Huey Long

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Pierce, Huey When he was killed in 1935, Long, Jr., a politician from the United States, was a Democratic senator from the Senate. He had previously held the office of Louisiana’s 40th Governor from 1928 to 1932 before being elected to the Senate. He was a populist, and an outspoken one at that; he publicly attacked the wealthy and the banks and called for the “Share Our Wealth” initiative, which he established in 1934 under the slogan “Every Man a King.” Under his direction, hospitals and educational institutions were expanded and significant infrastructural improvements in rural regions were completed. He recommended radical welfare measures. He was a controversial person who acquired prominence for his executive dictatorship through which he took control of his home state of Louisiana, despite being quite well-liked by some segments of the population. Long was a self-made man who was born into a poor family. He entered politics at an early age, was intelligent and ambitious, and quickly rose to prominence due to his unorthodox character and impressive oratory abilities. He stood out for the underprivileged and resisted giving the wealthy excessive rights, which made him some formidable adversaries. At the height of his career, he declared that he would run for president, but tragically, he was killed not long after.

Early Childhood & Life

Huey Pierce Long, Jr. was born on August 30, 1893, to Huey Pierce Long, Sr., and Caledonia Palestine Tison in Winnfield, Louisiana. He was the eighth of the nine living children of the couple.

Before being sent to nearby schools, he spent a few years receiving his education at home. He demonstrated academic excellence and was awarded a Louisiana State University debating scholarship. But because of his financial situation, he was unable to purchase the course’s required textbooks.

Huey Long’s Career

Being unable to continue his education, he started working as an auctioneer and traveling salesperson. When World War I broke out, there were fewer sales opportunities available, so Long enrolled in studies at Oklahoma Baptist University to study for the ministry but quickly recognized that was not his calling.

After that, he went to Tulane University Law School in New Orleans and the University of Oklahoma College of Law in Norman, Oklahoma. After only one year of studies at Tulane in 1915, he took and passed the state bar test.

He established private practice and spent the following few years defending little clients in lawsuits against big defendants, such as in workers’ compensation cases. He was sensitive to the poor and never brought a case against a poor individual because he had grown up in poverty.

He had developed a political interest by this point and, running against Standard Oil in 1918 at the age of 25, won election to the Louisiana Railroad Commission. He launched huge personal campaigns, made great use of printed circulars, and vehemently criticized his rivals. He had a reputation as a populist who campaigned against rate increases and monopolies thanks to his position with the commission.

Long unsuccessfully ran for governor of Louisiana in the 1924 election. He won the 1928 election four years later and started enacting a comprehensive package of public works and welfare laws right away. Under his scheme, numerous roads, bridges, and hospitals were constructed, and he generously supported educational endeavors.

He was sworn in as the Louisiana senator for the United States in 1932, against the backdrop of the Great Depression. He was a brilliant orator who vehemently opposed the concentration of wealth in the hands of a select few and urged for its redistribution, which he thought could be accomplished by levying high taxes on the wealthy. While he gained popularity among the less fortunate members of society as a result of these actions, he also developed some formidable opponents.

He passed a number of laws giving him influence over the appointment of every public position in the state of Louisiana, including every police officer and schoolteacher, as his political power increased. However, his work for the underprivileged helped to keep him in the public’s good graces.

Louisiana under Long’s direction experienced tremendous growth. The significant building projects carried out under his administration not only enhanced the state’s infrastructure but also contributed to the creation of thousands of much-needed jobs during the Great Depression.

His school construction initiative and free textbook distribution to pupils considerably enhanced and enlarged the public education system. His adult education programs helped more than 100,000 adults learn to read.

The death rate in Louisiana substantially decreased as a result of his healthcare initiatives, which led to the construction of new hospitals, as patients could now quickly access better medical facilities. Nearly 70% of the population received free vaccines as a result of his activities.

In February 1934, Huey Long announced his “Share Our Wealth” program via a national radio broadcast. He advocated government legislation to restrict individual wealth, income, and inheritances and use the money raised to ensure that every family receives a $5,000 basic household grant. In addition, the plan called for free vocational and college education for all qualified students, as well as pensions for the elderly, benefits for veterans, financial aid for farmers, and public works initiatives.

By the summer of 1935, the Share Our Wealth clubs had 7.5 million members, and he was receiving 60,000 letters a week from supporters as a result of the enormous success of his Share Our Wealth campaign. He also declared his intention to run for president in 1935. However, a month after making this announcement, he was killed.

The Big Work

The Share Our Wealth movement, which Huey Long advocated in 1934 during the Great Depression, is what most people associate with him. He presented a plan to cap the income of the wealthy and redistribute the money to the poor because he thought that the rising gap between the rich and the poor was the primary cause of the Great Depression. Despite being highly contentious, this strategy greatly increased his popularity among the lower classes.

Recognition & Achievements

Huey Long was posthumously admitted to Winnfield’s Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame in 1993.

Personal Legacy & Life

In 1913, he wed stenographer Rose McConnell. One daughter and two sons were a blessing for the marriage.
Huey Long was shot by Dr. Carl Weiss, the son-in-law of one of Long’s political rivals, on September 8, 1935, when he was present at the State Capitol. Long was sent to the hospital right away, but on September 10, 1935, he passed away. Only 42, he was. The doctor’s action is thought to have been motivated by political animosity.

Many films and books have been influenced by Long’s life and politics; significant examples include “All the King’s Men,” “Number One,” and “Cinnamon Seed” by John Dos Passos, as well as Hamilton Basso’s “Cinnamon Seed” and “Sun in Capricorn” (1934, 1942). (1949).

Estimated Net Worth

Huey is among the wealthiest and most well-liked politicians. Huey Long’s net worth is roughly $1.5 million, according to our analysis of data from sources like Wikipedia, Forbes, and Business Insider.