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{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
|name= John Speir Treen, Sr.
|name= John Speir Treen, Sr.
(Louisiana businessman and Republican political figure)
(Louisiana homebuilder and Republican political figure)
|birth_date={{birth date and age|1926|2|5}}
|birth_date=February 5, 1926
|birth_place= [[Baton Rouge]]<br>[[Louisiana]], [[United States|USA]]
|birth_place= [[Baton Rouge]]<br>[[Louisiana]], [[United States|USA]]
|residence=Metairie, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana
|residence=Metairie, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana
John Treen was born in [[Baton Rouge]] to Joseph Paul Treen, Sr. (1900–1986) and the former Elizabeth Speir (1899–1990). He had a second brother, Paul Treen, Jr. He is married to the former Martha Ann Swayze (born 1928).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/theadvocate/obituary.aspx?n=gov-david-conner-treen&pid=135263008|title=Gov. David Conner Treen|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|accessdate=November 1, 2009}}</ref> Treen has two sons, John S. Treen, Jr., (born 1954) of Metairie and Ben Marcus Treen (born 1956) of Greenville, [[South Carolina]].<ref>People Search & Background Check</ref> and two daughters, Betsy T. Anderson of Cypress, [[Texas]], and Georgia T. Cole of Spartanburg, South Carolina.
John Treen was born in [[Baton Rouge]] to Joseph Paul Treen, Sr. (1900–1986) and the former Elizabeth Speir (1899–1990). He had a second brother, Paul Treen, Jr. He is married to the former Martha Ann Swayze (born 1928).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/theadvocate/obituary.aspx?n=gov-david-conner-treen&pid=135263008|title=Gov. David Conner Treen|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|accessdate=November 1, 2009}}</ref> Treen has two sons, John S. Treen, Jr., (born 1954) of Metairie and Ben Marcus Treen (born 1956) of Greenville, [[South Carolina]].<ref>People Search & Background Check</ref> and two daughters, Betsy T. Anderson of Cypress, [[Texas]], and Georgia T. Cole of Spartanburg, South Carolina.
==Political life==
==Political life==
Like his brother Dave Treen, John Treen has long been active in the Louisiana Republican Party. While Dave Treen ran for governor on February 1, 1972, in the first of three campaigns for the state's highest office, John Treen in that same election contested a state Senate seat in Jefferson Parish. He lost by 973 votes to the Democrat M. Joseph Tiemann, 16,153 (51.6 percent) to 15,180 (48. percent.)<ref>[[Louisiana Secretary of State]], General election returns, February 1, 1972.</ref>
Like his brother Dave Treen, John Treen has long been active in the Louisiana Republican Party. While Dave Treen ran for governor on February 1, 1972, in the first of three campaigns for the state's highest office, John Treen in that same election contested a state Senate seat in Jefferson Parish. He lost by 973 votes to the Democrat M. Joseph Tiemann, 16,153 (51.6 percent) to 15,180 (48. percent.)<ref>[[Louisiana Secretary of State]], General election returns, February 1, 1972.</ref>
Considered a particularly observant political commentator, Treen coined the expression: "All things being equal, [[Cajuns]] vote for Cajuns."<ref name=cajuns>{{cite web|url=http://www.louisianaweekly.com/news.php?viewStory=1739|title=Gen. [Russel] Honeré considering run for Senate|publisher=louisianaweekly.com|accessdate=November 11, 2009}}</ref>In most statewide and congressional races since 1972 in Louisiana, the candidate from [[Acadiana]], regardless of party, has won statewide and district elections. An exception to that rule came in 1987 when the [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] [[Buddy Roemer]], who defected to the Republicans in 1991, won without a [[general election]] when his Cajun intra-party rival, Governor [[Edwin Edwards]], withdrew. Another exception occurred in 2004, when Republican [[David Vitter]] defeated Democrat [[Chris John]]. Both were then [[U.S. representative]]s.<ref name=cajuns/>
