Changes

In November 1948, Willis faced [[Republican Party|Republican]] opposition from a wealthy New Iberia businessman, Jean (pronounced JOHN) Paulin Duhe (1885–1961), who was the president of the New Iberia National Bank, head of the Duhe-Bourgeois Sugar Company, president of the Edmundson-Duhe [[rice]] mill, third vice-president of the American Sugar Cane League, and the president of the St. Martin-Iberia-St. Mary Flood Control Association. Willis defeated Duhe, 26,587 votes (66.6 percent) to 13,337 ballots (33.4 percent).<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=482631 LA - District 03 Race - Nov 02, 1948]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved August 18, 2021.</ref> Duhe's margin was similar to that of a previous Republican candidate in the 3rd district, [[David Pipes|David W. Pipes, Jr.]], who contested the position in 1940, when he was defeated by James Domengeaux.

In November 1948, Willis faced [[Republican Party|Republican]] opposition from a wealthy New Iberia businessman, Jean (pronounced JOHN) Paulin Duhe (1885–1961), who was the president of the New Iberia National Bank, head of the Duhe-Bourgeois Sugar Company, president of the Edmundson-Duhe [[rice]] mill, third vice-president of the American Sugar Cane League, and the president of the St. Martin-Iberia-St. Mary Flood Control Association. Willis defeated Duhe, 26,587 votes (66.6 percent) to 13,337 ballots (33.4 percent).<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=482631 LA - District 03 Race - Nov 02, 1948]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved August 18, 2021.</ref> Duhe's margin was similar to that of a previous Republican candidate in the 3rd district, [[David Pipes|David W. Pipes, Jr.]], who contested the position in 1940, when he was defeated by James Domengeaux.

====Anti-communism, opposition to civil rights and KKK====

====Anti-communism, opposition to civil rights ''and'' KKK====

Willis held the congressional seat for ten terms. Through his chairmanship of the House Un-American Activities Committee, he supported anti-communist [[Cold War]] laws, such as the [[McCarran-Walter Act|McCarran-Walter Internal Security Act]] of 1950.<ref name=dict>{{cite web|url=https://www.lahistory.org/resources/dictionary-louisiana-biography/dictionary-louisiana-biography-w/|title=Willis Edwin|publisher=Louisiana Historical Association "A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography''|accessdate=August 18, 2021}}</ref> Willis was in effect the last chairman of the HUAC, which was reconstituted as the U.S. House Committee on Internal Security in 1969. During the 1960s, Willis viewed both the [[civil rights movement]] and opposition to the [[Vietnam War]] as reflections of communist influences.<ref>[https://library.louisiana.edu/collections/collection-46 Willis, Edwin E. (1904-1972). Papers, 1949-1969]. ''University of Louisiana''. Retrieved August 18, 2021.</ref> He signed the 1956 [[Southern Manifesto]] in opposition to [[Segregation|desegregation]]. He voted with all eight members at the time from Louisiana against the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]] and the [[Voting Rights Act]] of 1965. He also spoke out against the radicalism of the [[Ku Klux Klan]]<ref name=dict/> and led an investigation against the terrorist group which resulted in the conviction of a Klan leader.<ref>[https://history.house.gov/Collection/Detail/30729 Edwin Edward Willis]. ''Us House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives''. Retrieved August 18, 2021.</ref> The KKK in turn burned effigies of Willis throughout the South.<ref>October 25, 1972. [https://www.nytimes.com/1972/10/25/archives/edwin-willis-68-excongressmkn-louisianian-in-the-house-20-years-eed.html EDWIN WILLIS, 68, EX CONGRESSMAN]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved August 18, 2021.</ref>

Willis held the congressional seat for ten terms. Through his chairmanship of the House Un-American Activities Committee, he supported anti-communist [[Cold War]] laws, such as the [[McCarran-Walter Act|McCarran-Walter Internal Security Act]] of 1950.<ref name=dict>{{cite web|url=https://www.lahistory.org/resources/dictionary-louisiana-biography/dictionary-louisiana-biography-w/|title=Willis Edwin|publisher=Louisiana Historical Association "A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography''|accessdate=August 18, 2021}}</ref> Willis was in effect the last chairman of the HUAC, which was reconstituted as the U.S. House Committee on Internal Security in 1969. During the 1960s, Willis viewed both the [[civil rights movement]] and opposition to the [[Vietnam War]] as reflections of communist influences.<ref>[https://library.louisiana.edu/collections/collection-46 Willis, Edwin E. (1904-1972). Papers, 1949-1969]. ''University of Louisiana''. Retrieved August 18, 2021.</ref> He signed the 1956 [[Southern Manifesto]] in opposition to [[Segregation|desegregation]]. He voted with all eight members at the time from Louisiana against the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]] and the [[Voting Rights Act]] of 1965. He also spoke out against the radicalism of the [[Ku Klux Klan]]<ref name=dict/> and led an investigation against the terrorist group which resulted in the conviction of a Klan leader.<ref>[https://history.house.gov/Collection/Detail/30729 Edwin Edward Willis]. ''Us House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives''. Retrieved August 18, 2021.</ref> The KKK in turn burned effigies of Willis throughout the South.<ref>October 25, 1972. [https://www.nytimes.com/1972/10/25/archives/edwin-willis-68-excongressmkn-louisianian-in-the-house-20-years-eed.html EDWIN WILLIS, 68, EX CONGRESSMAN]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved August 18, 2021.</ref>