A real conflict developed between Huey p. Long and Franklin D. Roosevelt to the point when Roosevelt recognized: “He [Huey Long] is one of the two most dangerous men in the country.” And he reasoned that “We must tame these fellows [Long and his political allies] and make them useful to us.” At this moment a secret poll had already shown that 11 percent of the people preferred Kingfish to Roosevelt or a republican and Long had become a serious power for an election. Nobody can know how the relationship between both would have developed without the assassination and if Huey Long could have changed his mind according the New Deal, if Roosevelt had offered him a position on the national level in exchange. But apparently a lot of Long’s opposition to Roosevelt’s bills came from his interests in gaining power. He tried to establish his own Share Our Wealth program not only for Louisiana, but for the whole country. It seems that both reasons come together: Huey Long selected those New Deal bills that he considered useful from the others. Later the conflict with president Roosevelt became increasingly important to his policy.
At a glance
- Examines Long’s presidential ambitions in My First Days in the White House
- 14 sources in the bibliography
Table of Contents
1. Introduction – Extraordinary Times
2. A Visionary and his Self-Perception
3. An Historical Perspective
3.1. The Benefactor
3.2. The Dictator
4. Conclusion – Extraordinary Men
5. Prospects – Prophecy without Fulfilling
Objectives and Topics
This historical essay examines Huey Pierce Long’s political career and asks how his advocacy for ordinary people related to his pursuit and exercise of power. It compares Long’s own portrayal of his ambitions with interpretations by historians and biographers, placing his Louisiana governorship and national political aspirations in the context of the Great Depression.
- Long’s self-presentation in his writings
- The Share Our Wealth program and wealth redistribution
- Roads, education, and political power in Louisiana
- Criticism of Long’s political methods
- His relationship with Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal
- Long’s presidential ambitions
Excerpt from the Book
3.1. The Benefactor
What do historians say about the political campaigns and leadership of Huey Long? Why could and would he be the man who he was? At first, it is important to see the situation of Louisiana, when Long became politically active. The southern states were still ruled “by the old planter class” and the new rising business interests. There was a huge gap between the ordinary people and the rich men who controlled not only business but also politics. When Long began his engagement in law and politics, he took on those men. He fought the lumber, sugar, and oil industries in the state, particularly Standard Oil, Louisiana’s largest economic power and a personal foe. To him it represented his capitalist concept of the enemy: “a huge monolithic corporation run by millionaires that used its vast financial resources to crush the little man.”
However, his activities were not limited to these conflicts. In the early 19th century, the road system of Louisiana was in a very poor condition. The progress in developing a better infrastructure elsewhere and the new cars made the people of Louisiana eager for better highways. And Long promised them. He made the idea of building paved roads and state highways a vital part of his campaign. Therefore, he planned modern highways for the whole state and developed his own roadmaps. His promise to provide better roads were important to his election as governor in 1928 and he realized it. By mid 1931 the state of Louisiana had built over 2000 miles of highways and thus not only improved the infrastructure but also employing thousands of men in that industry.
Another focus point of Long was the state of education in Louisiana. Here, he run across the same gap as in the political participation. While white people in most of the plantation parishes and neighboring urban areas had relatively good schools, the education of poorer white people was far behind. The public schools for Afro-Americans where worst and caused by far the lowest education among them. Long promised and realized improvement for the education as well as he had done for the roads. As a matter of fact are the advances in public education recognized as the greatest legacy of his administration. He provided free books and set up night schools to fight the state’s high adult illiteracy. At least 100,000 adults in Louisiana who could not read and write before his governance had been taught by 1932.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction – Extraordinary Times: The introduction places Long’s career in the Great Depression and introduces competing interpretations of his political aims and conduct.
2. A Visionary and his Self-Perception: This chapter examines Long’s account of his life, his wealth-sharing proposals, and his imagined presidency.
3. An Historical Perspective: The chapter considers historians’ portrayals of Long as both a benefactor and a political leader whose methods attracted criticism. It discusses infrastructure, education, wealth redistribution, and the exercise of power in Louisiana.
4. Conclusion – Extraordinary Men: The conclusion assesses Long’s political leadership and considers the relationship between his social program, public influence, and pursuit of power.
5. Prospects – Prophecy without Fulfilling: The final chapter considers Long’s presidential ambitions and the uncertainty surrounding a career cut short by his death.
Keywords
Huey Pierce Long, Louisiana, Great Depression, populism, Share Our Wealth, wealth redistribution, political power, Franklin D. Roosevelt, New Deal, public education, infrastructure, autobiography, presidential ambitions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this work about?
It examines the political career and historical image of Huey Pierce Long, a Louisiana governor and United States senator during the Great Depression.
What are its central themes?
Its themes include populism, wealth redistribution, public works, education, political power, and the tension between democratic advocacy and authoritarian methods.
What is the main question of the essay?
The essay asks how Long’s role as an advocate for ordinary people relates to his pursuit and exercise of political power.
What research method does the author use?
The author offers a historical interpretation based on Long’s own writings and accounts by historians and biographers.
What does the main body discuss?
It examines Long’s self-portrayal and compares that portrayal with historical accounts of his policies, political campaigns, and leadership in Louisiana.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Key terms include Huey Pierce Long, Louisiana, the Great Depression, populism, Share Our Wealth, wealth redistribution, and political power.
How does the essay use Long’s own writings?
It discusses his autobiography, his Share Our Wealth proposals, and his account of an imagined presidency to explore how he presented his aims.
How does the essay address Long’s relationship with Roosevelt?
It discusses Long’s criticism of the New Deal and the tensions between his political ambitions and the expanding federal presence in Louisiana.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Bakkalaureus Artium Steve Nowak (Autor:in), 2008, Huey Pierce Long: An Extraordinary Man in Extraordinary Times, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/128617