Considered a particularly observant political commentator, Treen coined the expression: "All things being equal, [[Cajuns]] vote for Cajuns."<ref name=cajuns>{{cite web|url=http://www.louisianaweekly.com/news.php?viewStory=1739|title=Gen. [Russel] Honeré considering run for Senate|publisher=louisianaweekly.com|accessdate=November 11, 2009}}</ref>In most statewide and congressional races since 1972 in Louisiana, the candidate from [[Acadiana]], regardless of party, has won statewide and district elections. An exception to that rule came in 1987 when the [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] [[Buddy Roemer]], who defected to the Republicans in 1991, won without a [[general election]] when his Cajun intra-party rival, Governor [[Edwin Edwards]], withdrew. Another exception occurred in 2004, when Republican [[David Vitter]] defeated Democrat [[Chris John]]. Both were then [[U.S. representative]]s.<ref name=cajuns/>
===Treen v. Duke===
===Treen V. Duke===
In late 1988, Republican state Representative Charles Cusimano resigned from the Distirct 81 seat in the Louisiana House after eight years to accept a position as a 24th Judicial District Court [[judge]]. In the special election, the candidates included Treen, Duke, Republican school board member Delton Charles, Democratic real estate agent D. J. "Bud" Olister (backed by Jefferson Parish [[Sheriff]] Harry Lee), and [[Roger F. Villere, Jr.]], a young businessman from Metairie who was the Republican state chairman from 2004 to 2018. Duke finished first in the primary with 3,995 votes (33.1 percent).<ref name=campaigns>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=328066|title=1989 Louisiana State Representative Election|publisher=ourcampaigns.com|accessdate=November 11, 2009}}</ref> Because no candidate received a majority in the first round, a runoff was required between Duke and Treen, who polled 2,277 votes (18.9 percent) in the first round of balloting.<ref>Michael Zatarain, ''David Duke: Evolution of a Klansman'' (Gretna, Louisiana: Pelican Publishers, 1990), ISBN 0-88289-817-5, ISBN 978-0-88289-817-9.</ref>
In late 1988, Republican state Representative Charles Cusimano resigned from the Distirct 81 seat in the Louisiana House after eight years to accept a position as a 24th Judicial District Court [[judge]]. In the special election, the candidates included Treen, Duke, Republican school board member Delton Charles, Democratic real estate agent D. J. "Bud" Olister (backed by Jefferson Parish [[Sheriff]] Harry Lee), and [[Roger F. Villere, Jr.]], a young businessman from Metairie who was the Republican state chairman from 2004 to 2018. Duke finished first in the primary with 3,995 votes (33.1 percent).<ref name=campaigns>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=328066|title=1989 Louisiana State Representative Election|publisher=ourcampaigns.com|accessdate=November 11, 2009}}</ref> Because no candidate received a majority in the first round, a runoff was required between Duke and Treen, who polled 2,277 votes (18.9 percent) in the first round of balloting.<ref>Michael Zatarain, ''David Duke: Evolution of a Klansman'' (Gretna, Louisiana: Pelican Publishers, 1990), ISBN 0-88289-817-5, ISBN 978-0-88289-817-9.</ref>
