Speaker of The Louisiana House, 1952
Aycock was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives in 1952 and, though a freshman member, was tapped by incoming Governor Robert F. Kennon as his choice for Speaker. In Louisiana, House Speakers routinely have the recommendation of the governor regardless of the separation of powers between executive and legislative branches. He was reelected to the legislature in 1956 but was not recommended for retention as Speaker by Kennon's successor, Earl Kemp Long. Long instead called Lorris M. Wimberly back as Speaker and then sent Wimberly to head the Department of Public Works in the summer of 1956. Wimberly's abrupt departure led to the accession of Speaker Robert Joseph "Bob" Angelle of St. Martin Parish. Aycock was associated with the anti-Long faction within the Louisiana Democratic Party.
While Aycock served as lieutenant governor and Speaker of the House, only John Hainkel, a lawyer from New Orleans, and John Alario, a businessman from Westwego, were elected by both the Senate and the House to their respective highest positions of Senate President and House Speaker.
Read more about this topic: Taddy Aycock
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