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In the gubernatorial [[general election]] held on April 22, 1952, Bagwell polled 4,958 votes (4 percent) of the  vote statewide in a low-turnout contest against the Democrat [[Robert F. Kennon]], a judge from [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]], who received 118,723 (96 percent). Bagwell reached double digits in only three parishes, St. James  (13 percent), Iberia]] (12.5 percent), and his own East Baton Rouge Parish (11.8 percent). In three parishes, Concordia, DeSoto, and Tensas, Bagwell received not a single vote.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PCUXAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA103&lpg=PA103&dq=Harrison+G.+Bagwell&source=bl&ots=7-PJRE9l32&sig=Du9yYdQmCViyHoo58tfKfpIHjgk&hl=en&sa=X&ei=-QSsVK_rCMGGyATVjIGgAw&ved=0CE0Q6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=Harrison%20G.%20Bagwell&f=false|title=United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1932-1952: The Official Results by State and County|pages=103–104|publisher=McFarland and Company|location=Jefferson, [[North Carolina]]|isbn=978-0-7864-7034-1|author=Michael J. Dubin|accessdate=January 6, 2015}}</ref> ​

In the gubernatorial [[general election]] held on April 22, 1952, Bagwell polled 4,958 votes (4 percent) of the  vote statewide in a low-turnout contest against the Democrat [[Robert F. Kennon]], a judge from [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]], who received 118,723 (96 percent). Bagwell reached double digits in only three parishes, St. James  (13 percent), Iberia]] (12.5 percent), and his own East Baton Rouge Parish (11.8 percent). In three parishes, Concordia, DeSoto, and Tensas, Bagwell received not a single vote.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PCUXAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA103&lpg=PA103&dq=Harrison+G.+Bagwell&source=bl&ots=7-PJRE9l32&sig=Du9yYdQmCViyHoo58tfKfpIHjgk&hl=en&sa=X&ei=-QSsVK_rCMGGyATVjIGgAw&ved=0CE0Q6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=Harrison%20G.%20Bagwell&f=false|title=United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1932-1952: The Official Results by State and County|pages=103–104|publisher=McFarland and Company|location=Jefferson, [[North Carolina]]|isbn=978-0-7864-7034-1|author=Michael J. Dubin|accessdate=January 6, 2015}}</ref> ​

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Bagwell's gubernatorial showing was far below the votes secured by his fellow Republican, [[Clem S. Clarke]], in the [[United States Senate]] special general election of 1948. The [[Shreveport]] [[oil]]man polled just over 100,000 votes in his failed challenge of Democrat [[Russell Long]], older son of Huey Long.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, U. S. Senate election returns, November 2, 1948.</ref> By 2015, Republicans for the first time held both Senate seats from Louisiana.​

Bagwell's gubernatorial showing was far below the votes secured by his fellow Republican, [[Clem S. Clarke]], in the [[United States Senate]] special general election of 1948. The [[Shreveport]] [[oil]]man polled just over 100,000 votes in his failed challenge of Democrat [[Russell Long]], older son of Huey Long.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, U. S. Senate election returns, November 2, 1948.</ref> By 2015, Republicans for the first time held both Senate seats from Louisiana.​

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Bagwell said that his primary goal in running for governor was to try to establish a competitive two-party system in Louisiana. He said that the state Republican party was being held back by its traditional leaders so that they could maintain their control over the party organization.<ref>cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AQssAAAAIBAJ&sjid=scYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1070%2C4007750|title="Republican Boom Likely to Fizzle Out in South"|publisher=''Times-Daily''|date=February 25, 1952}}</ref>  Represented Louisiana's 6th congressional district,, Bagwell was a delegate to the 1952 [[Republican National Convention]], which met in [[Chicago]] to nominate the ticket of [[Dwight Eisenhower]] and [[Richard M. Nixon]]<ref name=polgraveyard>{{cite web|url=http://politicalgraveyard.com/geo/LA/protestant.html|title=Harrison Garey Bagwell|publisher=The Political Graveyard|accessdate=January 6, 2015}}</ref> Bagwell assisted John Minor Wisdom in making the case for seating the pro-Eisenhower delegation, rather than the supporters of Senator [[Robert A. Taft]] of [[Ohio]]. Because Bagwell and Wisdom were successful, they were instrumental in securing the nomination for Eisenhower.<ref{{cite web|url=http://scholarlycommons.law.wlu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1642&context=wlulr |author=Joel William Friedman|title="Judge Wisdom and the 1952 Republican National Convention: Ensuring Victory for Eisenhower and a Two-Party System for Louisiana"|publisher=''Washington and Lee Law Review'', Vol. 53, No. 1|date=1996|page= 52, 92}}</ref> ​

