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

A native and lifelong resident of Melvin, Illinois, Arends attended Oberlin College and served in the United States Navy during World War I.

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.

[1] He rose through seniority to become the ranking Republican on the House Armed Services Committee,[4] where one of his pet projects was preventing the closure of Chanute Air Force Base in Illinois; it remained open until 1993.

Conservative but pragmatic, he opposed much of the New Deal and remained a staunch isolationist until America entered World War II.

[1] After becoming minority whip in 1943, Arends helped create the powerful Conservative Coalition of Republicans and Southern Democrats who controlled the domestic agenda from 1937 to 1964.

[5] Arends had usually been reelected Whip without opposition, and despite a strong challenge from Frelinghuysen relied on personal relationships forged over thirty years to provide the votes that enabled him to retain the post.

[21] After leaving Congress, Arends served on the President's Intelligence Advisory Board,[4] and spent time at homes in Melvin, Naples, Florida, and Washington, DC.