Huey Long

Huey Long was a leader in Louisiana.

He grew up in a small town.

He wanted to help poor people. He fought for those who had little.

He helped build many new roads. He also built a very tall capitol building.

He even had a plan to share wealth. Millions of people liked his ideas.

Some people did not like his ways. He died in the capitol building in 1935. Many people still remember him today.

Huey Long was a famous leader in Louisiana.

He was born in 1893. He grew up in a small town. Long worked as a salesman before he became a lawyer. He often helped poor people in court.

Long wanted to help those with little money. He fought against big companies like Standard Oil. In 1928, he became the governor of Louisiana. He built many new roads and a tall capitol building.

Later, Long served in the U.S. Senate. He had a plan called "Share Our Wealth." This plan wanted to tax the rich to help the poor. Millions of people joined his clubs.

Some people thought his ways were too strong. They felt he had too much power. In 1935, Long was killed in the state capitol.

His death was a big shock. Even after he died, his family stayed in politics for many years. His son and his brother both held high offices.

Huey Pierce Long Jr. was a famous and powerful leader in Louisiana.

He was born on August 30, 1893, near the small town of Winnfield. Long was known by the nickname "The Kingfish." He wanted to help people who did not have much money. He often spoke against big companies and rich people. Some people loved him as a hero for the poor. Other people thought he used too much power to get his way.

Long worked very hard to reach his goals. He started as a traveling salesman in the rural South. Later, he studied law at Tulane University Law School. He passed his exams in May of 1915. After that, he became a lawyer in Winnfield. He often helped poor people in court cases.

He also worked on the Louisiana Public Service Commission. There, he fought to lower prices for utilities. He even won a big case at the U.S. Supreme Court.

Long's rise to power happened through many elections. He first won a seat on the Railroad Commission in 1918. He won by only 636 votes in a run-off election. In 1928, he was elected as the governor of Louisiana. He used his time as governor to start many big projects. He built a modern highway system for the state. He also built a very tall new capitol building.

People in Louisiana were very divided about his many choices.

In 1930, Long was elected to the United States Senate. He did not take his seat until 1932. During the Great Depression, he became a very famous critic. He disagreed with President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal. Long thought the New Deal did not go far enough. In 1934, he shared his "Share Our Wealth" plan. This plan wanted to tax the rich to help the poor. Millions of people joined his local clubs to support him.

Long's life ended suddenly in 1935. He was killed by Carl Weiss inside the Louisiana State Capitol.

This event was a huge shock to the nation. Even after he died, his family stayed in politics. His wife, Rose, became a U.S. Senator. His son, Russell, also served in the Senate. His brother, Earl, served as a governor. His ideas even helped shape new laws in America.

Huey Pierce Long Jr. was a major American politician who shaped Louisiana history.

Known by the nickname "The Kingfish," he was a left-wing populist within the Democratic Party. He rose to national fame during the Great Depression. Long was a very controversial figure in American politics. Some people saw him as a champion who fought for the poor. Others called him a fascistic demagogue because of his forceful methods. He served as the 40th governor of Louisiana from 1928 to 1932. He also served as a United States senator until his death in 1935.

Long's early life was spent in the north of Louisiana. He was born on August 30, 1893, near the town of Winnfield. While he often claimed he was born in a log cabin, his family actually lived in a comfortable farmhouse.

He was one of nine children and was home-schooled until he was eleven. As a student, he was very bright and had a great memory. He even won a scholarship to Louisiana State University through a debate competition. However, his family could not afford the costs of textbooks or living expenses. He also had not graduated from high school at that time.

Before becoming a lawyer, Long worked as a traveling salesman in the rural South. He eventually studied law at Tulane University Law School in New Orleans. He passed his bar exam in May of 1915 and began practicing law.

In his early legal career, he often represented poor plaintiffs. This work helped him understand the struggles of everyday people. A major turning point occurred in 1918 when he invested in an oil well. The Standard Oil Company refused to use his oil in its pipelines. This event caused a lifelong hatred of Standard Oil and large corporations.

Long entered politics by running for the Louisiana Railroad Commission in 1918. He won the election by only 636 votes in a run-off.

As a commissioner, he fought to lower utility rates for citizens. He also demanded that railroads extend service to small towns. One of his biggest successes was a case involving the Cumberland Telephone & Telegraph Company. He argued this case before the U.S. Supreme Court. Chief Justice William Howard Taft called him the most brilliant lawyer to ever practice before the court.

In 1928, Long was elected governor of Louisiana. He used his power to launch massive public works projects. He built a modern highway system and the tallest capitol building in the country.

However, his leadership style was very intense. He was impeached in 1929 for abuses of power, but the case collapsed in the State Senate. Opponents argued his methods were authoritarian and unconstitutional. Despite this, he remained a powerful political boss in the state.

Long was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1930 but began his term in 1932. During the Great Depression, he became a famous critic of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Long believed the New Deal was not radical enough to help the people.

In 1934, he introduced the "Share Our Wealth" plan. This plan proposed massive federal spending and a wealth tax. It aimed to redistribute wealth to stimulate the economy. Millions of people joined local clubs to support his ideas.

Long's life ended abruptly on September 10, 1935. He was assassinated by Carl Weiss inside the Louisiana State Capitol.

The assassin was immediately shot and killed by Long's bodyguards. Although his movement faded after his death, his influence remained. President Roosevelt eventually adopted many of Long's ideas in the Second New Deal. Long also left behind a powerful political dynasty. His wife, Rose, became a senator, and his son, Russell, also served in the Senate.