Bagwell said that his primary goal in running for governor was to try to establish a competitive two-party system in Louisiana. He said that the state Republican party was being held back by its traditional leaders so that they could maintain their control over the party organization.<ref>cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AQssAAAAIBAJ&sjid=scYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1070%2C4007750|title="Republican Boom Likely to Fizzle Out in South"|publisher=''Times-Daily''|date=February 25, 1952}}</ref>  Representing Louisiana's 6th congressional district, Bagwell was a delegate to the 1952 [[Republican National Convention]], which met in [[Chicago]] to nominate the ticket of [[Dwight Eisenhower]] and [[Richard M. Nixon]]<ref name=polgraveyard>{{cite web|url=http://politicalgraveyard.com/geo/LA/protestant.html|title=Harrison Garey Bagwell|publisher=The Political Graveyard|accessdate=January 6, 2015}}</ref> Bagwell assisted John Minor Wisdom in making the case for seating the pro-Eisenhower delegation, rather than the supporters of Senator [[Robert A. Taft]] of [[Ohio]]. Because Bagwell and Wisdom were successful, they were instrumental in securing the nomination for Eisenhower.<ref{{cite web|url=http://scholarlycommons.law.wlu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1642&context=wlulr |author=Joel William Friedman|title="Judge Wisdom and the 1952 Republican National Convention: Ensuring Victory for Eisenhower and a Two-Party System for Louisiana"|publisher=''Washington and Lee Law Review'', Vol. 53, No. 1|date=1996|page= 52, 92}}</ref> ​

 

Governor Kennon endorsed the Eisenhower-Nixon ticket. Although successful nationally,Eisenhower lost the Louisiana [[electoral vote]] that year. White conservatives in the state then remained overwhelmingly Democratic.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9E05E5D8113CE53ABC4F53DFBF668389649EDE|title=LOUISIANA'S CHIEF BACKS EISENHOWER; Gov. Kennon Says General Will End 'Truman Era of Minks, Pay-Offs and Rackets'|publisher=''[[The New York Times]]''|page=1|date=September 7, 1952|accessdate=January 6, 2015}}</ref> but would by the 21st century become predominantly Republican.​

Governor Kennon endorsed the Eisenhower-Nixon ticket. Although successful nationally,Eisenhower lost the Louisiana [[electoral vote]] that year. White conservatives in the state then remained overwhelmingly Democratic.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9E05E5D8113CE53ABC4F53DFBF668389649EDE|title=LOUISIANA'S CHIEF BACKS EISENHOWER; Gov. Kennon Says General Will End 'Truman Era of Minks, Pay-Offs and Rackets'|publisher=''[[The New York Times]]''|page=1|date=September 7, 1952|accessdate=January 6, 2015}}</ref> but would by the 21st century become predominantly Republican.​

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Bagwell sought a federal judgeship but was not selected by the Eisenhower administration.<ref name=hgbagwell/> Along with incoming state party chairman [[LeRoy Smallenberger]] of Shreveport, Bagwell served as an alternate delegate to the 1960 Republican National Convention, which also met in Chicago and nominated the ticket of Nixon and Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr., of [[Massachusetts]]. [[George Reese]], a New Orleans lawyer who challenged Democratic U.S. Senator [[Allen  Ellender]] that year for his seat, was also a delegate to the Chicago convention. So was the [[Shreveport]] Republicanand later U.S. District Judge]] Thomas Eaton "Tom" Stagg, Jr.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://politicalgraveyard.com/parties/R/1960/LA.html|title=Louisiana delegation to the 1960 Republican National Convention|publisher=The Political Graveyard|accessdate=January 6, 2015}}</ref>​

Bagwell sought a federal judgeship but was not selected by the Eisenhower administration.<ref name=hgbagwell/> Along with incoming state party chairman [[LeRoy Smallenberger]] of [[Shreveport]], Bagwell served as an alternate delegate to the 1960 Republican National Convention, which also met in Chicago and nominated the ticket of Nixon and Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr., of [[Massachusetts]]. [[George Reese]], a New Orleans lawyer who challenged Democratic U.S. Senator [[Allen  Ellender]] that year for his seat, was also a delegate to the Chicago convention. So was the Shreveport Republican and later a Nixon-appointed U.S. District Judge, Thomas Eaton "Tom" Stagg, Jr.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://politicalgraveyard.com/parties/R/1960/LA.html|title=Louisiana delegation to the 1960 Republican National Convention|publisher=The Political Graveyard|accessdate=January 6, 2015}}</ref>​

