A native of Shreveport, La., in 1963, Johnston was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives where he served as a floor leader. He left the House in 1968 after winning a seat in the Louisiana Senate, where he served until 1972 when he was elected to the United States Senate. He was a member of several influential committees during his Senate career including Appropriations, Budget, and Interior and Insular Affairs, later re-named Energy and Natural Resources, of which he was Chairman for eight years beginning in 1987. He also served on the Small Business Committee, the Special Committee on Aging, and the Select Committee on Intelligence. During the 94th Congress, he was asked by the Senate Democratic Caucus to chair the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. He retired from the Senate in 1996.
From the description of J. Bennett Johnston papers, 1957-1997 (bulk 1972-1996). (Louisiana State University). WorldCat record id: 174969687
