Leslie C. Arends | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Arends in July 1973 | |
| House Minority Whip | |
| In office January 3, 1955 – December 31, 1974 | |
| Leader | Joseph W. Martin Jr. Charles A. Halleck Gerald Ford John J. Rhodes |
| Preceded by | John W. McCormack |
| Succeeded by | Robert H. Michel |
| In office January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1953 | |
| Leader | Joseph W. Martin Jr. |
| Preceded by | John W. McCormack |
| Succeeded by | John W. McCormack |
| In office May 13, 1943 – January 3, 1947 | |
| Leader | Joseph W. Martin Jr. |
| Preceded by | Harry L. Englebright |
| Succeeded by | John W. McCormack |
| House Majority Whip | |
| In office January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1955 | |
| Leader | Charles A. Halleck |
| Preceded by | Percy Priest |
| Succeeded by | Carl Albert |
| In office January 3, 1947 – January 3, 1949 | |
| Leader | Charles A. Halleck |
| Preceded by | John Sparkman |
| Succeeded by | Percy Priest |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois | |
| In office January 3, 1935 – December 31, 1974 | |
| Preceded by | Frank Gillespie |
| Succeeded by | Tim Lee Hall |
| Constituency | 17th district (1935–1973) 15th district (1973–1974) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Leslie Cornelius Arends September 27, 1895 Melvin, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | July 17, 1985 (aged 89) Naples, Florida, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Betty Tychon |
| Children | 1 |
| Profession | Farmer Banker |
Leslie Cornelius Arends (September 27, 1895 – July 17, 1985) was a Republican politician from Illinois who served in the United States House of Representatives from 1935 until 1974.
A native and lifelong resident of Melvin, Illinois, Arends attended Oberlin College and served in the United States Navy during World War I. He was involved in farming and banking; in addition to renting out several farms he owned, he eventually became president of the local bank his father had started.
Arends was elected to the U.S. House in 1934. He served from 1935 until resigning on December 31, 1974. From 1943 until his retirement, Arends served as the Republican Whip, holding the post during periods of Republican majority (1947-1949, 1953–1955) and minority (1943-1947, 1949–1953, 1955–1974). In addition, Arends rose by seniority to become the ranking minority member of the House Armed Services Committee.
A party loyalist, Arends opposed much government spending, and provided strong support to the party's presidential candidates. He remained loyal to Richard M. Nixon during the Watergate scandal, and indicated that he would not vote to impeach Nixon.
After resigning from the House, Arends served on the President's Intelligence Advisory Board, and lived in retirement in Melvin, Washington, DC, and Naples, Florida. He died in Naples, and was buried in Melvin.