Changes

|religion=}}

|religion=}}

'''Benjamin Casanas Toledano''', known as '''Ben C. Toledano''' (born September 17, 1932 – November 6, 2021), was a [[paleoconservative]] [[author]], activist, and [[attorney]] who was the unsuccessful [[Republican Party|Republican]] nominee for [[mayor]] of his native [[New Orleans]] in 1970 and for the U.S. Senate seat from [[Louisiana]] in 1972, a post now filled by [[Moderate Republican]] [[Bill Cassidy]].  

'''Benjamin Casanas Toledano''', known as '''Ben C. Toledano''' (September 17, 1932 – November 6, 2021), was a [[paleoconservative]] [[author]], activist, and [[attorney]] who was the unsuccessful [[Republican Party|Republican]] nominee for [[mayor]] of his native [[New Orleans]] in 1970 and for the U.S. Senate seat from [[Louisiana]] in 1972, a post now filled by [[Moderate Republican]] [[Bill Cassidy]].  

Toledano was born in New Orleans to Frederick Albert Toledano and the former Beecye Casanas. He outlived a sister, Suzanne Angele Toledano. He died a week before the 2021 New Orleans' mayoral election.<ref name=death>{{cite web|url=https://obits.nola.com/us/obituaries/nola/name/benjamin-toledano-obituary?id=31545624|title=Benjamin Toledano obituary|publisher=''New Orleans Times-Picayune''|date=November 12, 2021|accessdae=November 13, 2021}}</ref>  

Toledano was born in New Orleans to Frederick Albert Toledano and the former Beecye Casanas. He outlived a sister, Suzanne Angele Toledano. He died a week before the 2021 New Orleans' mayoral election.<ref name=death>{{cite web|url=https://obits.nola.com/us/obituaries/nola/name/benjamin-toledano-obituary?id=31545624|title=Benjamin Toledano obituary|publisher=''New Orleans Times-Picayune''|date=November 12, 2021|accessdae=November 13, 2021}}</ref>  

==Running for mayor of the Crescent City==

==Running for mayor of the Crescent City==

Prior to filing as the lone Republican candidate for mayor, Toledano had been a member, first, of the [[Democratic Party]], and, then, of the States' Rights Party, not to be confused with the National States Rights Party, a neo-Nazi organization. He sought to succeed the retiring two-term Democratic Mayor Victor H. Schiro in 1970. The Democrats had a slugfest for the office in two primaries held in the fall of 1969. The more liberal candidate, [[Maurice Edwin Landrieu|Maurice "Moon" Landrieu]] was placed in a runoff — this having been before Louisiana had its nonpartisan blanket or jungle primary format — with the more [[conservative]] former City Councilman [[Jimmy Fitzmorris|James Edward "Jimmy" Fitzmorris, Jr.]], who would be elected lieutenant governor three years later and served from 1972-1980.

Prior to filing as the lone Republican candidate for mayor, Toledano had been a member, first, of the [[Democratic Party]], and, then, of the States' Rights Party, not to be confused with the National States Rights Party, a neo-Nazi organization. He sought to succeed the retiring two-term Democratic Mayor Victor H. Schiro in 1970. The Democrats had a slugfest for the office in two primaries held in the fall of 1969. The more liberal candidate, [[Maurice Edwin Landrieu|Maurice "Moon" Landrieu]] was placed in a runoff — this having been before Louisiana had its nonpartisan blanket or jungle primary format — with the more [[conservative]] former City Councilman [[Jimmy Fitzmorris|James Edward "Jimmy" Fitzmorris, Jr.]], who would be elected lieutenant governor three years later and served from 1972 to 1980.

