Maurice Gatlin for Congress
From: jpshinley@my-deja.com
Date: 6/7/99 7:51 AM Eastern Daylight Time
Message-id: <7jgbnh$llu$1@nnrp1.deja.com>
In 1954, it was Maurice Gatlin's turn to serve as the token
far-right opposition to veteran Second District Congressman T. Hale
Boggs in the Democratic primary.(1) Gatlin's campaign included a couple
of TV programs on station WDSU. On the July 6 program, he displayed an
affidavit in which he swore that he was not a member of the Communist
party or any Communist front.(2) The next week, "Gatlin's program
... began with a picture of a hangman's noose which he described as
the menace of communism. The next scene showed the American flag."
Gatlin promised "to do all in my power ... to see that no American
goes to fight in Indochina [Viet Nam], Korea, or any other foreign
country." (3)
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Unsurprisingly, Gatlin lost on July 27 by a considerable margin,
51,875 to 4577. (4) Gatlin responded graciously by vowing to challenge
the results in court if Boggs did not execute a "simple oath that he
is not and never has been a Communist." (5) Boggs' response? "I'm not
the slightest concerned. What Maurice Gatlin does is no concern of
mine. He can sue or do whatever he wants to." (6)
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Gatlin's action in court proved ultimately unsuccessful. (7)
But, on August 3, Boggs succumbed to Gatlin's hectoring and took a
loyalty oath in Washington before Congressional leaders. (8)
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Citations from the New Orleans Times-Picayune
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1. May 22, 1954 p1
Hebert Unopposed; Boggs Has Opponent
Gatlin in Primary Election for Congress Seat
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2. July 7, 1954 p3
Candidate Labels Communists Foes
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3. July 14, 1954 p22
Gatlin Pledges to War on Reds
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4. July 28, 1954 p1
Ellender Renominated; Lead May Top 100,000
Carries Outside But Loses Orleans to Ellis
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5. July 29, 1954 P3
Gatlin Demands Boggs Sign Oath
Threatens to Contest Primary
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6. July 30, 1954 P18
Rep. Boggs Cites Oath in Attack
Says Charges by Gatlin Unworthy of Reply
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7. Aug 3, 1954 P12
Gatlin Motion is Turned Down
Judge Herget Refuses to Sign Restraining Order
[The judge threw the case out because a similar suit filed when
Boggs ran for Louisiana Governor had failed. The suit had been
filed by a rival candidate, Lucille Mae Grace, with the backing
of Leander Perez.]
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8. Aug 4, 1954 P11
Boggs Affidavit Denies Red Link
Makes Oath Before Leaders in Congress
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Jerry Shinley
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