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In the 1964 presidential election, [[Barry Goldwater]] was the first Republican to carry the [[Deep South]], although he lost nearly everywhere else. Bagwell called for an "overhaul" of the state party leadership, arguing that more moderate policies were necessary for broader party success. The more [[conservative]] party leaders, including Floyd O. Crawford, the defeated Republican candidate for U.S. representative from [ouisiana's 6th congressional district; and [[Morton Blackwell]], later active as a Republican party official in [[Virginia]], criticized Bagwell for his comments: They "seem to come from another world and another era." Crawford said, "if Bagwell wishes to be a [[liberal]], then he should become a Democrat."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/1585755/louisiana_gop_factions_clash/ "Louisiana GOP Factions Clash"], ''Lake Charles American-Press'', November 13, 1964. Accessed 2015-01-16  – via Newspapers.com.}}</ref>​

In the 1964 presidential election, [[Barry Goldwater]] was the first Republican to carry the [[Deep South]], although he lost nearly everywhere else. Bagwell called for an "overhaul" of the state party leadership, arguing that more moderate policies were necessary for broader party success. The more [[conservative]] party leaders, including Floyd O. Crawford, the defeated Republican candidate for U.S. representative from Louisiana's 6th congressional district; and Morton Blackwell, later active as a Republican party official in [[Virginia]], criticized Bagwell for his comments: They "seem to come from another world and another era." Crawford said, "if Bagwell wishes to be a [[liberal]], then he should become a Democrat."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/1585755/louisiana_gop_factions_clash/|title="Louisiana GOP Factions Clash"|publisher=''Lake Charles American-Press''|date=November 13, 1964|accessdate=January 16, 2015}}</ref>​

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Bagwell died in 1973, four days before his 60th birthday. He and his wife, who predeceased him by two years, are interred at Resthaven Gardens of Memory in Baton Rouge.<ref name=findagrave/> Bagwell's papers, dated 1941 to 1969, which cover his Republican Party activities, are available through the LSU Archives.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldcat.org/title/harrison-g-bagwell-papers-1941-1969/oclc/174967703|title=Harrison G. Bagwell Papers|publisher=worldcat.org|accessdate=January 6, 2015}}</ref>​

Bagwell died in 1973, four days before his 60th birthday. He and his wife, who predeceased him by two years, are interred at Resthaven Gardens of Memory in Baton Rouge.<ref name=findagrave/> Bagwell's papers, dated 1941 to 1969, which cover his Republican Party activities, are available through the LSU Archives.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldcat.org/title/harrison-g-bagwell-papers-1941-1969/oclc/174967703|title=Harrison G. Bagwell Papers|publisher=worldcat.org|accessdate=January 6, 2015}}</ref>​

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Bagwell's namesake son, Harrison Garey "Gary" Bagwell, Jr. (1937-1985), entered the [[United States Navy]] during the [[Vietnam War]]. He served aboard the transport ship, ''U.S.S. Caddo Parish.'' His letters home described the [[Viet Cong]], military operations, and the people and landscape of [[South Vietnam]] and [[Taiwan]]. His papers are held in the Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley Collections of the LSU Archives. There is also a special feature in the archive from the ''New Orleans Item'' on the Louisiana Republican Party in 1952.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://beta.worldcat.org/archivegrid/collection/data/876590453|title=Gary Bagwell Letters|publisher=beta.worldcat.org|accessdate=January 23, 2015}}</ref>​

Bagwell's namesake son, Harrison Garey "Gary" Bagwell, Jr. (1937-1985), entered the [[United States Navy]] during the [[Vietnam War]]. He served aboard the transport ship, ''U.S.S. Caddo Parish.'' His letters home described the [[Viet Cong]], military operations, and the people and landscape of [[South Vietnam]] and [[Taiwan]]. His papers are held in the Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley Collections of the LSU Archives. There is also a special feature in the archive from the ''New Orleans Item'' on the Louisiana Republican Party in 1952.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://beta.worldcat.org/archivegrid/collection/data/876590453|title=Gary Bagwell Letters|publisher=beta.worldcat.org|accessdate=January 23, 2015}}</ref>​

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