Lawrence Brooks Hays was an American politician who represented Arkansas's 5th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1943 to 1959. A member of the Democratic Party, he was known for his moderate stance on civil rights during a tumultuous era of desegregation. His political career was notably impacted by his efforts to mediate the Little Rock Crisis in 1957, a stance that ultimately led to his defeat in the subsequent election. After leaving Congress, Hays continued his public service in various roles, including as an advisor to Presidents Kennedy and Johnson, and became a respected elder statesman.