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In the 1962 general election, Long defeated Taylor Walters O'Hearn of Shreveport, who two years later became one of the first two Republicans elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives since [[Reconstruction]]. In 1974, the Republicans could not recruit a candidate to oppose Long because of the likelihoof of failure, explained the then party chairman [[James H. Boyce]]. In 1980, in his last Senate race, Long defeated [[Woody Jenkins]] of Baton Rouge, then a Democrat who ran again for the Senate in 1996 as a Republican against current Senator [[Mary Landrieu]]. As a youth, Jenkins had been a page for O'Hearn and Republican Morley A. Hudson in the Louisiana House, in which Jenkins himself served from 1972 to 2000.

In the 1962 general election, Long defeated Taylor Walters O'Hearn of Shreveport, who two years later became one of the first two Republicans elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives since [[Reconstruction]]. In 1974, the Republicans could not recruit a candidate to oppose Long because of the likelihoof of failure, explained the then party chairman [[James H. Boyce]]. In 1980, in his last Senate race, Long defeated [[Woody Jenkins]] of Baton Rouge, then a Democrat who ran again for the Senate in 1996 as a Republican against current Senator [[Mary Landrieu]]. As a youth, Jenkins had been a page for O'Hearn and Republican Morley A. Hudson in the Louisiana House, in which Jenkins himself served from 1972 to 2000.

Long was known for a humorous quote about taxation. One version say, "Don't tax you, don't tax me, tax that fellow behind that tree!" Long retired from the Senate, and the Democrat [[John Breaux]] won the seat, which he held for three terms. Long became a high-powered lawyer-lobbyist on leaving the Senate. From 1972 until 1987, his senatorial colleague was fellow Democrat [[J. Bennett Johnston, Jr.]], of Shreveport, who also became a lobbyist on retirement from the Senate. From 1948 until 1972, Long's Louisiana colleage was [[Allen J. Ellender]], a Democrat from Terrebonne Parish, who like Long was known for his opposition to the [[Joseph McCarthy]] communist investigations of the 1950s..  

Long was known for a humorous quote about taxation. One version says, "Don't tax you, don't tax me, tax that fellow behind that tree!" Long retired from the Senate, and the Democrat [[John Breaux]] won the seat, which he held for three terms. Long became a high-powered lawyer-lobbyist on leaving the Senate. From 1972 until 1987, his senatorial colleague was fellow Democrat [[J. Bennett Johnston, Jr.]], of Shreveport, who also became a lobbyist on retirement from the Senate. From 1948 until 1972, Long's Louisiana colleage was [[Allen J. Ellender]], a Democrat from Terrebonne Parish, who like Long was known for his opposition to the [[Joseph McCarthy]] communist investigations of the 1950s..  

Though a partisan Democrat, Long struck up a close friendship with at least two Republican senators, [[Clifford Hansen]] of Wyoming and [[Bob Dole]] of [[Kansas]]. Hansen, in an interview long after he had left Washington, said that Long, with whom he served on the Finance Committee, took a special interest in western ranchers and how they were impacted by the tax code and federal regulations. After a divorce from their first wives, Long and Dole both married women from [[North Carolina]] and maintained a close friendship over the years. In 1980, Dole cut a commercial for the Long senatorial campaign, when Long was opposed by Woody Jenkins. Oddly, in 1996, Jenkins narrowly lost the Senate race to Landrieu while Dole, as the Republican presidential nominee, was losing Louisiana to U.S. President [[Bill Clinton]]. In 1981, Dole succeeded Long as chairman of the Finance Committee when the Republicans gained a Senate majority for the first time since 1954.

Though a partisan Democrat, Long struck up a close friendship with at least two Republican senators, [[Clifford Hansen]] of Wyoming and [[Bob Dole]] of [[Kansas]]. Hansen, in an interview long after he had left Washington, said that Long, with whom he served on the Finance Committee, took a special interest in western ranchers and how they were impacted by the tax code and federal regulations. After a divorce from their first wives, Long and Dole both married women from [[North Carolina]] and maintained a close friendship over the years. In 1980, Dole cut a commercial for the Long senatorial campaign, when Long was opposed by Woody Jenkins. Oddly, in 1996, Jenkins narrowly lost the Senate race to Landrieu while Dole, as the Republican presidential nominee, was losing Louisiana to U.S. President [[Bill Clinton]]. In 1981, Dole succeeded Long as chairman of the Finance Committee when the Republicans gained a Senate majority for the first time since 1954.

On Long's death, former Senator Johnston delivered an impassioned eulogy of his friend, as did Long's grandson, Russell Long Mosley.

On Long's death, former Senator Johnston delivered an impassioned eulogy of his friend, as did Long's grandson, Russell Long Mosley. The Russell B. Long Federal Building and Courthouse in Baton Rouge is named in his honor.