Huey Long

Huey Long was an American Democratic politician from Louisiana during the late twenties to the mid thirties. He was the governor of Louisiana from 1928-1932 and Senator from Louisiana from 1932-1935.

Governor

While governor of Louisiana , he was tried for impeachment after he tried to impose a five-cent tax on oil to pay for his social programs. The State Legislature did not approve of this and tried to impeach him. This backfired, and Huey Long went after his enemies fiercely.

Senator

Long challenged incumbent Senator Joseph Ransdell for his seat in the United Syayes Senate and won. However, his Senate term began in 1931, but his term as governor did not expire until May of 1932. Long continued as governor until his hand chosen successor, O.K. Allen was elected.

While serving as Senator, Huey Long originally supported the New Deal program, but later he recanted his support for it. He wanted President Roosevelt to implement a "Share Our Wealth" program in which no American could have a personal fortune of more than $5,000,000, receive an income of greater than $1,000,000, or receive an inheritance of over $5,000,000. Any money earned after this would be divvied up and supposedly families would receive $2,000 to $2,500.

Death

Huey Long was assassinated September 8, 1935 by Carl Weiss, a medical doctor. Carl was then shot to death by Long's bodyguards. Carl's family denies that he shot him, and rather some suggest that Carl merely punched Long and that one of the stray bullets of the bodyguards had hit Long.

Huey Long's book, My First Days in the White House, was published posthumously.