Felix Edward Hébert

Felix Hébert (center) visits the Marshall Space Flight Center in 1962.

Felix Edward Hébert (born October 12, 1901 in New Orleans , Louisiana , † December 29, 1979 there ) was an American politician . He represented the state of Louisiana in the US House of Representatives .

Career

Hébert studied at Jesuit High School in New Orleans, where he wrote sporting articles for the New Orleans Times-Picayune . He then went to Tulane University and became the first sports editor of Tulane Hullabaloo . He graduated in 1924.

After graduating, he pursued a career in public (for Loyola University ) and in journalism for the Times-Picayune and New Orleans States (a newspaper that was later acquired by the Times-Picayune while Hébert was still working there). As a front page columnist and political editor, he covered the candidacy and election of Huey P. Long as Senator from Louisiana . His report in the Louisiana Scandal about corruption in the Long family led to the conviction of Governor Richard W. Leche and LSU President James Monroe Smith .

Hébert's coverage of the events led to his election as a Democrat in the 77th US Congress in 1940 , where he served until the end of the 94th Congress. He was not put up for re-election in 1976. This durability set a record in Louisiana for the longest tenure in the House of Representatives.

Hébert was chairman of the Committee on Armed Services between 1971 and 1975 . He was then removed from its presidency by a revolt by the increasingly young and liberal House Democratic Caucus , on the grounds of his seniority. Many of the young Democrats were not pleased when he addressed the new members of the House of Representatives as "boys and girls," with many also considering him a subordinate of the Department of Defense .

Hébert retired to New Orleans, where he died on December 29, 1979. He was buried in the Lake Lawn Park mausoleum in New Orleans .

Web links

• Felix Edward Hébert in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)
• 1969 F. Edward Hebert Oral History Interview (as PDF file ), from the LBJ Library and Museum (138 kB)