Huey Long

Huey Long was a dominant and controversial American politician who served as the 40th Governor of Louisiana and as a United States Senator. A member of the Democratic Party, he rose to national prominence during the Great Depression as a populist critic of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his New Deal, advocating for a radical redistribution of wealth. His charismatic, autocratic style transformed Louisiana politics and established a powerful political machine, leaving a complex legacy that continues to be debated.

Early life and education

Born in Winnfield, Louisiana, Long was the seventh of nine children in a middle-class family. He displayed a talent for debate and sales from a young age, briefly attending the University of Oklahoma before studying law at Tulane University. He passed the Louisiana bar examination in 1915 after an unusually short period of study, allowing him to begin his legal practice in Winn Parish, often representing poor plaintiffs against large corporations like the Standard Oil Company.

Political career

Long's political career began with his election to the Louisiana Railroad Commission, later renamed the Louisiana Public Service Commission, in 1918. Using this platform, he vigorously fought utility and railroad rates, building a reputation as a champion of the common man against entrenched interests. After an unsuccessful 1924 gubernatorial campaign, he refined his populist message, crisscrossing the state with a relentless energy that overwhelmed the traditional political establishment of New Orleans.

Governorship of Louisiana

Elected Governor of Louisiana in 1928, Long launched an unprecedented program of public works and reform, famously declaring "I am the constitution in Louisiana now." He pushed through massive investments in infrastructure, constructing new roads, bridges, hospitals, and the towering new Louisiana State Capitol in Baton Rouge. He expanded Louisiana State University, provided free textbooks, and abolished the poll tax, but governed through a powerful, often coercive political machine, clashing fiercely with opponents like New Orleans Mayor T. Semmes Walmsley.

U.S. Senate tenure

Long was elected to the United States Senate in 1930 but delayed taking his seat until 1932 to consolidate control over Louisiana. In Washington, D.C., he initially supported President Franklin D. Roosevelt but quickly broke with the New Deal, deeming it insufficiently radical. He used his formidable oratory skills to filibuster and became a leading critic of the Roosevelt administration, aiming to challenge Roosevelt for the presidency in 1936.

Share Our Wealth program

In 1934, Long founded the national Share Our Wealth society, promoted by a network of clubs and fiery radio speeches. The program's cornerstone was a radical tax plan to confiscate large personal fortunes, guaranteeing every American family a minimum annual income, a homestead, and benefits like old-age pensions. The society's rapid growth, managed by Reverend Gerald L. K. Smith, alarmed the Democratic establishment and demonstrated Long's significant national appeal.

Assassination and legacy

On September 8, 1935, Long was shot in the corridors of the Louisiana State Capitol by Dr. Carl Weiss, the son-in-law of a political enemy; he died two days later. His death sparked immediate conspiracy theories and ended his potential presidential bid. His political organization, known as the Long faction, remained a potent force in Louisiana for decades under the leadership of his brother, Earl Long, and his son, Russell B. Long. Long's legacy is dual-natured: he is remembered both for his transformative public works and social programs and for his authoritarian methods and corruption, influencing later populists like George Wallace.