[5] A few hours later at the morgue, as the morticians prepared to embalm his body, they discovered he still had a pulse and immediately rushed him to the hospital.

His recovery was slow, but he eventually regained his health, although he walked with the aid of a cane for the remainder of his life.

His survival of the "Purdue Wreck" received significant attention across the state and he became a famous folk hero.

For a number of years in the 1990s and early 2000s, the Purdue chapter held a "Leslie Day" celebration and fundraiser in his honor.

He opened a law office in Lafayette the year he graduated and took a position at a local high school coaching football.

Leslie became involved in local politics and was elected as a Republican Tippecanoe County treasurer in 1912.

Their leader was arrested and convicted of rape and murder in 1925, and over the next two years many other Klansman were exposed and forced out of office on a host of charges—including nearly half the members of the General Assembly.

Leslie won on the fifth ballot and defeated the Democratic major of Indianapolis, Frank C. Dailey, and was elected with 51.3% if the vote.

The first part of Leslie's term was a period of economic growth and he hosted several high-profile events, including the National Governors Association, a visit by President Herbert Hoover, Charles Lindbergh, and other famous guests.

Among the relief legislation passed by the General Assembly was Indiana's first old-age pension act, but Leslie vetoed it.

[10] Following his governorship Leslie became a founder, and eventually the president, of Standard Life Insurance Company in Indianapolis.