Thomas harry williams 19091979 was an awardwinning author and historian who garnered numerous academic honors. I thought he was a crook who became popular and flamed out. See all books authored by huey long, including every man a king. I think its a damn good book, but i grew up listening to stories about huey long and his stillenduring presence in the 50s and 60s. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Known for his flamboyance, huey pierce long grew from a seventeenyearold traveling salesman to become a united states senator who finished law school in only two years. Long, follows the politician over much of his short adult life. He was admitted to the bar in 1915 and practiced in winnfield and shreveport. A controversial figure to this day for those who are political history buffs and probably the only man who might have been able to mount a serious challenge to fdr in 1936. Long from the questia online library, including fulltext online books, academic journals, magazines.
His administration established a public school in every community and provided free textbooks and busing to all students. Long was known for his political slogan every man a king, which is also the title of his 1933 autobiography and the catchphrase of his share our wealth proposal during the great depression. In an attempt to take the subject of louisiana politics out from under the dominating shadow of huey long, the author focuses on the form and content of louisianas one. Long, which truth has been kept from the public by authors, journalists, and historians. The author mentions that huey and wife rose had three children, but only two of them are named at various places in the book. He was no choir boy, but his accomplishments awed me in this terrific biography that is a roller coaster read. About huey long winner of the pulitzer prize and the national book award, this work describes the life of one of the most extraordinary figures in american political history. Long, whose life was similar to that of willie stark, every man a king. Courtesy of the state library of louisiana louisianas literacy rate, a measure of a states social progress, was the lowest in the nation. Anybody that lets his public policies be mixed up with religious. The fascinating and enlightening story of huey longs life as only he could tell it. However well never know because he was gunneddown in 1935. Voices of protest huey long, father coughlin, and the great depression. Huey long by williams t harry abebooks passion for books.
Huey long was a great natural politician who looked, and often seemed to behave, like a caricature of the redneck southern politico, and yet had become at the time of his assassination a serious rival to franklin d. Written in 1935, the book was published in 1936 after huey s assassination. Long, and my first days in the white house, and more on. Winner of the pulitzer prize and the national book award, this work describes the life of one of the most extraordinary figures.
My first days in the white house is a book written by huey long. In tribute of huey long a 12 foot bronzestatue was casted in baton rouge to show the world of his accomplishments. His life in photos, drawings, and cartoons boulard, garry on. December 6, 1906 september 8, 1935 was an american physician from baton rouge, louisiana, who was implicated in the assassination of u. Harry williams won both the pulitzer prize and the national book award in category history and biography. Despite appearances huey long was not a typical southern populist. Long was elected to the untied states senate in 1932, and continued his control of the state that continued to enact his programs. Long a summary of greatness, political genius, american martyr a book by dewey tucker.
A cartoon from huey long s louisiana progress newspaper depicts how children were sent home if they did not have the required text books. Huey long, father coughlin and the great depression, which describes long s brief but vast popularity early in the 1930s. The emotions seem fresh, even fifty years after hueys death. Warren claimed that all the kings men was never intended to be a book about politics.
Public and family images of long from 17yearold cottolene salesman to railroad commissioner, to governor to united states senator. Huey long was a great natural politician who looked, and often seemed to behave, like a caricature of the redneck southern politico, and. Every man a king is a song cowritten by louisianas governor and united states senator huey pierce long jr. However, if you are, like me, but merely curious about the senator, this book is a bit. Senator huey long at the louisiana state capitol on september 8, 1935. Harry williams is a very good, if sympathetic, biography of one of the most dynamic political figures in 20th century american history. Long was an influential leader of the people in louisiana. Immediately download the huey long summary, chapterbychapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more everything you need for studying or teaching huey long. Callaway professor of southern history at georgia college in milledgeville, georgia. He endured numerous struggles, but he never gave up. He is perhaps best known for his american civil war studies and his 1969 work huey long, the definitive study of huey pierce long, jr. He was an extraordinary figure in american political h.
Long, a man that was both lauded by the people of louisiana and detested by large corporations such as the standard oil company, recounts in this book some of his greatest feats on his mission to improve the quality of life for millions of louisianans. The novel describes the rise of berzelius buzz windrip, a demagogue who is elected president of the united. The title of the book possibly came from long s motto, every man a king or his nickname, kingfish. Discover librarianselected research resources on huey p. Huey long 18931935 was one of the most extraordinary american p. Huey long was governor of louisiana from 1928 to 1932 and was elected to the u.
Huey long was a great natural politician who looked, and often seemed to behave, like a caricature of. Long a summary of greatness, political genius, american martyr by dewey tucker this book has been prepared for the benefit of people who want the real truth concerning huey p. The boy who planned to be governor of louisiana, by sue eakin. Alan brinkley won the latter award in 1983 for voices of protest. Winner of the pulitzer prize and the national book award, this work describes the life of one of the most extraordinary figures in american political history.
Harry williams was awarded the 1970 pulitzer prize in biography for huey long, an enormous and largely sympathetic rendering of the man. He was educated at home for a few years before being sent to local schools. Stark, like long, is shot to death in the state capitol building by a physician. Hodding carter earned national acclaim as a young journalist for his scathing exposes of corruption in the long political machine. A product of the poor north louisiana hills, he was elected governor of louisiana in 1928, and proceeded to subjugate the powerful. Huey long of louisiana, an early supporter of the president, had become dissatisfied with roosevelts policies. His vindictiveness toward those who opposed him was in many ways. Huey long proposed a share our wealth plan during the great depression to provide a decent standard of living to all americans by spreading the nations wealth among the people. You are giving a little man a biscuit to eat, and you put a barrel of flour more taxes on top of his head to carry. Harvey fields, a long supporter and once the head of the state democratic party, wrote a book in 1944 titled, a true history of the life, works, assassination and death of huey pierce long. They will see through stories, pictures, and video how the man went from the son of a poor dirt farmer in north central louisiana to the most powerful governor in louisiana history. When long imposed a punitive tax on louisiana newspapers to stifle criticism, it was not at all clear that forprofit business corporations had free speech rightsthe prevailing law was on long s side. In this book, my first days in the white house, huey long holds imaginary conversations with the nations power brokers and even names his cabinet appointees and provides the text of the supreme court decision that will uphold the constitutionality of his share the wealth plan.
