Huey Long

Huey Pierce Long (August 30, 1893 – September 10, 1935) was an American politician. He was Governor and Senator in Louisiana in the 1930s. As governor he presided over various reforms^[1][2] such as free school books and the building of new schools, hospitals, roads and even a new capitol building. He was a critic of big companies and the rich. As Senator, he came up with the idea of "Share Our Wealth" clubs, which promoted wealth redistribution. Long was very popular among the American people.

Long in c. 1930

Long's signature

According to one historian, Long "expanded and extended programs of social and educational reform instituted by many of his predecessors in the Governor's Mansion."^[3]

Death

On September 10, 1935, Long was shot and killed at age of 42 by Carl Weiss, a physician from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. At the time of his death, he was saying that Franklin D. Roosevelt's policies did not go far enough. There were rumors Long would run for president. Long was buried on the grounds of the Louisiana Capitol. The movie All the King's Men is based on the life of Huey Long.

His son, Russell would also become a U.S. Senator.

During Long's lifetime, he visited various places in Europe as part of the "Global Reach" projects that he was part of. The most prominent of these visits in the public eye was in Robertsbridge, East Sussex.

References

1. Huey Pierce Long, the martyr of the age ... A publication of the Louisiana state museum. New Orleans, U.S.A. Issued November 11, 1937
2. A compilation of general labor laws of Louisiana : with citator : 1937 / published by authorization of B. W. Cason, Louisiana Department of Labor ; compiled by Wilbur P. Kramer
3. Earl K. Long The Saga of Uncle Earl and Louisiana Politics By Michael L. Kurtz, Morgan D. Peoples, 1991