When Landrieu defeated Fitzmorris with a vow to carry on the [[liberal]] legacies of his predecessors, including [[Chep Morrison|deLesseps Story "Chep" Morrison, Sr.]], the mayor from 1946 to 1961), and  Republicans sensed a rare opportunity in the Crescent City. Early polls showed Toledano a distinct underdog in the race, but he soon picked up the support of many Fitzmorris leaders. He ran a strong campaign within the limitations of the $70,000 that was raised. Toledano noted that blacks had voted overwhelmingly in the runoff pimary for Landrieu, who would later serve in the [[Jimmy Carter]] administration as secretary of housing and urban development, but he mostly stressed the "need-for-a-change" theme always available for nearly any southern Republican seeking office at that time.

When Landrieu defeated Fitzmorris with a vow to carry on the [[liberal]] legacies of his predecessors, including [[Chep Morrison|deLesseps Story "Chep" Morrison, Sr.]], the mayor from 1946 to 1961), and  Republicans sensed a rare opportunity in the Crescent City. Early polls showed Toledano a distinct underdog in the race, but he soon picked up the support of many Fitzmorris leaders. He ran a strong campaign within the limitations of the $70,000 that was raised. Toledano noted that blacks had voted overwhelmingly in the runoff pimary for Landrieu, who would later serve in the [[Jimmy Carter]] administration as secretary of housing and urban development, but he mostly stressed the "need-for-a-change" theme always available for nearly any southern Republican seeking office at that time.

Toledano's showing for mayor propelled him in 1972 to seek the U.S. Senate seat held by 36-year incumbent Democrat [[Allen J. Ellender]], a native of Houma in Terrebonne Parish in south Louisiana. The late Charles M. McLean of [[Lafayette]] was unopposed for the Republican senatorial nomination, but he was persuaded to withdraw in favor of a better-known candidate, and the Republican State Central Committee tapped Toledano as its nominee for the November general election. Meanwhile, former state senator [[J. Bennett Johnston, Jr.]], of [[Shreveport]], who had nearly won the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in December 1971, had challenged Ellender in the Democratic primary. Ellender died on July 27, and Johnston was left as the de facto Democratic nominee. Former Governor [[John J. McKeithen]] of Columbia in Caldwell Parish in north Louisiana filed as an [[Independent]] because the time had passed for other Democrats to enter the primary. Johnston entered the general election as the prohibitive favorite even though McKeithen had been the only governor until that time to have served two consecutive terms and despite Richard Nixon' apparent likelihood of an easy reelection at the top of the Republican ballot.

Toledano's showing for mayor propelled him in 1972 to seek the U.S. Senate seat held by 36-year incumbent Democrat [[Allen J. Ellender]], a native of Houma in Terrebonne Parish in south Louisiana. The late Charles M. McLean of [[Lafayette]] was unopposed for the Republican senatorial nomination, but he was persuaded to withdraw in favor of a better-known candidate, and the Republican State Central Committee tapped Toledano as its nominee for the November general election. Meanwhile, former state senator [[J. Bennett Johnston, Jr.]], of [[Shreveport]], who had nearly won the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in December 1971, had challenged Ellender in the Democratic primary. Ellender died on July 27, and Johnston was left as the de facto Democratic nominee. Former Governor [[John J. McKeithen]] of Columbia in Caldwell Parish in north Louisiana filed as an [[Independent]] because the time had passed for other Democrats to enter the primary. Johnston entered the general election as the prohibitive favorite even though McKeithen had been the only governor until that time to have served two consecutive terms and despite Richard Nixon' apparent likelihood of an easy reelection at the top of the Republican ballot.

Johnston polled 598,987 votes (55.2 percent); McKeithen drew 250,161 (23.1 percent), and Toledano finished third with 206,846 (19.1 percent), only 42,000 votes behind the former governor. [[Hall M. Lyons]] of Lafayette, son of [[Charlton Lyons]], the "grand old man of the Louisiana GOP," polled another 28,910 votes, or 2.6 percent, as the nominee of George Wallace's former American Independent Party. Hall Lyons had also filed for governor earlier in 1972 on the AIP ticket but was persuaded to withdraw in favor of Republican [[David C. Treen]]. Thereafter, Treen was elected to the United States House of Representatives from the 3rd congressional district in this same 1972 general election.