The book is short on details about huey longs formative years prior to his second run for the governorship in 1928. Overview students will take a ride through the late 1920s and early 30s with the kingfish huey p. Apr 16, 2006 the story of huey long has been told in many different forms. The difference between the person huey p long and the.
American politician who served as the 40th governor of louisiana from 1928 to 1932 and as a member of the united states senate from 1932. The title of the book was possibly inspired, in part, by long s populist motto, every man a king. Huey speaking in philadelphia before a crowd of 15,000. Huey pierce long, 18931935, american political leader, b. Longs sharethewealth program every man a king was tempting to a depressionshocked public. Huey long believed the nations economic woes were the result of 95% of the wealth being held by only 15% of the population. Controversy, mystery still surround the death of huey p. It cant happen here is a semisatirical 1935 political novel by american author sinclair lewis and a 1936 play by lewis and john c. My first days in the white house, huey long holds imaginary conversations with the nations power brokers and even names his cabinet appointees and provides the text of the supreme court decision that will uphold the constitutionality of his share the. Long since a pulitzer price winning biography based on oral history on longs life was also tempting. In 1932, at the height of the great depression, the american people voted into the oval office one of the most progressive presidents weve ever had.
Originally a farm boy, he was an extremely successful traveling salesman before studying law at tulane univ. Huey long was a populist who championed the little guy over big business, but his attempt to muzzle the press empowered the very corporate interests he inveighed against. He was the seventh of the couples nine surviving children. The book chronicles longs incredible powers and his abuse of that power on every page. Pulitzer prize winning biography, and national book award winner in history and biography. A nominal democrat, huey long was a radical populist, of a sort we are unfamiliar with in our day. Branded a demagogue and radical by his opponents, and known. The young huey was the seventh of nine children his younger siblings being named earl and lucille, and he lived the life of a farmers child. Huey long by hugh davis graham goodreads share book. Huey long 18931935 was one of the most extraordinary american politicians, simultaneously cursed as a dictator and applauded as a benefactor of the masses. Warren denied that the book should be read as either praise for huey long or praise. Huey long, father coughlin, and the great depression, which won the national book award for history, and the unfinished nation. Huey longs programs share our wealth, share the wealth. He is the author of several books, including the kingfish and his realm.
Sep 15, 2015 this book has been prepared for the benefit of people who want the real truth concerning huey p. Huey long was a genius who should be as well known to americans as any other great american. Every man a king, the autobiography of former louisiana governor, huey p. Every man a king, by huey long 1606 words bartleby. A private poll in the spring of 1935 indicated that if long could unite the various. Huey long a selection of books e books available in trible library. For a short time, in 1934 and early 1935, louisiana dictator huey long and michigan radio priest charles coughlin loomed large as dissenting, neopopulist voices. How the kingfish turned corporations into people the. But i sure dont need anybody i can buy for six bits and a chew of tobacco to explain it to me. This book was extremely well performed, so much so that i can overlook how tedious the narrative becomes at various points. An inside look at huey longs formative years, including accounts from his best friend, harley bozeman, and the winn parish newspaper. In this book, a welledited collection of texts by and about him, he comes across as a sort of amalgam of robert moses, william jennings bryan, and perhaps the campaign version of donald trump. This book is not the typical biography that people are used to.
Instead, the author focuses almost i hesitated before reading the reign of huey p. Images of long most often show him smiling and orating in his trademark white linen suit and straw boater, but there are dozens of other images. Huey pierce long was born on august 30, 1893, in the town of winnfield located in winn parish to mrs. A product of the poor north louisiana hills, he was elected governor of louisiana in. Father charles coughlin is best remembered today, when he is. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. Its not a bad book, and if you were someone looking for an exhaustive treatment of huey long, you will be satisfied with this. The title of the book was possibly inspired, in part, by longs populist motto, every man a king. Long by beals, carleton and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
Aug 10, 2011 alan brinkley is the allan nevins professor of american history at columbia university. Harry williams 1981, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. In his introduction to the modern library edition, warren denied that the book should be read as either praise for huey long or praise for his assassination. Moffitt adapted from the novel the novel was published during the heyday of fascism in europe, which was reported on by dorothy thompson, lewis wife. August 30, 1893 september 10, 1935, nicknamed the kingfish, was an american politician who served as the 40th governor of louisiana from 1928 to 1932 and was a member of the united states senate from 1932 until his assassination in 1935. Huey long expanded the public education system in louisiana and made it possible for every child to attend school. Huey long was a fiery and charismatic louisiana politician who moved up the ranks at a young age. All the kings men is a novel by robert penn warren first published in 1946. Since then, numerous books have appeared comparing long with other demagogues. Harry williams and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. As governor, he sponsored many reforms that endeared him to the rural poor. The inspiration for robert penn warrens demagogue in all the kings men, huey long was louisianas governor, then u. Called his second autobiography and published posthumously in 1935, it emphatically laid out his presidential ambitions for the election of 1936. Huey long, in full huey pierce long, born august 30, 1893, near winnfield, louisiana, u.