Joe Waggonner

Joseph David Waggonner Jr.
Born	Template:Birth date Plain Dealing, Louisiana, U.S.
Died	October 7, 2007(2007-10-07) (aged 89)
Occupation(s)	Politician, businessman, military officer
Years active	1954–1979
Known for	U.S. Representative for Louisiana's 4th district (1961–1979), advisor to President Richard Nixon

Joseph David Waggonner Jr. (September 7, 1918 – October 7, 2007) served as a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Louisiana's 4th district from December 1961 until January 1979. He was also known as a trusted advisor to Republican President Richard Nixon.

Background

Born in Plain Dealing, Louisiana, Waggonner was the son of Joe David Waggonner Sr. and Elizzibeth Johnston. He completed his education at Plain Dealing High School and graduated from Louisiana Tech University in 1941, where he was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity. On December 14, 1942, he married Mary Ruth Carter. The couple eventually settled in Benton and Bossier City, Louisiana.

Waggonner held the rank of lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy during both World War II and the Korean conflict. Outside his military career, he was engaged in the wholesale petroleum products business.

His political career began in 1954 when he joined the Bossier Parish School Board, serving as its president from 1956 to 1957. In 1959, he made an unsuccessful bid for the Democratic nomination for Louisiana state comptroller.

On July 23, 1960, Waggonner won election to the Louisiana State Board of Education representing the Third District of the Louisiana Public Service Commission, defeating incumbent C. Raymond Heard. By 1961, he was president of both the Louisiana School Boards Association and the United Schools Committee of Louisiana, where he advocated for segregationist measures. Additionally, in the late 1950s, he co-founded the White Citizens Council and led its Louisiana Fourth District Chapter as president.

Election to Congress

Waggonner secured victory in a special election held on December 19, 1961, to fill the seat left vacant by U.S. Representative Overton Brooks’ death. Prior to this election, he had planned to challenge Brooks in the 1962 Democratic primary due to Brooks’ support for expanding the House Rules Committee, which allowed Speaker Sam Rayburn to appoint liberal members and alter the committee’s ideological balance. In the special election, Waggonner defeated Republican Charlton Lyons—a Shreveport oilman from Abbeville—with 54.5% of the vote. Throughout eight subsequent re-election campaigns, he faced opposition only twice and easily overcame primary challengers.

Rhodesia

On April 5, 1966, Waggonner commented on Rhodesia’s establishment:

Three generations ago, enterprising white settlers transformed what is now Rhodesia through their leadership and management skills. The lesson then remains relevant: the indigenous population lacked the capacity to create what we define as civilization. Having been guided out of savagery by white settlers, the Socialist left-wing faction now aims to return control to them—a subtle strategy to construct a Socialist pathway from Democracy toward Communism.

Republican/Southern Democrat coalition

During his tenure in Congress, Waggonner frequently allied with a coalition of Republicans and Southern Democrats later referred to as the "Boll Weevils." He was known for his fiscal conservatism and opposed numerous federal social welfare programs as well as civil rights legislation passed in 1964, 1965, and 1968. He also maintained a strong pro-military position regarding the Vietnam War.

Waggonner acted as an unofficial whip for President Richard Nixon during the impeachment inquiry. Initially confident that he could secure approximately seventy Democratic votes against impeachment, his influence diminished as proceedings progressed; eventually reporting only thirty-eight votes were attainable. This reduction indicated to Nixon that sufficient support to prevent impeachment was lacking.

Death

Following his passing on October 7, 2007, Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco directed that flags at both the State Capitol and Governor's Mansion be lowered to half-staff in tribute to Waggonner. Blanco described him as "a trailblazer in economic development for Northwest Louisiana," highlighting his dedication to advancing the area's prosperity.

Former Governor Buddy Roemer, who had opposed Waggonner in the 1978 House election, commended his nonpartisan attitude: "He consistently prioritized the interests of his district, state, and nation over party allegiance. Joe Waggonner rejected partisan divisions with a firm 'Nonsense!'"

External links

• Waggonner Center at Louisiana Tech University