Changes

|term_end=January 3, 1979

|term_end=January 3, 1979

|preceded=Thomas Overton Brooks

|preceded=Thomas Overton Brooks

|succeeded=Claude Anthony "Buddy" Leach, Jr.

|succeeded=[[Buddy Leach|Claude Anthony "Buddy" Leach, Jr.]]

|office2=Member of the<br>

|office2=Member of the<br>

Louisiana State Board of Education

Louisiana State Board of Education

Shortly thereafter on July 23, 1960, Waggonner was nominated in the Democratic primary to the Louisiana State Board of Education, now the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. He won the seat for the Third Public Service Commission District, a configuration since disbanded that then included twenty-eight north Louisiana parishes. Waggonner unseated the incumbent, C. Raymond Heard, and was then unopposed in the November 8 general election, in which [[John F. Kennedy]] defeated [[Richard M. Nixon]]. In this campaign, Waggonner posed as a more determined segregationist than his opponent.<ref>''Minden Press,'' July 25, 1960, p. 1.</ref> One of his advertisements proclaimed: "For: Our Youth and Segregation; Against: Federal Aid to Education."<ref>Waggonner advertisement, ''Minden Press,'' July 18, 1960, p. 5.</ref>

Shortly thereafter on July 23, 1960, Waggonner was nominated in the Democratic primary to the Louisiana State Board of Education, now the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. He won the seat for the Third Public Service Commission District, a configuration since disbanded that then included twenty-eight north Louisiana parishes. Waggonner unseated the incumbent, C. Raymond Heard, and was then unopposed in the November 8 general election, in which [[John F. Kennedy]] defeated [[Richard M. Nixon]]. In this campaign, Waggonner posed as a more determined segregationist than his opponent.<ref>''Minden Press,'' July 25, 1960, p. 1.</ref> One of his advertisements proclaimed: "For: Our Youth and Segregation; Against: Federal Aid to Education."<ref>Waggonner advertisement, ''Minden Press,'' July 18, 1960, p. 5.</ref>

As Kennedy defeated Nixon, Waggonner, [[David C. Treen]], and Leander Henry Perez, Sr. (1891–1969) of Plaquemines Parish, were among the ten presidential electors for an unpledged slate in Louisiana. Nixon won the 4th congressional district, but Kennedy took a strong plurality in the balloting statewide.<ref>"GOP Eyes Louisiana Hot Congressional Election Tomorrow, ''The News-Palladium (Benton Harbor, [[Michigan]]), December 18, 1961, p. 2.</ref>

As Kennedy defeated Nixon, Waggonner, [[David C. Treen]], and [[Leander Perez]] of Plaquemines Parish, were among the ten presidential electors for an unpledged slate in Louisiana. Nixon won the 4th congressional district, but Kennedy took a strong plurality in the balloting statewide.<ref>"GOP Eyes Louisiana Hot Congressional Election Tomorrow, ''The News-Palladium (Benton Harbor, [[Michigan]]), December 18, 1961, p. 2.</ref>

In 1961, Waggoneer in his only year as a member of the state Board of Education, was chosen as the president of (1) the Louisiana School Boards Association and (2) the United Schools Committee of Louisiana. He had also been instrumental, along with William Rainach, in the founding of the White Citizens Council in the late 1950s.

In 1961, Waggoneer in his only year as a member of the state Board of Education, was chosen as the president of (1) the Louisiana School Boards Association and (2) the United Schools Committee of Louisiana. He had also been instrumental, along with William Rainach, in the founding of the White Citizens Council in the late 1950s.

