When U.S. Representative Patrick H. Drewry died in office , Abbit won the special election to fill the vacancy . A Democrat , Abbitt was reelected to the twelve succeeding Congresses ( February 17 , 1948 &ndash; January 3 , 1973 ) . He was a member of the agriculture committee , and supported farm subsidies as well as fiscal conservatism and opposed increased federal intervention in state affairs . Abbitt became known for his opposition to school desegregation in the 1950s , as the Byrd Organization advocated Massive Resistance , and he was a signatory to the 1956 Southern Manifesto . He was a delegate to the 1964 Democratic National Convention , and chairman of the state Democratic party from 1964-1970
1964 Democratic National Convention
1964 Democratic National Convention
Watkins Moorman Abbitt