Robert Kennon: Reform Governor

During the 1950's reform candidates continued to make efforts to win elections in Louisiana. Robert F. Kennon was a reform candidate who won the governor's seat and served from 1952 to 1956.

Kennon's opponents in the 1952 election included Judge Carlos G. Spaht (Earl Long's handpicked candidate), William J. Dodd (a Longite who broke from Earl), U. S. Representative Hale Boggs (friend of Senator Russell Long), and three minor candidates. With the "Long" vote split,e Kennon came in second in the general election and received the endorsement of most of the other candidates. Kennon easily beat opponent Spaht in the runoff election.

Kennon brought modern management principles to the state government. He fist instituted budgetary procedures that enabled the state to carefully control the expenditure of state funds (remember, they had been spent freely for years) and reduce taxes.

Civil service reform was again instituted to do away with spoils and nepotism in state hiring. The merit system was restored and tough provisions were written into the enabling legislation to safeguard the jobs of state employees. To protect the civil service system from political tampering by any future administrations, the law provided that a two-thirds vote of the legislature would be needed to make substantial changes.

During Kennon's administration several constitutional amendments were introduced to reduce the powers of the governor over state highway and welfare departments. Citizen boards were given increased authority over the state college and university systems and New Orleans was given home-charter rule.

Kennon appointed a superintendent of state police that took fighting crime seriously. There was a massive crackdown on the illegal gambling in the New Orleans and other southern Louisiana parishes. There were campaigns against prostitution, also.

Governor Kennon's administration was remarkably free of graft and corruption. Kennon did not let "politics" get in his way of doing what he thought was right. Although a Democrat he did not always support the national party and in the presidential elections of 1952 and 1956, Kennon supported the Republican candidate, Dwight Eisenhower. Because of his independent spirit, Governor Kennon was not popular with many other politicians and was disliked by some voters. But his accomplishments helped Louisiana join the modern era.

More about Robert Kennon

• Robert Floyd Kennon, bio from the governors collection at the Louisiana Secretary of State web site

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