===Defeating Charlton Lyons===

===Defeating Charlton Lyons===

Waggonner was initially elected to the U.S. House in a [[special election]] held on December 19, 1961,<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=66095 LA District 4 - Special Election Race - Dec. 19, 1961]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved June 13, 2021.</ref> to succeed Democrat Thomas Overton Brooks (1897–1961), who had won won his thirteenth and final term in Congress by defeating the Republican [[business]]man [[Fred C. McClanahan]] in 1960. Waggonner defeated Shreveport oilman [[Charlton Lyons]], who like Waggonner's former intra-party opponent for state comptroller, Roy Theriot, was a native of Abbeville. Waggonner carried the backing in the special election of the conservative ''[[Shreveport Journal]],'' edited at the time by [[George W. Shannon]]. Lyons subsequently ran for governor in 1964 against Democrat [[John J. McKeithen]], that time with Shannon's editorial support.<ref>"Shreveport Journal Endorses Waggonner," reprinted in ''Minden Herald,'' December 14, 1961, p. 8.</ref>

Waggonner was initially elected to the U.S. House in a [[special election]] held on December 19, 1961,<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=66095 LA District 4 - Special Election Race - Dec. 19, 1961]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved June 13, 2021.</ref> to succeed Democrat [[Thomas Overton Brooks]] (1897–1961), who had won won his thirteenth and final term in Congress by defeating the Republican [[business]]man [[Fred C. McClanahan]] in 1960. Waggonner defeated Shreveport oilman [[Charlton Lyons]], who like Waggonner's former intra-party opponent for state comptroller, Roy Theriot, was a native of Abbeville. Waggonner carried the backing in the special election of the conservative ''[[Shreveport Journal]],'' edited at the time by [[George W. Shannon]]. Lyons subsequently ran for governor in 1964 against Democrat [[John J. McKeithen]], that time with Shannon's editorial support.<ref>"Shreveport Journal Endorses Waggonner," reprinted in ''Minden Herald,'' December 14, 1961, p. 8.</ref>

   

   

When Brooks died in office in the first year of his last term, Waggonner filed in the special election to succeed him. Already, Waggonner had announced his intention to oppose Brooks for re-nomination in the 1962 Democratic [[primary]]. Waggonner's decision was spurred by Brooks' congressional vote to expand the House Rules Committee to permit [[Speaker]] [[Sam Rayburn]], who would died in office shortly after the passing of Brooks, to add new [[liberal]] members to the panel and thus stymie [[conservative]]s in both parties on the committee.

When Brooks died in office in the first year of his last term, Waggonner filed in the special election to succeed him. Already, Waggonner had announced his intention to oppose Brooks for re-nomination in the 1962 Democratic [[primary]]. Waggonner's decision was spurred by Brooks' congressional vote to expand the House Rules Committee to permit [[Speaker]] [[Sam Rayburn]], who would died in office shortly after the passing of Brooks, to add new [[liberal]] members to the panel and thus stymie [[conservative]]s in both parties on the committee.

In April 1994, Waggonner flew to Yorba Linda, [[California]], to attend Nixon's funeral. Indeed, he had maintained communication with Nixon long after both had left [[Washington, D.C.]] Nixon's first outing after his resignation was a trip to Shreveport for an event that the Waggonners hosted at their home, remembered Rene Gibson, a former Waggonner staffer, as reported in ''The Shreveport Times'' on the occasion of Waggonner's death.

In April 1994, Waggonner flew to Yorba Linda, [[California]], to attend Nixon's funeral. Indeed, he had maintained communication with Nixon long after both had left [[Washington, D.C.]] Nixon's first outing after his resignation was a trip to Shreveport for an event that the Waggonners hosted at their home, remembered Rene Gibson, a former Waggonner staffer, as reported in ''The Shreveport Times'' on the occasion of Waggonner's death.

In the 1964 gubernatorial primary runoff and general election, Waggonner endorsed Democrat [[John J. McKeithen]] who, like Waggonner in 1961, was opposed by the Republican Charlton Lyons. Waggonner objected to the strengthening of the Republican Party in Louisiana on the premise that Louisiana, unlike other southern states, had a "two-party" system because of its [[Earl Long|Long]] and "anti-Long" factions. Nevertheless on several occasions, Waggonner supported Republican candidates, including the 1996 presidential nominee [[Bob Dole]], long-time U.S. Senator for [[Kansas]], who twenty years earlier had been Ford's vice-presidential choice in the 1976 loss to [[Jimmy Carter]] and [[Walter Mondale]]. In 1981, Carter's successor as president, [[Ronald W. Reagan]], who had campaigned for Charlton Lyons for governor of Louisiana in 1964, appointed Waggonner to the 15-member National Commission on Social Security Reform, headed by the economist [[Alan Greenspan]].

