Changes
/* 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 helped 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, {{fact}} 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.
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>
