Changes

Despot earned his living in the oil and natural gas business as the owner of Despot Explorations, Inc.​

Despot earned his living in the oil and natural gas business as the owner of Despot Explorations, Inc.​

​

​

==As state chairman==​

As state GOP chairman==​

​

​

In 1960, Despot sponsored Republican advertisements for the [[Richard M. Nixon|Nixon]]/[[Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr.|Lodge]] presidential ticket, which lost in Louisiana to the [[John F. Kennedy|Kennedy]]-[[Lyndon B. Johnson|Johnson]] slate of [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] electors].<ref>''Minden Press,'' October 17, 1960.</ref> In 1964, Despot rallied behind the [[Governor|gubernatorial]] candidacy of Shreveporter [[Charlton Lyons]], who  waged the first serious Republican campaign in modern Louisiana history but fell far short of victory. Despot and a friend, Shreveport [[Certified Public Accountant|CPA]] [[George A. Burton]], were named by Lyons as the campaign co-chairmen, largely because it was Despot and Burton who convinced Lyons to run for governor. The winner was Democrat i [[John J. McKeithen]]. While Lyons was running for governor, Despot was an unsuccessful candidate for the Caddo Parish Police Jury, now known as the Caddo Parish Commission.​

In 1960, Despot sponsored Republican advertisements for the [[Richard M. Nixon|Nixon]]/[[Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr.|Lodge]] presidential ticket, which lost in Louisiana to the [[John F. Kennedy|Kennedy]]-[[Lyndon B. Johnson|Johnson]] slate of [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] electors].<ref>''Minden Press,'' October 17, 1960.</ref> In 1964, Despot rallied behind the [[Governor|gubernatorial]] candidacy of Shreveporter [[Charlton Lyons]], who  waged the first serious Republican campaign in modern Louisiana history but fell far short of victory. Despot and a friend, Shreveport [[Certified Public Accountant|CPA]] [[George A. Burton]], were named by Lyons as the campaign co-chairmen, largely because it was Despot and Burton who convinced Lyons to run for governor. The winner was Democrat i [[John J. McKeithen]]. While Lyons was running for governor, Despot was an unsuccessful candidate for the Caddo Parish Police Jury, now known as the Caddo Parish Commission.​

​

​

<blockquote>

<blockquote>

The party endorsement is worth a great deal. Some voters will not have a chance to meet either candidate. Without party endorsement, they might not vote for either Republican. I will enforce party discipline with an iron hand across this state. If the chair refuses to call a caucus, I will remove the Political Action Council chairwoman.<ref>''Shreveport Journal,' January 8, 1980.​</blockquote>​

The party endorsement is worth a great deal. Some voters will not have a chance to meet either candidate. Without party endorsement, they might not vote for either Republican. I will enforce party discipline with an iron hand across this state. If the chair refuses to call a caucus, I will remove the Political Action Council chairwoman.<ref>''Shreveport Journal,'' January 8, 1980.​</blockquote>​

​

​

Despot noted that his party could not then realistically contest all offices on the ballot: "There are just some [legislative] districts in the state where there is little opportunity for a Republican to get elected."<ref>''Shreveport Journal,'' January 8, 1980.</ref> This pick-and-choose approach was not conducive to rapid growth for the GOP but instead contributed to the partisan complexion of the legislature remaining largely unchanged even when Republican [David C. Treen]] was elected governor in 1979.​

Despot noted that his party could not then realistically contest all offices on the ballot: "There are just some [legislative] districts in the state where there is little opportunity for a Republican to get elected."<ref>''Shreveport Journal,'' January 8, 1980.</ref> This pick-and-choose approach was not conducive to rapid growth for the GOP but instead contributed to the partisan complexion of the legislature remaining largely unchanged even when Republican [David C. Treen]] was elected governor in 1979.​

Despot's Republican Party papers are in the archives section of Louisiana State University in Shreveport.​

Despot's Republican Party papers are in the archives section of Louisiana State University in Shreveport.​

​

​

​

​==References==

==References==​

{{reflist}}​ ​

{{reflist}}​

*''[[Shreveport Journal]]'' August 23, 1979​.

​ ​

*''[[Shreveport Journal]]'' August 23, 1979, January 8, 1980​.

​

​

{{DEFAULTSORT:Despot, George}}​

{{DEFAULTSORT:Despot, George}}​