Harold B. McSween
Encyclopedia
Harold Barnett McSween was a Louisiana
businessman and politician
who served in the now defunct 8th congressional district
for two terms as a Democrat
.
McSween was born in Alexandria
, the seat of Rapides Parish and the largest city in Central Louisiana. He was the president of the Rapides Savings and Loan Association in downtown Alexandria. He had four children, John, Robert, Elizabeth, and Sally.
McSween was first elected in 1958 to succeed the late George S. Long
, older brother of Huey Long
and Earl Kemp Long. McSween then lost the 1960 Democratic congressional nomination to former Governor
Earl Kemp Long. Earl Long died a few days later, and the Democratic State Central Committee named McSween the nominee for the November election after all. In that Republicans failed to offer a candidate, McSween was in the enviable but unlikely position of being unopposed for reelection even after having been denied renomination. It was said that only in Louisiana could a candidate lose his primary and win his general election
without opposition.
On January 31, 1961, McSween joined a slim 217–212 majority to increase the size of the House Rules Committee to permit Speaker
Sam Rayburn
of Texas
to add newer, more liberal members to the panel, which controls the flow of legislation in the chamber. This vote, also cast by McSween's colleague from Shreveport
, Overton Brooks
, angered conservatives in both parties.
In 1962, Gillis William Long
unseated McSween in the Democratic primary. Long's views and voting record were virtually identical to those of McSween.
McSween later ran into legal problems in connection with his savings and loan.
In 2001, McSween was inducted into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame
in Winnfield
. McSween died in Alexandria. He is interred at Greenwood Memorial Park in Pineville
.
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
businessman and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who served in the now defunct 8th congressional district
Louisiana's 8th congressional district
Louisiana's 8th congressional district is a defunct Congressional district and no longer exists after Louisiana lost its eighth Congressional seat in the 1990 U. S. Census. For its entire existence, it was based in Alexandria and included much of the north-central part of the state.-List of...
for two terms as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
.
McSween was born in Alexandria
Alexandria, Louisiana
Alexandria is a city in and the parish seat of Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies on the south bank of the Red River in almost the exact geographic center of the state. It is the principal city of the Alexandria metropolitan area which encompasses all of Rapides and Grant parishes....
, the seat of Rapides Parish and the largest city in Central Louisiana. He was the president of the Rapides Savings and Loan Association in downtown Alexandria. He had four children, John, Robert, Elizabeth, and Sally.
McSween was first elected in 1958 to succeed the late George S. Long
George S. Long
George Shannon "Doc" Long was a member of the powerful Long political dynasty in Louisiana and a Democratic U.S. representative from the defunct Eighth Congressional District from 1953-1958. The late Speedy O. Long of La Salle Parish, another member of the family, once jokingly compared George...
, older brother of Huey Long
Huey Long
Huey Pierce Long, Jr. , nicknamed The Kingfish, served as the 40th Governor of Louisiana from 1928–1932 and as a U.S. Senator from 1932 to 1935. A Democrat, he was noted for his radical populist policies. Though a backer of Franklin D...
and Earl Kemp Long. McSween then lost the 1960 Democratic congressional nomination to former Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
Earl Kemp Long. Earl Long died a few days later, and the Democratic State Central Committee named McSween the nominee for the November election after all. In that Republicans failed to offer a candidate, McSween was in the enviable but unlikely position of being unopposed for reelection even after having been denied renomination. It was said that only in Louisiana could a candidate lose his primary and win his general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
without opposition.
On January 31, 1961, McSween joined a slim 217–212 majority to increase the size of the House Rules Committee to permit Speaker
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, or Speaker of the House, is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives...
Sam Rayburn
Sam Rayburn
Samuel Taliaferro Rayburn , often called "Mr. Sam," or "Mr. Democrat," was a Democratic lawmaker from Bonham, Texas, who served as the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives for seventeen years, the longest tenure in U.S. history.- Background :Rayburn was born in Roane County, Tennessee, and...
of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
to add newer, more liberal members to the panel, which controls the flow of legislation in the chamber. This vote, also cast by McSween's colleague from Shreveport
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
, Overton Brooks
Overton Brooks
Thomas Overton Brooks was a Democratic U.S. representative from the Shreveport-based Fourth Congressional District of northwest Louisiana, having served for a quarter century beginning on January 3, 1937. Brooks was a nephew of U.S. Senator John Holmes Overton as well as a great-grandson of Walter...
, angered conservatives in both parties.
In 1962, Gillis William Long
Gillis William Long
Gillis William Long was a Democratic U.S. Representative from Louisiana and member of the Long family. Long served seven non-consecutive terms in the United States House of Representatives but placed third in two campaigns for the Democratic gubernatorial nominations in 1963 and 1971...
unseated McSween in the Democratic primary. Long's views and voting record were virtually identical to those of McSween.
McSween later ran into legal problems in connection with his savings and loan.
In 2001, McSween was inducted into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame
Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame
The Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame in Winnfield, Louisiana, highlights the careers of more than a hundred of the state’s leading politicians and political journalists. Because three governors, Huey P. Long, Jr., Oscar K...
in Winnfield
Winnfield, Louisiana
Winnfield is a city in and the parish seat of Winn Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 5,749 at the 2000 census. It has long been associated with the Long faction of the Louisiana Democratic Party and was home to three governors of Louisiana.-Geography:Winnfield is located at ...
. McSween died in Alexandria. He is interred at Greenwood Memorial Park in Pineville
Pineville, Louisiana
Pineville is a city in Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is adjacent to the city of Alexandria, and is part of that city's Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 13,829 at the 2000 census....
.