Representative Leslie Cornelius Arends

Leslie Cornelius Arends served as a Representative from Illinois in the United States Congress from 1935 to 1975. A member of the Republican Party, Leslie Cornelius Arends contributed to the legislative process during 20 terms in office.

Leslie Cornelius Arends’s service in Congress occurred during a significant period in American history. As a member of the House of Representatives, Leslie Cornelius Arends participated in the democratic process and represented the interests of constituents.

Leslie Cornelius Arends (September 27, 1895 – July 17, 1985) was an American politician who served in the United States House of Representatives from Illinois from 1935 until 1974. He was a member of the Republican Party. 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.