Changes

==Political career==

==Political career==

He was an assistant county attorney from 1952 to 1954; County Probate Judge from 1954 to 1956; and state Senator from 1956 to 1960. He later lived in Baldwin City in Douglas County. Pearson did not seek a second term as state senator and resumed his law practice. Pearson campaigned with state Attorney General John Anderson, Jr., for governor in 1960. Anderson was elected and Pearson became the state GOP chairman. On January 31, 1962, Anderson appointed Pearson to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Andrew Frank Schoeppel (1894–1962). He won the special election for the seat and was reelected to full terms in 1966 and 1972.<ref>[https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/P000166 Bioguide Search] (congress.gov), accessed July 5, 2021.</ref>

He was an assistant county attorney from 1952 to 1954; County Probate Judge from 1954 to 1956; and state Senator from 1956 to 1960. He later lived in Baldwin City in Douglas County. Pearson did not seek a second term as state senator and resumed his law practice. Pearson campaigned with state Attorney General John Anderson, Jr., for governor in 1960. Anderson was elected and Pearson became the state GOP chairman. On January 31, 1962, Anderson appointed Pearson to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Andrew Frank Schoeppel (1894–1962). He won the special election for the seat<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=30671 KS US Senate - Special Election Race - Nov 06, 1962]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved July 5, 2021.</ref> and was reelected to full terms in 1966<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=7074 KS US Senate Race - Nov 08, 1966]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved July 5, 2021.</ref> and 1972.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=6487 KS US Senate Race - Nov 07, 1972]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved July 5, 2021.</ref><ref>[https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/P000166 Bioguide Search] (congress.gov), accessed July 5, 2021.</ref>

Pearson initially voted regularly with the leadership of his party, opposing much of [[Lyndon B. Johnson]]'s [[Great Society]] programs. However, like his Kansas Republican colleague, [[Frank Carlson]], he moderated his positions over time. For instance, he had supported the bombing of [[Laos]] and [[Cambodia]] during the [[Vietnam War]] until the [[Kent State protests]] on May 4, 1970, which led to the shooting death of four students. Like many other [[Moderate Republicans]], he relished in working with colleagues across the political aisle, such as his partnership with [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] [[Lloyd Bentsen]] of [[Texas]] in the passage of the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978.<ref name=findagrave/>

Pearson initially voted regularly with the leadership of his party, opposing much of [[Lyndon B. Johnson]]'s [[Great Society]] programs. However, like his Kansas Republican colleague, [[Frank Carlson]], he moderated his positions over time. For instance, he had supported the bombing of [[Laos]] and [[Cambodia]] during the [[Vietnam War]] until the [[Kent State protests]] on May 4, 1970, which led to the shooting death of four students. Like many other [[Moderate Republicans]], he relished in working with colleagues across the political aisle, such as his partnership with [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] [[Lloyd Bentsen]] of [[Texas]] in the passage of the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978.<ref name=findagrave/>