John Treen's candidacy was endorsed by [[U.S. President]] [[George Herbert Walker Bush]], former President [[Ronald W. Reagan]], and other notable Republicans such as the political activist [[Beth Rickey]].<ref>"GOP Condemns Duke," ''[[Newsday]]'', [[Long Island]], [[New York]], February 25, 1989. p. 9.</ref> Treen also drew the backing of the [[Chamber of Commerce]], ''The New Orleans Times-Picayune'',<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/1989/01/23/us/ex-klan-chief-places-first-in-louisiana-primary.html|title=Ex-Klan Chief Places First in Louisiana Primary|publisher=''[[The New York Times]]''|date=January 23, 1989|accessdate=November 11, 2009}}</ref> the Democrat [[Victor Bussie]] (long-term president of the Louisiana [[AFL-CIO]]), and [[Edward J. Steimel]] (president of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry). Duke, however, hammered Treen on a statement that Treen had made indicating a willingness to entertain higher [[property tax]]es if so determined by the voters, an unpopular stance in the [[suburban]] district. Moreover, the third-place candidate, Delton Charles, did little to help Treen in the contest with Duke.<ref>Douglas D. Rose, ''The Emergence of David Duke and the Politics of Race'' (Chapel Hill: [[University of North Carolina]] Press, 1992), ISBN 0807843814), p. iii</ref>
John Treen's candidacy was endorsed by [[U.S. President]] [[George Herbert Walker Bush]], former President [[Ronald W. Reagan]], and other notable Republicans such as the political activist [[Beth Rickey]].<ref>"GOP Condemns Duke," ''[[Newsday]]'', [[Long Island]], [[New York]], February 25, 1989. p. 9.</ref> Treen also drew the backing of the [[Chamber of Commerce]], ''The New Orleans Times-Picayune'',<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/1989/01/23/us/ex-klan-chief-places-first-in-louisiana-primary.html|title=Ex-Klan Chief Places First in Louisiana Primary|publisher=''[[The New York Times]]''|date=January 23, 1989|accessdate=November 11, 2009}}</ref> the Democrat [[Victor Bussie]] (long-term president of the Louisiana [[AFL-CIO]]), and [[Edward J. Steimel]] (president of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry). Duke, however, hammered Treen on a statement that Treen had made indicating a willingness to entertain higher [[property tax]]es if so determined by the voters, an unpopular stance in the [[suburban]] district. Moreover, the third-place candidate, Delton Charles, did little to help Treen in the contest with Duke.<ref>Douglas D. Rose, ''The Emergence of David Duke and the Politics of Race'' (Chapel Hill: [[University of North Carolina]] Press, 1992), ISBN 0807843814), p. iii</ref>
With 8,459 votes (50.7 percent), Duke narrowly defeated Treen, who polled 8,232 votes (49.3 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=328065|title=John S. Treen|publisher=Ourcampaigns.com|accessdate=November 11, 2009}}</ref> Duke served in the House from 1990 until 1992, his only public office.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://house.louisiana.gov/H_PDFdocs/HouseMembers1812_2008.pdf|title=Membership of the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2008|publisher=house.louisiana.gov|accessdate=November 8, 2009}}</ref> The turnout was a relatively high 54 percent for a showdown election.<ref name="Ron Gomez, p. 223"/> Though Duke had left the Klan in 1979, his presence in Louisiana Republican circles in the 1990s created much havoc for the party and may have delayed its advancement to near parity with the Democrats, which developed by the early years of the 21st century.
With 8,459 votes (50.7 percent), Duke narrowly defeated Treen, who polled 8,232 votes (49.3 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=328065|title=John S. Treen|publisher=Ourcampaigns.com|accessdate=November 11, 2009}}</ref> Duke served in the House from 1990 until 1992, his only public office.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://house.louisiana.gov/H_PDFdocs/HouseMembers1812_2008.pdf|title=Membership of the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2008|publisher=house.louisiana.gov|accessdate=November 8, 2009}}</ref> The turnout was a relatively high 54 percent for a showdown election.<ref name="Ron Gomez, p. 223"/> Though Duke had left the Klan in 1979, his presence in Louisiana Republican circles in the 1990s created much havoc for the party and may have delayed its advancement to near parity with the Democrats, which developed by the early years of the 21st century.
