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/* U.S. House of Representatives */
Arends was first elected to the House in the 1934 midterms, defeating Democrat incumbent Frank Gillespie narrowly.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=262725 IL District 17 Race - Nov 06, 1934]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved June 13, 2021.</ref> He was re-elected in a rematch the following election cycle,<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=262867 IL District 17 Race - Nov 03, 1936]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved June 13, 2021.</ref> and hardly faced any serious challengers in his following eighteen re-elections.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=33106 Candidate - Leslie C. Arends]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved June 13, 2021.</ref>
During [[World War II]], Arends opposed the [[Lend-Lease Act]], relaxing neutrality laws, as well as naval construction projects.<ref>Pierson, Richard (July 17, 1985). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1985/07/17/leslie-c-arends-89-dies/5749e25b-9c38-477d-ae06-bcfa275031a7/ Leslie C. Arends, 89, Dies]. ''The Washington Post''. Retrieved June 13, 2021.</ref> He also opposed [[organized labor]] and supported agricultural projects. Becoming the Minority Whip in 1943,<ref name=latobituary>LAT Archives (July 17, 1985). [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-07-17-me-7907-story.html 30-Year House GOP Whip Leslie Arends Dies at Age 89 ]. ''Los Angeles Times''. Retrieved June 13, 2021.</ref> Arends also helped create lead the powerful [[Conservative Coalition]] of Republicans and [[Boll Weevils]] which controlled the domestic agenda from 1937 to 1964. He supported [[Robert A. Taft]] over [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] for the 1952 Republican presidential nomination, and was an early supporter of the party's nominees [[Richard M. Nixon]] and [[Barry Goldwater]] in the campaigns of the 1960s. He organized the GOP opposition to [[Lyndon B. Johnson]]'s [[Great Society]]. Arends also supported civil rights legislation. He defended [[Richard Nixon]] throughout the [[Watergate affair]], differing with his Republican colleague John Anderson.<ref name=upiobituary>United Press International (July 17, 1985). [https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1985-07-17-8502160546-story.html EX-REP. LESLIE ARENDS, 89, HOUSE GOP WHIP FOR 30 YEARS]. ''UPI'' via ''Chicago Tribune''. Retrieved June 13, 2021.</ref> His close personal friendship with [[Gerald R. Ford]] insured a good relationship with Nixon's successor.<ref>Schapsmeier, Edward L. and Frederick H. Schapsmeier, "Serving under Seven Presidents: Les Arends and His Forty Years in Congress." ''Illinois Historical Journal'' 1992 85(2): 105-118. Issn: 0748-8149</ref> During [[World War II]], Arends opposed the [[Lend-Lease Act]], relaxing neutrality laws, as well as naval construction projects.<ref>Pierson, Richard (July 17, 1985). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1985/07/17/leslie-c-arends-89-dies/5749e25b-9c38-477d-ae06-bcfa275031a7/ Leslie C. Arends, 89, Dies]. ''The Washington Post''. Retrieved June 13, 2021.</ref> He also opposed [[organized labor]] and supported agricultural projects.
In a March 1963 interview, Arends remarked:<ref>[https://www.archives.gov/legislative/research/special-collections/fenno/arends Leslie Arends]. ''National Archives''. Retrieved June 13, 2021.</ref>
A member of the House Armed Services Committee, Arends defended the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] in March 1964 against critics.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1964/03/27/archives/arends-defends-cia-against-critics.html Arends Defends C.I.A. Against Critics]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved June 13, 2021.</ref>
Arends defended [[Richard Nixon]] throughout the [[Watergate affair]], differing with his Republican colleague John Anderson.<ref name=upiobituary>United Press International (July 17, 1985). [https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1985-07-17-8502160546-story.html EX-REP. LESLIE ARENDS, 89, HOUSE GOP WHIP FOR 30 YEARS]. ''UPI'' via ''Chicago Tribune''. Retrieved June 13, 2021.</ref> His close personal friendship with [[Gerald R. Ford]] insured a good relationship with Nixon's successor.<ref>Schapsmeier, Edward L. and Frederick H. Schapsmeier, "Serving under Seven Presidents: Les Arends and His Forty Years in Congress." ''Illinois Historical Journal'' 1992 85(2): 105-118. Issn: 0748-8149</ref> Arends retired from the House in the 1974 midterm elections.<ref name=latobituary/> President Ford stated in a speech in late October that year:<ref>[https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/remarks-ceremonies-honoring-representative-leslie-c-arends-melvin-illinois Remarks at Ceremonies Honoring Representative Leslie C. Arends in Melvin, Illinois.]. ''The American Presidency Project''. Retrieved June 13, 2021.</ref>
{{quotebox-float|Les, I can't thank you enough for those years that we worked in tandem trying to lead the minority to do a responsible and constructive job with the help of many, many others. But, I think we developed a close, warm, deep, personal relationship that has not been matched by any that I have ever had in the Congress, or almost anyplace. And for that experience, Les--a very personal one--I thank you very much.}}
