Leslie Cornelius Arends

Republican Representative of Illinois's 15th district

Congresses Served

House Terms

September 27, 1895 (89 years old)

Birthday

July 17, 1985

Death

Served in the United States House of Representatives for nearly 40 years (1935-1974)
Held the position of Republican Whip in the House for over 30 years, making him the longest-serving whip in U.S. House history
Served in the United States Navy during World War I
Involved in farming and banking before entering politics, eventually becoming president of a local bank
Played a significant role in the Conservative Coalition, influencing the domestic agenda from 1937 to 1964
Supported Robert A. Taft over Dwight D. Eisenhower for the 1952 Republican presidential nomination and was an early supporter of Richard M. Nixon and Barry Goldwater
Voted in favor of the Civil Rights Acts of 1957, 1964, and 1968, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965
Remained loyal to Richard M. Nixon during the Watergate scandal, stating he would not vote to impeach
After retiring from Congress, served on the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board
Papers are part of the collections at Illinois Wesleyan University, where a special collections room is named in his honor
Died in Naples, Florida, and was buried in Melvin, Illinois