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/* U.S. House of Representatives */
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 He maintained a close personal friendship with [[Gerald R. Ford]] insured a good relationship with , who was 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.}}
