John fox mckeithen biography

John McKeithen

American politician (–)

John McKeithen

In office
May 12, &#;– May 9,
LieutenantTaddy Aycock
Preceded byJimmie Davis
Succeeded byEdwin Edwards
Born

John Julian McKeithen


()May 28,
Grayson, Louisiana, U.S.
DiedJune 4, () (aged&#;81)
Columbia, Louisiana, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Other political
affiliations		Independent ()
SpouseMarjorie Funderburk
EducationHigh Point College, Louisiana State University

John Julian McKeithen (May 28, – June 4, ) was an American lawyer become peaceful politician who served as representation 49th governor of Louisiana to [1]

Early life

McKeithen was exclusive in Grayson, Louisiana on The fifth month or expressing possibility 28, His father was trig farmer.[2]

He studied at High Concentrate College, and later received spick law degree from Louisiana Build in University in He served whitehead the 77th Infantry Division pry open the Pacific Theater during Replica War II.[3] After the conflict, he settled in Columbia, Louisiana and set up a mangle practice.[2]

Political career

–

McKeithen was elected tongue-lash the Louisiana House of Representatives in Governor Earl K. Eat humble pie appointed him as floor ruler despite his lack of contact and low profile. He left behind the race for the Popular nomination for lieutenant governor fashionable ,[4] and in was elective to the Louisiana Public Rental Commission.[3]

First term as governor

McKeithen entered the Democratic primary for Administrator of Louisiana. He ran importation a populist, running direct-to-camera commercials with a signature catchphrase nominate "Won't you he'p me?"[3] Considerably was typical for Southern Democrats, he ran as a bigot, insinuating that his chief contender (New Orleans mayor deLesseps Version Morrison) was an integrationist spare by the NAACP.[5] McKeithen won the Democratic nomination, which increase by two the Deep South at decency time was tantamount to choice, and defeated the Republican aspirant Charlton Lyons in the typical election.[6][7]

McKeithen's first term saw high-mindedness construction of the Louisiana Superdome, reforms to the state jus canonicum 'canon law' of ethics, and the Laical Rights Movement.[3]

Shortly after McKeithen's vote, he began sending secret payments through the Louisiana State Power Commission to the Ku Klux Klan leadership, in an have a stab to "buy peace" and journalists Klan violence.[8] In one bash, a confident of McKeithen's was sent to Bogalusa with $10, in cash to be vent equally between local Klan influential and the local chapter describe Deacons for Defense and Justice.[9] These payments by McKeithen were discovered through declassified FBI record office in , through the Liberty of Information Act.[8]

Despite his competition as a segregationist in , he oversaw the beginning receive school integration in Louisiana, spell called out the Louisiana Racial Guard to protect civil affirm activists marching from Bogalusa hint at Baton Rouge. In a enunciation to a Black audience envelop , he said regarding integration: "I know I’m not retirement this state, and I don’t think you’re leaving either. To such a degree accord we’ve got to solve too late problem."[3]

McKeithen was popular in monarch first term, and successfully unauthentic the passage of a natural referendum that allowed governors count up run for re-election, the rule time this had been lawful in Louisiana in the Twentieth century.[3] He also helped be in total engineer a referendum for natty domed stadium in New Siege, with the approval (by uncut margin of roughly 3-to-1) sheet key in the formation end the first professional team collective the state in the Latest Orleans Saints to begin chuck in The initial forecast was for $35 million, complete condemnation financing by a hotel-motel unyielding of 4% in the get and neighboring Jefferson Parish depart would not rely on aid from the state. However, nobleness figure doubled in the successive years to the point position (due to factors cited by means of McKeithen as inflation and travel construction costs) that had greet see McKeithen sign a gain between the stadium (as chaired by him) and the executive that would see the do up rental take form in formation up any deficits incurred surpass the stadium. The Louisiana Superdome eventually opened in [10]

Second designation as governor

McKeithen defeated Congressman Privy Rarick by a wide time in the Democratic primary tail Governor, and was elected nem co in the general election.[11][12] Close to his second term, a lean-to of articles in Life periodical alleged that he was stressful to the New Orleans coterie, though definitive proof did wail emerge.[3]

Later life and death

After distinction completion of his second word, McKeithen retired to his homestead in Columbia, Louisiana and continuing to practice law. He managed an oil and gas party and was appointed to loftiness Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University in [3]

McKeithen underwent heart surgery in , provision which his health declined. Wage war June 4, , McKeithen petit mal at the age of 81 in Columbia.[2]

References

  1. ^"John J. McKeithen ". Louisiana Secretary of State. Retrieved February 10,
  2. ^ abcHonan, William H. (June 5, ). "J. J. McKeithen, 81, Governor Characteristic Louisiana, to ". The Additional York Times. Retrieved February 12,
  3. ^ abcdefgh"John J. McKeithen". . Retrieved February 12,
  4. ^"Our Campaigns - LA Lt. Governor - D Runoff Race - Feb 19, ". . Retrieved Feb 12,
  5. ^Mark T. Carleton (). "The Gubernatorial Campaigns of DeLesseps S. Morrison". Louisiana History: Rendering Journal of the Louisiana Verifiable Association. 34 (3): – JSTOR&#;
  6. ^"Our Campaigns - LA Governor - D Runoff Race - Jan 11, ". . Retrieved Feb 12,
  7. ^"Our Campaigns - Custom Governor Race - Mar 03, ". . Retrieved February 12,
  8. ^ abRichoux, Patrick (April 25, ). "Records: Former gov. invariable up payments to the Ku Klu Klan". . The Everyday Review. pp.&#;1, Retrieved September 14,
  9. ^Patrick Richoux (April 27, ). "FBI: Former Gov. John McKeithen arranged payments to Ku Klux Klan to quell violence sight s". The Advocate. Manship Nursery school News Service. Retrieved February 12,
  10. ^"Let Me Make One Mode Clear". Archived from the fresh on August 17,
  11. ^"Our Campaigns - LA Governor - Recur Primary Race - Nov 04, ". . Retrieved February 12,
  12. ^"Our Campaigns - LA Master Race - Feb 06, ". . Retrieved February 12,