Changes

''Gus Weill, Sr.'' (born 1933) is an American author and public relations specialist originally from [[Lafayette, Louisiana|Lafayette]], [[Louisiana]].

''Gus Weill, Sr.'' (born 1933) is an American author and public relations specialist originally from Lafayette, [[Louisiana]].

   

   

    

    

==Background==

==Background==

   

   

Weill graduated in 1955 from [[Louisiana State University]] in the state capital of [[Baton Rouge]]. He then completed the [[United States Army]] Counter Intelligence School as  a special agent. He was [[first lieutenant]] of the Counter Intelligence Corps in [[Frankfurt, Germany]]. He was discharged from the military in 1957.<ref name=amuseum/>

Weill graduated in 1955 from [[Louisiana State University]] in the state capital of [[Baton Rouge]]. He then completed the [[United States Army]] Counter Intelligence School as  a special agent. He was first lieutenant of the Counter Intelligence Corps in [[Frankfurt]], [[Germany]]. He was discharged from the military in 1957.<ref name=amuseum/>

   

   

In 1958, Weill he established the first advertising/public relations firm in Baton Rouge. In 1963, he was introduced to Louisiana Public Service Commissioner John J. McKeithen by Judge Edmund Reggie and soon took over the management of McKeithen's successful gubernatorial campaign. From 1964 to 1968, he served as executive secretary to McKeithen in the latter's first term as governor. Considered the "father of modern political public relations in Louisiana," Weill also handled campaigns for three other Louisiana governors, McKeithen's predecessor and successor, [[Jimmie Davis]] and [[Edwin Edwards]], and Edwards' successor and second predecessor, David C. Treen. He trained the [[Democratic]] strategist [[James Carville]], a mastermind of the election in 1992 of [[Bill Clinton]] as [[U.S. president]].<ref name=bio>{{cite web|url=http://www.lpb.org/programs/legends/weill.html|title=About Gus Weill|publisher=lpb.org|accessdate=August 21, 2012}}</ref>He also groomed other public relations specialists, who became his competitors, such as Raymond Strother, manager of the [[Gary Hart]] presidential campaign, and Roy Fletcher, affiliated with [[Patrick J. Buchanan]].<ref name=amuseum/> In all, Weill managed some 350 campaigns. He was involved in the political promotion of the [[Louisiana Superdome]] in [[New Orleans]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sos.la.gov/tabid/227/Default.aspx

In 1958, Weill he established the first advertising/public relations firm in Baton Rouge. In 1963, he was introduced to Louisiana Public Service Commissioner John J. McKeithen by Judge Edmund Reggie and soon took over the management of McKeithen's successful gubernatorial campaign. From 1964 to 1968, he served as executive secretary to McKeithen in the latter's first term as governor. Considered the "father of modern political public relations in Louisiana," Weill also handled campaigns for three other Louisiana governors, McKeithen's predecessor and successor, [[Jimmie Davis]] and Edwin Edwards, and Edwards' successor and second predecessor, David C. Treen. He trained the [[Democratic]] strategist [[James Carville]], a mastermind of the election in 1992 of [[Bill Clinton]] as U.S. president.<ref name=bio>{{cite web|url=http://www.lpb.org/programs/legends/weill.html|title=About Gus Weill|publisher=lpb.org|accessdate=August 21, 2012}}</ref>He also groomed other public relations specialists, who became his competitors, such as Raymond Strother, manager of the [[Gary Hart]] presidential campaign, and Roy Fletcher, affiliated with [[Patrick J. Buchanan]].<ref name=amuseum/> In all, Weill managed some 350 campaigns. He was involved in the political promotion of the Louisiana Superdome in [[New Orleans]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sos.la.gov/tabid/227/Default.aspx

title=Oral Histories: Gus Weill|publisher=sos.la.gov|accessdate=August 21, 2012}}</ref>Weill also convinced McKeithen to implement the state agency CODOFIL, the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana, an idea originally proposed by [[U.S. Representative]] James Domengeaux.<ref name=amuseum/>

title=Oral Histories: Gus Weill|publisher=sos.la.gov|accessdate=August 21, 2012}}</ref>Weill also convinced McKeithen to implement the state agency CODOFIL, the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana, an idea originally proposed by [[U.S. Representative]] James Domengeaux.<ref name=amuseum/>

   

   

   

   

A writer of novels, plays, and poetry, Weill spent two years working for the producer [[Otto Preminger]].  For nineteen years, Weill hosted the program ''Louisiana Legends'' on his state's [[Public Broadcasting Service]] network.<ref name=bio/>Weill's novel, ''The Cajuns'' (2004) is particularly known for its treatment of [[Cajun]] culture and the unique characters of the fictitious Richelieu Parish in the year 1956, with political corruption and petty theft running rampant. One of the characters bears the name "Patoot Gaspard," a veteran member of the Louisiana State Senate. Gaspard's son-in-law, a "Bobby Boudreaux", is the parish sheriff. The local priest, "Father Justin," is Gaspard's son. Though not himself Cajun, Weill developed a knowledge of that culture through his rearing in Lafayette.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mostlyfiction.com/mystery/weill.htm|title=''The Cajuns'' by Gus Weill|publisher=mostlyfiction.com|accessdate=August 22, 2012}}</ref>

A writer of novels, plays, and poetry, Weill spent two years working for the producer Otto Preminger.  For nineteen years, Weill hosted the program ''Louisiana Legends'' on his state's [[Public Broadcasting Service]] network.<ref name=bio/>Weill's novel, ''The Cajuns'' (2004) is particularly known for its treatment of [[Cajun]] culture and the unique characters of the fictitious Richelieu Parish in the year 1956, with political corruption and petty theft running rampant. One of the characters bears the name "Patoot Gaspard," a veteran member of the Louisiana State Senate. Gaspard's son-in-law, a "Bobby Boudreaux", is the parish sheriff. The local priest, "Father Justin," is Gaspard's son. Though not himself Cajun, Weill developed a knowledge of that culture through his rearing in Lafayette.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mostlyfiction.com/mystery/weill.htm|title=''The Cajuns'' by Gus Weill|publisher=mostlyfiction.com|accessdate=August 22, 2012}}</ref>

    

    

   

   

''The Cajuns'' was actually inspired by a suggestion from James Carville: "Gus was always telling stories, from the first day I met him. There aren't many people who can tell you the same story, like, eleven times and still make you want to hear it again. He's the best [[raconteur]] I've ever met."<ref name=spanberg/>  

''The Cajuns'' was actually inspired by a suggestion from James Carville: "Gus was always telling stories, from the first day I met him. There aren't many people who can tell you the same story, like, eleven times and still make you want to hear it again. He's the best raconteur I've ever met."<ref name=spanberg/>  

   

   

   

   

[[Category:Democratic Party]]

[[Category:Democratic Party]]

   

   

[[Category:Jews]]

[[Category:American Jews]]

   

   

[[Category:New York City people]]

[[Category:New York City]]

   

   

[[Category:Novelists]]

[[Category:Novelists]]