Changes

On December 19, 1961, Waggonner won a [[special election]] to succeed long-time U.S. Representative Thomas Overton Brooks (1897-1961), who had won his thirteenth consecutive term in the House in 1960 by defeating the Republican businessman [Fred C. McClanahan]] of [[Shreveport]]. 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.

On December 19, 1961, Waggonner won a [[special election]] to succeed long-time U.S. Representative Thomas Overton Brooks (1897-1961), who had won his thirteenth consecutive term in the House in 1960 by defeating the Republican businessman [Fred C. McClanahan]] of [[Shreveport]]. 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.

Both Waggonner and Lyons were segregationists  and conservatives. Waggonner polled 33,892 votes (54.5 percent) to Lyons' 28,250 ballots (45.5 percent). Plain Dealing banker John Jones, Jr.]] (1923–2004), served as Waggonner's campaign manager. Waggonner received majorities in six of the seven parishes in the district, having lost only in Lyons' home base of Caddo Parish, which includes Shreveport.  In the congressional race, Waqgonner carried the editorial support of the ''[[Shreveport Journal]]'' and its conservative editor [[George W. Shannon]].<ref>"Shreveport Journal Endorses Waggonner", reprinted in ''Minden Herald'', December 14, 1961, p. 8</ref>

Both Waggonner and Lyons were segregationists  and conservatives. Waggonner polled 33,892 votes (54.5 percent) to Lyons' 28,250 ballots (45.5 percent). Plain Dealing banker John Jones, Jr. (1923–2004), the son of a former state senator, served as Waggonner's campaign manager. Waggonner received majorities in six of the seven parishes in the district, having lost only in Lyons' Caddo Parish, which includes Shreveport.  In the congressional race, Waggonner carried the editorial support of the ''[[Shreveport Journal]]'' and its conservative editor [[George W. Shannon]].<ref>"Shreveport Journal Endorses Waggonner," reprinted in ''Minden Herald,'' December 14, 1961, p. 8.</ref>

===Seventeen years in Congress==

===Seventeen years in Congress==