Johnston polled 598,987 votes (55.2 percent); McKeithen drew 250,161 (23.1 percent), and Toledano finished third with 206,846 (19.1 percent), only 42,000 votes behind the former governor. [[Hall M. Lyons]] of Lafayette, son of [[Charlton Lyons]], the "grand old man of the Louisiana GOP," polled another 28,910 votes, or 2.6 percent, as the nominee of George Wallace's former American Independent Party. Hall Lyons had also filed for governor earlier in 1972 on the AIP ticket but was persuaded to withdraw in favor of Republican [[David C. Treen]]. Thereafter, Treen was elected to the United States House of Representatives from the 3rd congressional district in this same 1972 general election but won the governorship in an open field in 1979.

Toledano's best showing was 30 percent in Jefferson Parish, which also supported Treen for [[Congress]] and Nixon for president. In previously inclined Republican parishes Iberia and Caddo, for instance, Toledano won less than a fourth of the ballots.

Toledano's best showing was 30 percent in Jefferson Parish, which also supported Treen for [[Congress]] and Nixon for president. In previously inclined Republican parishes Iberia and Caddo, for instance, Toledano won less than a fourth of the ballots.

In 1981, Governor [[Edwin Edwards]] said that he expected to draw considerable Republican support when he ran for a third term in 1983 against sitting Republican Governor David Treen. But, Edwards clarified, "I would not want Ben Toledano supporting me … he’s poison. I don’t want him involved in my campaign." Toledano replied: "Most people don’t receive very many special compliments in a lifetime. I am deeply flattered by Edwards’ remarks. Love me most for the enemies I have made."

In 1981, Governor [[Edwin Edwards]] said that he expected to draw considerable Republican support when he ran for a third term in 1983 against sitting Republican Governor David Treen. But, Edwards clarified, "I would not want Ben Toledano supporting me … he’s poison. I don’t want him involved in my campaign." Toledano replied: "Most people don’t receive very many special compliments in a lifetime. I am deeply flattered by Edwards’ remarks. Love me most for the enemies I have made."

In 2004, Toledano wrote a review of ''American Dynasty: Aristocracy, Fortune and the Politics of Deceit in the House of Bush'' by [[Kevin Phillips|Kevin Price Phillips]] (1940-2923), the author of the better-known 1969 work, ''The Emerging Republican Majority.'' Toledano wrote: "There was a time when people in high places believed in avoiding even the appearance of impropriety. Phillips' book suggest that the Bushes do not even know what propriety is." Toledano continued, in reference to the religious conversion of [[George W. Bush]]: "I choose not to question the sincerity of George W.’s conversion and faith . . . Unlike his father, whose deeds defy and defile his words, he may well be a true believer even if he uses his beliefs to obtain political support and votes."

In 2004, Toledano wrote a review of ''American Dynasty: Aristocracy, Fortune and the Politics of Deceit in the House of Bush'' by Kevin Price Phillips (1940-2023), the author of the better-known 1969 work, ''The Emerging Republican Majority.'' Toledano wrote: "There was a time when people in high places believed in avoiding even the appearance of impropriety. Phillips' book suggest that the Bushes do not even know what propriety is." Toledano continued, in reference to the religious conversion of [[George W. Bush]]: "I choose not to question the sincerity of George W.’s conversion and faith . . . Unlike his father, whose deeds defy and defile his words, he may well be a true believer even if he uses his beliefs to obtain political support and votes."

At the time of [[Hurricane Katrina]], Toledano penned a well-known column entitled "New Orleans -- An Autopsy"  about the political implications of Katrina on New Orleans, having concluded that the city was in rampant social decay for a generation before the storm struck so severely in August 2005.

At the time of [[Hurricane Katrina]], Toledano penned a well-known column entitled "New Orleans -- An Autopsy"  about the political implications of Katrina on New Orleans, having concluded that the city was in rampant social decay for a generation before the storm struck so severely in August 2005.