DeLesseps Morrison

Background

Morrison, DeLesseps Story, , 1912 1964 Male public official and diplomat, was born in New Roads, La. , the son of Jacob Haight Morrison, a lawyer, and of Anita Olivier.

Education

Morrison, who was called "Chep" throughout his life, graduated from Poydras Academy, a Catholic school, in 1928, from Louisiana State University in 1932, and from its law school in 1934.

Career

He worked briefly for the National Recovery Administration (1934 - 1935), before forming a law partnership in New Orleans with Hale Boggs, a future congressman.

But Morrison and Boggs practiced little law.

Instead, they assumed leadership of the city's forces opposed to the state administration, dominated by Huey Long and his family.

Morrison successfully campaigned in 1940 for the Louisiana House of Representatives.

In 1944, Morrison was reelected to the Louisiana House of Representatives while still in Europe.

Over the years Maestri had pushed the physical rehabilitation of the city, but had done little to halt the open vice that shocked many members of the community.

He defeated Maestri by 4, 372 votes.

In part his success was tied to his ability to establish a loyal political organization, the Crescent City Democratic Association (CCDA), which controlled municipal patronage, took responsibility for day-to-day decisions in the local wards, and made sure its members voted on Election Day.

Morrison also established a record as a progressive, energetic leader.

Morrison's public image was so secure that he survived charges of corruption in the police department.

New Orleanians knew that prostitutes, bookmakers, and gamblers paid the police money for protection.

In the 1920's former mayor Martin Behrman had dismissed a similar situation by explaining, "You might make prostitution illegal, but you can't make it unpopular. "

But these activities embarrassed Morrison politically.

He became embroiled in a bitter controversy with his police chief, Adair Watters, over cleaning up the department.

Morrison paid little attention to race relations, believing that the city's blacks preferred separation.

Consequently there were no blacks in the CCDA and no blacks held important city jobs.

For example, when black leaders sought to use a "for whites only" city golf course, Morrison had the city council appropriate money for a golf course for blacks.

He was never able to overcome his urban image to win the support of rural Louisianians.

Long often called the mayor "Dellasoups" or "deLesseps Storeytelling" or "Make-up Morrison. "

In the "rape of New Orleans, " as commentators called it, the governor took control of the city's port, reduced revenue by more than $5 million, and enlarged the City Commission so as to weaken Morrison's power.

The mayor responded by leading protest marches in Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

He successfully organized a campaign against several of Long's proposed constitutional amendments.

Later, when Russell Long, Huey's son, sought to win his first full term as a U. S. senator, Earl Long found himself forced to negotiate for the support of the CCDA.

Russell Long won his election, and the legislature, at a subsequent session, returned many of Morrison's powers and much of the city's revenues.

Earl Long never again tried to subject Morrison to punitive legislation.

After less than two years of service he returned to Louisiana to undertake his third and final gubernatorial campaign.

[Morrison's correspondence is at the Howard-Tilton Memorial Library, Tulane University, and in the City Archives, New Orleans Public Library.

Morrison wrote, Latin American Mission, edited by Gerold Frank (1965).

Also see Edward F. Haas, DeLesseps S. Morrison and the Image of Reform (1974); and Joseph B. Parker, The Morrison Era (1974).

An obituary is in the New York Times, May 24, 1964. ]

Politics

In Baton Rouge he was floor leader for Governor Sam Houston Jones's administration and supported civil service and voting machine legislation.

Connections

married:

Corrine

On Oct. 3, 1942, Morrison married Corrine Waterman; they had three children.

children:

Corrine

On Oct. 3, 1942, Morrison married Corrine Waterman; they had three children.

Brother:

Earl

In campaigns outside of New Orleans, Governor Earl Long (Huey's brother) and his successors delighted rural audiences with verbal characterizations of Morrison.

Friend:

S.

He returned home the following year and entered the 1946 New Orleans mayoralty primary against the incumbent, Robert S. Maestri, who had been a close friend of Huey Long.