Huey Long, The Kingfish: The President Who Might Have Been

Long, may not have been the most loved politician in America but he was by now the most feared. His opponents now launched a campaign of their own – to smear Long in the eye’s of the public. He was accused of being a drunk and a philanderer. His sexuality was questioned. He was unpatriotic. Roosevelt considered him a demagogue and one of the two most dangerous men in America, the other was General Douglas MacArthur. He had the Internal Revenue Service investigate Long’s personal finances. Louisiana’s State finances were also investigated for fraud and corruption. Even though some of his political associates were arrested and charged no wrong-doing could be found on the part of Long himself.

In the summer of 1935, the FBI uncovered a plot to assassinate Long. Fearing for his own safety he now began to surround himself with bodyguards. In August, 1935, he announced his candidacy for the Presidency in 1936. In the meantime he continued to secure his hold on Louisiana; he outlawed interference in State politics by the Courts, created his own private police force, and took control of the State Militia.

Throughout his career, Louisiana Judge, Benjamin Pavy, had been a thorn in Huey Long’s side. Frustrated at being unable to remove Pavy from office, Long, instead had his two daughters fired from their teaching posts. He then cautioned Pavy that if he did not desist with his criticisms he would let it be known that his family had coffee-blood, or were effectively half-caste. This was no small thing in the rigidly segregated, highly racist, deep south of the 1930’s. When Pavy refused to remain silent the rumour was spread that Pavy’s father-in-law had fathered children by a black mistress. Enraged by the accusation that his wife was the daughter of a black man, Judge Pavy’s son-in-law Carl Weiss, decided to confront Long.

Waiting outside in the corridor of the Capitol Building in Baton Rouge for Long to emerge from the Governor’s office, Weiss appeared nervous and agitated. As Long was leaving the office surrounded by six bodyguards, Weiss rushed forward, pulled out a .32 automatic and shot Long in the abdomen. In the shootout that followed Weiss was killed but a bullet fired by one of the bodyguards ricocheted and hit Long in the spine. Even so Long’s injuries were not believed to be life threatening. Unfortunately, the surgeons who operated on him failed to spot that a bullet had punctured his kidneys until it was too late. Huey Long died on 10 September, 1935. His last words were, ” Please God, don’t let me die. I have so much to do”.

Huey Long was a populist politician, perhaps even a demagogue, who had as many detractors as he had admirers. Could he have become President given the fear and uncertainties of the Depression years. It was certainly feared this might be the case by financiers, the big corporations, and the political establishment. His assassination at a time when he may have been on the cusp of national power have inevitably led to numerous conspiracy theories. Was he really the victim of yet another lone gunman.