district). Four years earlier, in the summer of 1960, Earl Long had won a Democratic primary by a 6,000-vote margin for the seat held by Harold B. McSween of Alexandria and also held prior to 1958 by Long's late brother, George S. Long. When Earl Long died as the Democratic congressional nominee, the nomination reverted to McSween, the choice of the Democratic State Central committee. Two years later, in 1962, Gillis Long unseated McSween in the Democratic primary.

Gillis Long had been an unsuccessful gubernatorial contender against John McKeithen in the primary held in December 1963. He was a freshman House member who had not fully consolidated his hold on the district. Therefore, he was most vulnerable to his cousin's challenge. Speedy Long made it clear to voters that he was far different from his cousin Gillis, whom he dubbed a "Washington lawyer." Speedy Long, "just a Jena lawyer," vowed to vote far more conservatively on policy issues than Gillis Long had done in his one term in Congress.

Gillis Long had been an unsuccessful gubernatorial contender against John McKeithen in the primary held in December 1963. He was a freshman House member who had not fully consolidated his hold on the district. Therefore, he was most vulnerable to his cousin's challenge. Speedy Long made it clear to voters that he was far different from his cousin Gillis, whom he dubbed a "Washington lawyer." Speedy Long, "just a Jena lawyer," vowed to vote far more conservatively on policy issues than Gillis Long had done in his first term in Congress.

Speedy Long said that he would model many of his votes in accord with north Louisiana Congressmen [[Joe Waggonner]], of Plain Dealing in Bossier Parish and [[Otto Passman]] of Monroe in Ouachita Parish. He pointed out at Gillis Long often voted with the liberal members of the delegation from south Louisiana, specifically, [[Hale Boggs]] of New Orleans, [[James H. Morrison]] of Hammond, and even the moderately conservative Edwin Edward Willis of St. Martinville, to expand the scope of the national government at the expense of the states.

Speedy Long said that he would model many of his votes in accord with north Louisiana Congressmen [[Joe Waggonner]], of Plain Dealing in Bossier Parish and [[Otto Passman]] of Monroe in Ouachita Parish. He pointed out at Gillis Long often voted with the liberal members of the delegation from south Louisiana, specifically, [[Hale Boggs]] of New Orleans, [[James H. Morrison]] of Hammond, and even the moderately conservative Edwin Edward Willis of St. Martinville, to expand the scope of the national government at the expense of the states.