Huey Long

by T. Harry Williams

Hardcover, 1969

Status

Available

Call number

976.30620924

Genres

Publication

Knopf (1969)

Description

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. Huey Long was a great natural politician who looked, and often seemed to behave, like a caricature of the red-neck Southern politico, and yet had become at the time of his assassination a serious rival to Franklin D. Roosevelt for the Presidency. In this "masterpiece of American biography" [New York Times Book Review], Huey Long stands wholly revealed, analyzed, and understood.

User reviews

LibraryThing member dougwood57

Huey Long was one of the most fascinating characters in American history and T. Harry Williams tells his story better than anyone else. Long rose from absolutely abject poverty to become perhaps the most powerful political leader in Louisiana history and for a time, one of the most influential

leaders in the US. This hick from the sticks went to the big city and made good.

The Kingfish was, of course, corrupt, but was genuinely populist. He fought for better education for the poor, the right to organize labor unions, and he pushed adult literacy, which mainly benefited African-Americans. His public works projects employed thousands and built hundreds of roads and bridges. He fought the entrenched and powerful interests in favor of the common man.

T. Harry Williams' work is simply the best on the man and the politician.

Show Less

7 more

LibraryThing member unclejohn

This is a remarkably balanced biography of the much-maligned Huey Long. It seems, that he was a progressive hero of sorts. He was not above a bit of chicanery from time to time, but he used it to benefit ordinary people, not the corporate elite.

LibraryThing member Schmerguls

1058 Huey Long, by T. Harry Williams (read 5 Jul 1970) (Pulitzer Biography prize for 1970) (National Book Award history prize for 1970) This was an utterly absorbing book to read. The biography relies a lot on "oral history," that is, interviews with living persons. This is a technique which is

unusual; but it is all right. The author is more sympathetic to Long than I would be--from what he tells it is clear that Huey made a complete shambles of democratic government in Louisiana. The accounts of how he ran the Louisiana Legislature in the last years of his life (when he was U.S. Senator) are simply unbelievable. It seems to me the Reichstag under Hitler was less thoroughly subjugated than was the Louisiana Legislature under Long. But Williams treats this all rather blandly and talks about the mistakes and exaggerations of the anti-Longites! Huey was born Aug 30, 1893, in a log house near Winfield, La., and was shot Sept 8, 1935, in the state Capitol building at Baton Rouge and died at 4:06 A.M. on Sept 10, 1935. His assassin: Carl Austin Weiss, a 29-year-old doctor and a son-in-law of an anti-Long Judge whom Huey was about to gerrymander out of office. The career of Huey Long is of course fantastic: elected to the Railroad Commission in 1918, in 1924 he ran for Governor and lost. It was the last time. He was elected Governor in 1928, and U.S. Senator in 1930. Obviously he was a leftist and some things he did were good: just as one can find good things done by Mussolini and even Hitler. But his methods were evil and one can only conclude that his elimination was the elimination of an evil. I will have to read some in the Congressional Record from Jan 25, 1932, through Aug 26, 1935. He was certainly a wild man and colorful. I do not think the Senate has ever seen his like since. In my years in Washington Wild Bill Langer was the wildest man in Washington--but he never drew crowds like Huey. Joe McCarthy drew crowds, but he wasn't as funny as Huey or Wild Bill. This was one of the most enjoyable books I've read in a long time.

Show Less

LibraryThing member swade999

I grew up in Louisiana in the 50's and 60's. Long was still a legend then, but I never delved into his life. As you read Williams' Pulitzer Prize winning biography, it is hard to believe that a man such as this actually existed. I rarely take on a book of this length any more (800+ pages), but I

raced through this one, laughing in amazement nearly all the way, saddened in the end that the nation and the world did not see how he would have turned out had a bullet not ended his life at the age of 42. I was inspired by Williams' research as much as by Long himself.

Show Less

LibraryThing member markbstephenson

Excellent! Surprising insights into 20th century American life are forthcoming from the life of this extraordinary Louisianan.

LibraryThing member Rabascaa

After reading this I was left curious about only a few things, which should give credit to the author for writing such a full biography. Where was the deduct-box hidden? That is a question for a treasure-hunter. What were his last words really? What we imagine is most likely better than the

reality. Lastly, are the plumbing pipes in the governor's house in Louisiana inscribed to this day? I actually yearn for photographic proof.

Show Less

LibraryThing member ecw0647

Read this years ago in hardcover when it came out, long before I started writing reviews. I remember it well. A real classic of biography.

LibraryThing member Steve_Walker

I read this book years ago for a college course on the history of the South. I love this book. Just seeing the cover brings back memories. If you want to understand politics in the South read this book, then pick up and read Robert Penn Warren's "All The King's Men". When it comes to history in the

South, William Faulkner was right.

Show Less

Fewer