Huey Pierce Long Jr.
“The Kingfish”
Throughout American History, there have been controversial leaders.
Without a doubt, Louisiana Governor and Senator Huey Pierce Long, Jr.
falls in that category. As a native of Winn Parish, this Louisiana
politician brought two things to the state, controversy and change. It
was often said that there were two types of citizens in Louisiana during
his tenure …. Those who loved him and those who hated him. With
Long’s legacy, there didn’t seem many who hosted indifferent feelings
toward him. One thing is obvious however, Huey P. Long’s infamous
reputation will long be remembered in Louisiana Government.
Huey P. Long was nicknamed “The Kingfish.” He was an American
politician from Louisiana. He served as Governor of Louisiana from 1928
to 1932. He then was elected as a U.S. Senator and served from 1932
to 1935.
Huey Pierce Long was born on August 30, 1893, in Winnfield, Louisiana.
He was the son of Huey Pierce Long, Sr and Caledonia Palestine Tison
Long. Long was the seventh of nine children in a farm-owning middleclass family.
He attended local schools, where he was an excellent student. Long
won a debating scholarship to Louisiana State University, however
money posed problems and he was unable to afford the textbooks
required courses. He then decided to work. Long spent the next four
years as a traveling salesman, selling books, canned goods and patent
medicines, and even working as an auctioneer.
In 1913, Huey Long married Rose McConnell. The Long couple had
a daughter, also named Rose, and two sons, Russell and Palmer.
Long briefly attended the University of Oklahoma School of Law.
Later, he attended Tulane University Law School in New Orleans.
In 1915, he convinced a board to let him take the bar exam after only
a year at Tulane. He passed and began private practice in Winnfield.
Later then spent 10 years representing small plaintiffs against large
businesses. He often said proudly that he never took a case against
a poor man.
Long took on the powerful Standard Oil Company, which he sued for
unfair business practices. Throughout his career, Long continued to
challenge Standard Oil's influence in state politics. He charged the
company with exploiting the state's vast oil and gas resources.
In 1918, Long was elected to the Louisiana Railroad Commission at
the age of twenty-five on an anti-Standard Oil platform. Long ran for
governor of Louisiana in the election of 1924. In that campaign, he
became one of the first Southern politicians to use radio addresses
and sound trucks. Long lost that election, but didn’t give up on a
political career.
In 1928 he again ran for governor, campaigning with the slogan,
"Every man a king, but no one wears a crown.” Long campaigned
throughout the state and made his way to rural areas as well. After
losing first race for governor in 1924, he worked to get farmers’ votes
in Louisiana. He won by tapping into the class resentment of rural
Louisianans by offering hope for a better future. Long made promises
to poor voters for more money by taxing the rich. Again, he used
radio to spread his campaign and trucks carrying sound systems.
As Governor, Huey Long brought some positive changes to Louisiana.
He changed laws to allow the state to borrow money to build better
roads for automobiles. Long began an unprecedented public works
program, building roads, bridges, hospitals and educational institutions.
He worked to pave some roads in every parish. During his tenure, he
provided free textbooks to all schoolchildren. Before this time, students
had to buy their own school books. Long helped the poor and farmers
by removing the poll tax and providing homestead.
During the course of his governorship, he did however gain powerful
enemies. In order to pay for his promised programs, he worked to
increase taxes on “big businesses.” He was known to use tough political
strategies to force other politicians to do what he wanted and control
issues.
In 1929, impeachment proceedings were started against Long in the
Louisiana House of Representatives. Long’s brother, Earl, was able to
get enough senators to sign a “Round Robin” document to block the
governor’s removal from office.
Long worked to expand Louisiana State University. He also wanted
control. When staff and students at LSU openly disagreed with him on
issues, he fired them or had students expelled.
While still the Louisiana Governor, he won the senate campaign in 1930.
Though he left the office of Governor, he was able to manipulate the
situation to make sure he controlled who would be the next governor.
O. K. Allen took office as Governor and continued Long’s expansion of
social programs such as hospitals and schools.
As a new senator, Long attracted attention. Long created the “Share Our
Wealth” program in 1934, with the motto "Every Man a King" proposing
new wealth redistribution measures. His “Share Our Wealth” program
was Long’s plan to give money to the poor and elderly.
In speeches, he often called wealthy people “greedy” and wanted to limit
their income because “they couldn’t use all they had and should have to
share with everyone.”
Long agreed with President Roosevelt on many issues however, he
clashed with him as well. Roosevelt’s New Deal plans included many
ideas to help the poor overcome the hardships of the Great Depression
Long’s ideas of “sharing the wealth” were similar to Roosevelt’s social
security system and minimum wage ideas.
After Long became a Senator, he traveled to Baton Rouge often and was still
in control of Louisiana’s government. Though a backer of Franklin D. Roosevelt
in the 1932 presidential election, Long split with Roosevelt in June 1933 and
allegedly planned his own presidential bid.
It is believed that to punish a political enemy, Long wanted to draw election
lines to help one of his friends defeat Judge Benjamin Pavy. Judge Pavy’s sonin-law, twenty eight year old, Dr. Carl Weiss went see Long at the state capitol
on September 8, 1935. Huey P. Long was shot that day. Although accounts of
the September 8, 1935 murder differ, most believe that Long was shot once
or twice by medical doctor Carl Austin Weiss in the Capitol building in Baton
Rouge. Weiss was immediately shot sixty-one times by Long's bodyguards and
police on the scene. Evidence suggests that Weiss shot Long and Long’s
bodyguards killed Weiss.
At the height of his popularity, Huey Pierce Long died on September 10, 1935, two
days after being shot, at the age of 42. His last words were reportedly, "God, don't let
me die. I have so much left to do.”
American History has had its share of controversial leaders, including Louisiana
Governor and Senator Huey Pierce Long, Jr. It is common knowledge that throughout
political career, controversy was an embedded part of his legacy. Along with that
however, Long’s legacy also brought change to Louisiana. No matter what else is said
or written about him, he will also always be remembered as the Louisiana Governor
who brought paved roads, bridges, hospitals and free books to school children in this
southern state. One thing is certain, with his colorful character, his work to bring
changes to the state; Huey Pierce Long Jr. is the most famous Louisiana Governor the
state has ever produced.
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BACKGROUND PHOTO: WIKIPEDIA (FREE DOMAIN)
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