Changes

===Removal as chairman===

===Removal as chairman===

In 1985, Despot was removed as chairman  by a group identified with the "Religious Right," a number of whom had been supporters of former Governor Treen.] though it was unclear whether Treen was involved in the plot against Despot, and  Despot's predecessor as chairman, [[John Cade|John Hamilton Cade, Jr.]], a personal friend of Treen's from  [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]], was a leader of the anti-Despot forces at the meeting of the Republican State Central Committee.George Despot encountered opposition from [[conservative]] groups that flocked to the Republican Party over social issues, such as [[abortion]] and opposition to [[homosexual]] preferences. Among those defending Despot were [[Frank Spooner]] of [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]], the defeated 1976 Republican candidate for Louisiana's 5th congressional district seat, and state Representative [[Charles Lancaster]] of Jefferson Parish, who was first elected to the state House in 1972, when Treen ran unsuccessfully the first time for governor  [[Edwin Edwards]]. Spooner called Despot "the best chairman we ever had."<ref>Billy Hathorn, "[[Otto Passman]], Jerry Huckaby, and Frank Spooner: The Louisiana Fifth Congressional District Election of 1976", ''Louisiana History: The Journal of the Louisiana Historical Association'', LIV No. 3 (Summer 2013), pp. 347-348.</ref>

In 1985, Despot was removed as chairman  by a group identified with the "Religious Right," a number of whom had been supporters of former Governor Treen.] though it was unclear whether Treen was involved in the plot against Despot, and  Despot's predecessor as chairman, [[John Cade|John Hamilton Cade, Jr.]], a personal friend of Treen's from  [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]], was a leader of the anti-Despot forces at the meeting of the Republican State Central Committee.George Despot encountered opposition from [[conservative]] groups that flocked to the Republican Party over social issues, such as [[abortion]] and opposition to [[homosexual]] preferences. Among those defending Despot were [[Frank Spooner]] of [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]], who was defeated in 1976 by the Democrat [[Jerry Huckaby]] to succeed [[Otto Passman]] in the race for Louisiana's 5th congressional district seat, and state Representative [[Charles Lancaster]] of Jefferson Parish, first elected to the state House in 1972, when Treen ran unsuccessfully the first time for governor  [[Edwin Edwards]]. Spooner called Despot "the best chairman we ever had."<ref>Billy Hathorn, "Otto Passman, Jerry Huckaby, and Frank Spooner: The Louisiana Fifth Congressional District Election of 1976", ''Louisiana History: The Journal of the Louisiana Historical Association,'' LIV No. 3 (Summer 2013), pp. 347-348.</ref>

In 1988, Despot lost his own seat on the GOP central committee when supporters of the presidential candidate, the evangelist [[Pat Robertson]] of [[Virginia]], captured a third of the 144 seats on the committee. Despot wrote a prophetic internal memo at the time in which he warned that the Robertson forces wanted "to take control" of the state GOP. Beyond support of Robertson, the overriding issue was abortion. To Louisiana party loyalists, such as Despot, most of whom already opposed abortion, the challenge from the Robertson forces brought intra-party upheaval, which led to disastrous Republican election results in Louisiana in both 1991 and 1992.​

In 1988, Despot lost his own seat on the GOP central committee when supporters of the presidential candidate, the evangelist [[Pat Robertson]] of [[Virginia]], captured a third of the 144 seats on the committee. Despot wrote a prophetic internal memo at the time in which he warned that the Robertson forces wanted "to take control" of the state GOP. Beyond support of Robertson, the overriding issue was abortion. To Louisiana party loyalists, such as Despot, most of whom already opposed abortion, the challenge from the Robertson forces brought intra-party upheaval, which led to disastrous Republican election results in Louisiana in both 1991 and 1992.​

According to Rebecca Despot, an unnamed aide to then [[U.S. Senator]] [[John Breaux]], a Democrat, told her that the outcome of Louisiana elections "right after my father was ousted would have been different had he still been the chairman. I don't think people understand the passion he felt about what he was doing and that he was a man with a mission. They took his mission away, and people will never know what that did to him."<ref name=statement/>

According to Rebecca Despot, an unnamed aide to then [[U.S. Senator]] [[John Breaux]], a Democrat, told her that the outcome of Louisiana elections "right after my father was ousted would have been different had he still been the chairman. I don't think people understand the passion he felt about what he was doing and that he was a man with a mission. They took his mission away, and people will never know what that did to him."<ref name=statement/>

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===Republicans acceses Despot's record===  

===Republicans acceses Despot's record===  

​​Fellow Republicans throughout the state mourned Despot's death. Thenparty chairman [[William A. Nungesser|William Aicklen "Billy" Nungesser]] of Belle Chasse in Plaquemines Parish, aid that Despot's political savvy, his close relationship with President [[George Herbert Walker Bush]], and his ability to raise campaign funds would be missed by the state GOP.  

​​Fellow Republicans throughout the state mourned Despot's death. Thenparty chairman [[William A. Nungesser|William Aicklen "Billy" Nungesser]] of Belle Chasse in Plaquemines Parish, aid that Despot's political savvy, his close relationship with President [[George Herbert Walker Bush]], and his ability to raise campaign funds would be missed by the state GOP.