Changes

From 1947 to 1953, Thompson was the chairman of the board of trustees of the Louisiana State Employees Retirement System. In 1950 and 1951, he was the representative of the [[United States Department of State]] in Louisiana charged with training foreign representatives in principles of [[democracy]].<ref name=bioguide/>

From 1947 to 1953, Thompson was the chairman of the board of trustees of the Louisiana State Employees Retirement System. In 1950 and 1951, he was the representative of the [[United States Department of State]] in Louisiana charged with training foreign representatives in principles of [[democracy]].<ref name=bioguide/>

With Earl Long's encouragement, Thompson was elected to the U. S. House in the 1952 elections<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=404947 LA District 7 Race - Nov 04, 1952]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved June 11, 2021.</ref> and re-elected six times through 1964.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=36345 Candidate - T. Ashton Thompson]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved June 11, 2021.</ref>

With Earl Long's encouragement, Thompson was elected to the United States House of Representatives in the 1952 elections<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=404947 LA District 7 Race - Nov 04, 1952]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved June 11, 2021.</ref> and re-elected six times through 1964.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=36345 Candidate - T. Ashton Thompson]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved June 11, 2021.</ref>

Along with the rest of the Louisiana congressional delegation in 1956, Thompson signed the [[Southern Manifesto]] in opposition to the [[United States Supreme Court]] ruling in ''[[Brown v. Board of Education]]'' which mandated the desegregation of public schools.<ref>[https://www.congress.gov/84/crecb/1956/03/12/GPO-CRECB-1956-pt4-3.pdf GPO-CRECB-1956-pt4-3.pdf]. ''Congressional Record''. Retrieved June 11, 2021.</ref> He voted against the [[Civil Rights Act]]s of [[Civil Rights Act of 1957|1957]],<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/85-1957/h42 HR 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved June 11, 2021.</ref> 1960,<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/86-1960/h106 HR 8601. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1960. APPROVAL BY THE HOUSE OF THE SENATE'S AMENDMENTS.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved June 11, 2021.</ref> and [[Civil Rights Act of 1964|1964]]. A [[Segregation|segregationist]], as were nearly all state politicians at that time, Thompson along with [[Felix Edward Hébert]] and [[Hale Boggs]] of [[New Orleans]], [[Joe Waggonner]] of Bossier Parish, [[Edwin Willis]] of St. Martinville, [[James H. Morrison]] of Baton Rouge, [[Gillis Long]] of [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]], and [[Otto Passman]] of [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]], voted against the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]].<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/88-1964/h128 H.R. 7152. PASSAGE.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved August 26, 2021.</ref><ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/88-1964/h182 H.R. 7152. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964. ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION (H. RES. 789) PROVIDING FOR HOUSE APPROVAL OF THE BILL AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved June 11, 2021.</ref>

Along with the rest of the Louisiana congressional delegation in 1956, Thompson signed the [[Southern Manifesto]] in opposition to the [[United States Supreme Court]] ruling in ''[[Brown v. Board of Education]]'' which mandated the desegregation of public schools.<ref>[https://www.congress.gov/84/crecb/1956/03/12/GPO-CRECB-1956-pt4-3.pdf GPO-CRECB-1956-pt4-3.pdf]. ''Congressional Record''. Retrieved June 11, 2021.</ref> He voted against the [[Civil Rights Act]]s of [[Civil Rights Act of 1957|1957]],<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/85-1957/h42 HR 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved June 11, 2021.</ref> 1960,<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/86-1960/h106 HR 8601. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1960. APPROVAL BY THE HOUSE OF THE SENATE'S AMENDMENTS.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved June 11, 2021.</ref> and [[Civil Rights Act of 1964|1964]]. A [[Segregation|segregationist]], as were nearly all state politicians at that time, Thompson along with [[Felix Edward Hébert]] and [[Hale Boggs]] of [[New Orleans]], [[Joe Waggonner]] of Bossier Parish, [[Edwin Willis]] of St. Martinville, [[James H. Morrison]] of Baton Rouge, [[Gillis Long]] of [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]], and [[Otto Passman]] of [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]], voted against the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]].<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/88-1964/h128 H.R. 7152. PASSAGE.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved August 26, 2021.</ref><ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/88-1964/h182 H.R. 7152. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964. ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION (H. RES. 789) PROVIDING FOR HOUSE APPROVAL OF THE BILL AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved June 11, 2021.</ref>