Changes

In 1959, as AFL-CIO president, Bussie checked himself into a mental health facility in [[Galveston, Texas|Galveston]], Texas, as a ruse for the planned confinement of Governor [[Earl Long|Earl Kemp Long]], who was committed by his wife, Blanche Revere Long and Long's [[nephew]], [[U.S. Senator]] [[Russell  Long]]. "It’s hard to believe that I was involved in it. It was a mess. He (Long) could have easily sued me, but that never occurred to me. He was a friend, and I just tried to help as best I could."<ref name=blum>{{cite web|url=http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/31263899.html|author=Jordan Blum|title=Bussie helped strengthen unions in Louisiana,|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|date=October 20, 2008, p. 1A.</ref>

In 1959, as AFL-CIO president, Bussie checked himself into a mental health facility in [[Galveston, Texas|Galveston]], Texas, as a ruse for the planned confinement of Governor [[Earl Long|Earl Kemp Long]], who was committed by his wife, Blanche Revere Long and Long's [[nephew]], [[U.S. Senator]] [[Russell  Long]]. "It’s hard to believe that I was involved in it. It was a mess. He (Long) could have easily sued me, but that never occurred to me. He was a friend, and I just tried to help as best I could."<ref name=blum>{{cite web|url=http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/31263899.html|author=Jordan Blum|title=Bussie helped strengthen unions in Louisiana,|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|date=October 20, 2008, p. 1A.</ref>

==Bussie in Shreveport==​

==Bussie in Shreveport==

After service in the [[United States Navy]] during [[World War II]], Bussie joined the Shreveport Fire Department and became a leader in the firefighters' union. He became chief of the Fire Prevention Bureau and the president of the Central Trades and Labor Council. [[James C. Gardner]], who served as [[mayor]] of Shreveport from 1954 to 1958, described Bussie as "well-spoken" and his "polite and reasonable manner made him widely sought as the 'labor member' of various civic boards." As a second assistant chief, a position Bussie obtained without waiting for civil service seniority, his signature was required on all certificates of occupancy for commercial buildings, a position of considerable power.<ref>[[James C. Gardner]], ''Jim Gardner and Shreveport,'' Vol. I,  [[Sarah Hudson-Pierce]]"s Ritz Publications, p. 303.</ref> Some in the business community accused Bussie of requiring work beyond the municipal building or fire code regulations in order to create more employment within the building trades. To check Bussie, officials activated, as permitted by the city charter, a building code board of appeals to prevent abuses.<ref> ''Jim Gardner and Shreveport'', Vol. I, pp. 304–305.</ref>​

After service in the [[United States Navy]] during [[World War II]], Bussie joined the Shreveport Fire Department and became a leader in the firefighters' union. He became chief of the Fire Prevention Bureau and the president of the Central Trades and Labor Council. [[James C. Gardner]], who served as [[mayor]] of Shreveport from 1954 to 1958, described Bussie as "well-spoken" and his "polite and reasonable manner made him widely sought as the 'labor member' of various civic boards." As a second assistant chief, a position Bussie obtained without waiting for civil service seniority, his signature was required on all certificates of occupancy for commercial buildings, a position of considerable power.<ref>[[James C. Gardner]], ''Jim Gardner and Shreveport,'' Vol. I,  [[Sarah Hudson-Pierce]]"s Ritz Publications, p. 303.</ref> Some in the business community accused Bussie of requiring work beyond the municipal building or fire code regulations in order to create more employment within the building trades. To check Bussie, officials activated, as permitted by the city charter, a building code board of appeals to prevent abuses.<ref> ''Jim Gardner and Shreveport'', Vol. I, pp. 304–305.</ref>​

​

​