Long, Huey

Long, Huey (Pierce)

Huey Long

(credit: UPI)

(born Aug. 30, 1893, near Winnfield, La., U.S.—died Sept. 10, 1935, Baton Rouge, La.) U.S. politician. Despite an impoverished background, he managed to obtain enough formal schooling to pass the bar in 1915. Politically ambitious, he was elected state railroad commissioner at 25. His call for state regulation of the utilities and his attacks on the Standard Oil Company won him widespread popularity. As governor (1928–31) of Louisiana, he became nationally famous for his fiery oratory and unconventional behaviour, and his nickname, “Kingfish,” became widely known. He implemented public works projects and education reform but used autocratic methods to control the state government. Elected to the U.S. Senate (1932–35), he sought national power with a Share-the-Wealth program. In 1935 he was assassinated by Carl A. Weiss, whose father Long had vilified. His brother Earl K. Long (1895–1960) later served as governor (1939–40, 1948–52, 1956–60).