Hale Boggs

Thomas Hale Boggs Sr. (February 15, 1914–October 16, 1972) was a member of the United States House of Representatives for Louisiana. In 1972, he was the House Majority Leader when, at age 58, the twin engine airplane in which he was traveling over a very remote section of Alaska disappeared. The plane presumably crashed into a mountain or ravine, with no survivors. Congressman Nick Begich was also presumed killed in that accident.

Related Topics:
February 15 - 1914 - October 16 - 1972 - United States House of Representatives - Louisiana - House Majority Leader - Alaska - Nick Begich

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Born in Long Beach, Mississippi, Boggs was educated at Tulane University where he received bachelor's in journalism in 1934 and a law degree in 1937. He first practiced law in New Orleans, but soon became a leader in the movement to break Huey Long's political power in the area. A Democrat, Boggs was elected to the House for the second district and served from 1941 to 1943. At the time he was elected he was, at age 26, the youngest member of Congress. After an unsuccessful re-election bid in 1942, Boggs joined the United States Navy as an ensign, serving out the rest of World War II.

Related Topics:
Long Beach, Mississippi - Tulane University - New Orleans - Huey Long - Democrat - United States Navy - World War II

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After the war, he began his political comeback. He was again elected to Congress in 1946 and was then re-elected 13 times, once just after he disappeared, but before he was presumed dead. He ran an unsuccessful race for the governorship of Louisiana in 1952.

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During his tenure in Congress, Boggs was an influential player in the government. After Brown v. Board of Education he signed The Southern Manifesto condemning desegregation. He was instrumental in passage of the interstate highway program in 1956, and was a member of the Warren Commission in 1963-4. He served as Majority Whip from 1961 to 1970 and as majority leader (from January 1971). As majority whip, he ushered much of President Johnson's Great Society legislation through Congress.

Related Topics:
Brown v. Board of Education - The Southern Manifesto - Interstate highway - Warren Commission - Majority Whip - President Johnson's - Great Society

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His influence also led to charges of corruption. Controversy surrounded him, when a contractor who remodeled his home in Bethesda, Maryland at a reduced cost sought his help for obtaining a $5 million extra payment for building a garage adjacent to the United States Capitol building.

Related Topics:
Bethesda - United States Capitol

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As Majority Leader he campaigned tirelessly for others. He was aboard a twin engine Cessna 310 with Representative Nick Begich when it disappeared during a flight from Anchorage to Juneau, Alaska. Begich's aide and a pilot were the only others on board. The four were heading for a campaign fund raiser for Begich. In the largest search ever mounted by the US military, Coast Guard, Navy, and Air Force planes searched for the party. The search was abandoned after 39 days. The men's remains were never found.

Related Topics:
Cessna 310 - Nick Begich - Anchorage - Juneau, Alaska - Coast Guard - Navy - Air Force

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Both Boggs and Begich were re-elected that November. House Resolution 1 of January 3, 1973 officially recognized Boggs' presumed death and opened the way for a special election. In 1973 Boggs' wife since 1938, Lindy, was elected to the second district seat left vacant by his death, where she served until 1991.

Related Topics:
January 3 - 1973 - Lindy

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The events surrounding Boggs' death have been the subject of numerous conspiracy theories. These theories often center around his involvement with the Warren Commission, but some tie his death to alleged corruption charges or his outspoken opposition to powerful FBI director J. Edgar Hoover. Some, including several of Begich's children, have suggested that Richard Nixon had a hand in Boggs' death in order to thwart the Watergate investigation. None of these theories has ever been proven.

Related Topics:
Conspiracy theories - FBI - J. Edgar Hoover - Richard Nixon - Watergate

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Hale and Lindy Boggs had three children: journalist Cokie Roberts, Tommy Boggs, a prominent attorney and lobbyist and the late Barbara Boggs Sigmund, who served as mayor of Princeton, New Jersey.

Related Topics:
Journalist - Cokie Roberts - Tommy Boggs - Attorney - Lobbyist - Mayor - Princeton, New Jersey

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