John Treen, meanwhile, decided to challenge the election on grounds that Duke had lived two blocks outside district lines prior to filing his candidacy papers. Because Treen did not file his challenge within ten days of qualifying, Duke was considered a bona fide resident of District 81. Treen's suit was tossed out of court by Judge [[Clarence McManus]].<ref>Ron Gomez, pp. 224-226.</ref>
John Treen, meanwhile, decided to challenge the election on grounds that Duke had lived two blocks outside district lines prior to filing his candidacy papers. Because Treen did not file his challenge within ten days of qualifying, Duke was considered a bona fide resident of District 81. Treen's suit was tossed out of court by Judge [[Clarence McManus]].<ref>Ron Gomez, pp. 224-226.</ref>
David Treen also faced Duke, who became a perennial candidate over the years, in a special election for the United States House in 1999, triggered by the resignation of Republican Representative [[Bob Livingston]] of Louisiana's 1st congressional district. Neither Treen nor Duke emerged victorious. The election went to then state Representative David Vitter. Ironically, Duke endorsed David Treen in Treen's close runoff election with Vitter. The 1999 contest was the last time that David Treen appeared on a Louisiana ballot. In that election, John Treen said of his brother: "Dave has a reputation for absolute honesty and integrity. That was one of his trademarks."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dir.salon.com/story/news/feature/2004/10/29/lousiana_race/index1.html|title="There Is a House in New Orleans", November 11, 2009|publisher=Salon.com|accessdate=November 11, 2009}}</ref>
David Treen also faced David Duke, who became a perennial candidate over the years, in a special election for the United States House in 1999, triggered by the resignation of Republican Representative [[Bob Livingston]] of Louisiana's 1st congressional district. Neither Treen nor Duke emerged victorious. The election went to then state Representative David Vitter. Ironically, Duke endorsed David Treen in Treen's close runoff election loss to Vitter. The 1999 contest was the last time that David Treen appeared on a Louisiana ballot. In that election, John Treen said of his brother: "Dave has a reputation for absolute honesty and integrity. That was one of his trademarks."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dir.salon.com/story/news/feature/2004/10/29/lousiana_race/index1.html|title="There Is a House in New Orleans", November 11, 2009|publisher=Salon.com|accessdate=November 11, 2009}}</ref>
==Other political notes==
John Treen was an alternate delegate to the 1972 [[Republican National Convention]] held in Miami Beach, [[Florida]], which re-nominated the [[Richard Nixon|Nixon]]/[[Spiro T. Agnew|Agnew]] ticket. He was a delegate to the 1988 convention held in [[New Orleans]], which nominated the [[George H.W. Bush|Bush]]-[[Dan Quayle|Quayle]] ticket.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/traxler-treichler.html|title=Index to Politicians|publisher=political graveyard.com|accessdate=November 11, 2009}}</ref>
In 2004, John Treen refused to endorse David Vitter in the U.S. Senate election. Treen said that he "doesn't give a damn" what Vitter thinks of him. He said that his opposition to Vitter is that "I don't like liars." John Treen, however, did not specifically endorse Vitter's opponent, the Democrat Christopher John.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://salon.com/news/feature/2004/10/29/lousiana_race/index.html|title=There Is a House in New Orleans|date=October 29, 2004|publisher=salon.com|accessdate=November 11, 2009}}</ref> Vitter won the first of his two Senate terms in the race against Christopher John. On Dave Treen's death in 2009, however, Vitter delivered a moving [[eulogy]] to the former governor.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.slidellsentry.com/articles/2009/10/30/news/doc4aeaf1160b73e324384163.txt|author=DebbieGlover|title=Treen honored as father of LA GOP|publisher=''Slidell Sentry,''|accessdate=November 6, 2009}}</ref>
In 2004, John Treen refused to endorse David Vitter in the U.S. Senate election. Treen said that he "doesn't give a damn" what Vitter thinks of him. He said that his opposition to Vitter is that "I don't like liars." John Treen, however, did not specifically endorse Vitter's opponent, the Democrat Christopher John.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://salon.com/news/feature/2004/10/29/lousiana_race/index.html|title=There Is a House in New Orleans|date=October 29, 2004|publisher=salon.com|accessdate=November 11, 2009}}</ref> Vitter won the first of his two Senate terms in the race against Christopher John. On Dave Treen's death in 2009, however, Vitter delivered a moving [[eulogy]] to the former governor.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.slidellsentry.com/articles/2009/10/30/news/doc4aeaf1160b73e324384163.txt|author=DebbieGlover|title=Treen honored as father of LA GOP|publisher=''Slidell Sentry,''|accessdate=November 6, 2009}}</ref>