In the 1964 gubernatorial primary runoff and general election, Waggonner endorsed Democrat [[John J. McKeithen]] who, like Waggonner in 1961, was opposed by the Republican Charlton Lyons. Waggonner objected to the strengthening of the Republican Party in Louisiana on the premise that Louisiana, unlike other southern states, had a "two-party" system because of its "[[pro-Long]]" and "[[anti-Long]]" factions. Nevertheless on several occasions, Waggonner supported Republican candidates, including the 1996 presidential nominee [[Bob Dole]], long-time U.S. Senator for [[Kansas]], who twenty years earlier had been Ford's vice-presidential choice in the 1976 loss to [[Jimmy Carter]] and [[Walter Mondale]]. In 1981, Carter's successor as president, [[Ronald W. Reagan]], who had campaigned for Charlton Lyons for governor of Louisiana in 1964, appointed Waggonner to the 15-member National Commission on Social Security Reform, headed by the economist [[Alan Greenspan]].

===Arrest in 1976===

===Arrest in 1976===

===His chosen successor, "Buddy" Leach===

===His chosen successor, "Buddy" Leach===

Several candidates ran for the seat that Waggonner vacated, including two state representatives, Claude Anthony "Buddy" Leach, Jr., then of Leesville in Vernon Parish and [[Loy Weaver]] of Homer in Claiborne Parish.

Several candidates ran for the seat that Waggonner vacated, including two state representatives, [[Buddy Leach|Claude Anthony "Buddy" Leach, Jr.]] then of Leesville in Vernon Parish and [[Loy Weaver]] of Homer in Claiborne Parish.

[[Buddy Roemer|Charles E. "Buddy" Roemer, III]], son of Governor [[Edwin Edwards]]' commissioner of administration, [[Charles E. Roemer, II]], entered the race, as did a lone Republican, [[Jimmy Wilson]], a former state legislator and former mayor dof Vivian in northernmost Caddo Parish, who had recently switched parties. Waggonner endorsed Leach, who ultimately defeated Wilson in the general election by a margin of 266 disputed votes. He also criticized President [[Gerald Ford]], a [[Moderate Republican]] for coming into the district to campaign for Wilson. However, Leach was unable to cement his hold on the 4th district and was unseated in the 1980 [[general election]] after a single term by Democrat, later Republican, Buddy Roemer. That 1980 House election was called the "battle of the Buddys" waged between the two wealthy Democrats.

[[Buddy Roemer|Charles E. "Buddy" Roemer, III]], son of Governor [[Edwin Edwards]]' commissioner of administration, [[Charles E. Roemer, II]], entered the race, as did a lone Republican, [[Jimmy Wilson]], a former state legislator and former mayor dof Vivian in northernmost Caddo Parish, who had recently switched parties. Waggonner endorsed Leach, who ultimately defeated Wilson in the general election by a margin of 266 disputed votes. He also criticized President [[Gerald Ford]], a [[Moderate Republican]] for coming into the district to campaign for Wilson. However, Leach was unable to cement his hold on the 4th district and was unseated in the 1980 [[general election]] after a single term by Democrat, later Republican, Buddy Roemer. That 1980 House election was called the "battle of the Buddys" waged between the two wealthy Democrats.

[[Category:Democrats]]

[[Category:Democrats]]

[[Category:Racism]]

[[Category:Racism]]

[[Category:United Methodists]]

[[Category:United Methodists]]

[[Category:Business People]]

[[Category:Business People]]

[[Category:World War II]]

[[Category:World War II]]

[[Category:Inductees of the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame]]

[[Category:Inductees of the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame]]