"Every man a King": Huey Long's Rise to Power

Cory

Banned
Louisiana Governor Huey Long narrowly escapes assination at the hands of Carl Wiess and survives to run for POTUS in 1936.

Let's just say it's dicovered by the public that FDR is crippled and this leads to a scandal resulting in the unseating of Roosevelt for the Democratic nomination in favor of Long.

Assuming Long was victorious in the General election: How do you think he would've governed as POTUS, would he enter the war early, become dictator, or be named as on of our greatest Presidents?
 

Cory

Banned
In 1936, Alf Landon would defeat Huey Long. The USA was not ready for the USSA.

I'm not sure. I think maybe Charles Lindberg could beat him, but of all people ALF LANDON?

I think Long's superior charisma would've have won out in the end.
 

maverick

Banned
No way a southerner is nominated before the 1960s...the first was Jimmy Carter and that was in 1976 and after Watergate. Not even Lyndon Johnson could have gotten the nomination in 1960...

In any case, Long had alienated several congressmen and party men through the 1930s, not to mention that being a southerner doesn't cover the fact that Long was a power-hungry, Machiavellian nearly-socialist mobster...with a heart of gold yes, but a potential Mussolini nonetheless,...don't believe me? just go and check his term as Governor of Louisiana...his use of the National Guard to subdue New Orleans and other Shenanigans...

What else? oh, yes...I don't know why you mentioned Lindbergh, but he was not involved in politics before 1940 and never held any public office...and while the sympathized with some Fascists in Europe, he was no fascist...

As for outing FDR as a cripple, that might work, but would not necessarily give Long the nomination...if anything, it probably gains Long some more enemies...
 

yourworstnightmare

Banned
Donor
Huey Long is an interresting person indeed, especially since he never could decide if he was extreme right- or left wing. I guess he just was extreme!

About southerners; you forget thar Woodrow Wilson was from Georgia, even though his political career had been in New Jeresey, he was definitely a southerner.
 
Huey Long is an interresting person indeed, especially since he never could decide if he was extreme right- or left wing. I guess he just was extreme!

About southerners; you forget thar Woodrow Wilson was from Georgia, even though his political career had been in New Jeresey, he was definitely a southerner.


Woodrow Wilson was born and raised in Virginia. He did briefly practice law in Atlanta before movign to New Jersey.
 
About southerners; you forget thar Woodrow Wilson was from Georgia, even though his political career had been in New Jeresey, he was definitely a southerner.

Yes, Woodrow Wilson was a Southerner, BUT people perceived him as being from New Jersey, where he'd served as Governor, as well as President of Princeton University.

But in essence, you're correct. No (perceived) Southerner got the nomination before 1976, but it could have happened earlier. John Nance Gardener's two terms as Vice-President lend credence to such a notion.

I think a scenario where Huey Long received the Democratic nomination in 1940 makes a lot more sense than one where he receives it in '36. Roosevelt wasn't going to fail to be nominated for a second term, but a third? Just maybe.
 
Louisiana Governor Huey Long narrowly escapes assination at the hands of Carl Wiess and survives to run for POTUS in 1936.

Let's just say it's dicovered by the public that FDR is crippled and this leads to a scandal resulting in the unseating of Roosevelt for the Democratic nomination in favor of Long.

Assuming Long was victorious in the General election: How do you think he would've governed as POTUS, would he enter the war early, become dictator, or be named as on of our greatest Presidents?

The POD in this is on the night September 8th 1935 when Dr. Carl Wiess pulls his gun during a heated confrontation with Senator Huey Long, before he could fire his gun Long's bodyguards fire back killing Dr. Wiess. As this was happening one of the bodyguards,quickly thinking, physically pushed the Senator out of the line of fire but one of the bullets ricochets and hits the bodyguard in the back. Seconds later, the wounded bodyguards falls over on Long and causes him to trip. No bullet hits Long and except for a bloody(Wiess punched him in the face before he drawn his gun) Senator Long escapes unharmed. Rather than be greatful for saving his life Long furiously berated his bodyguards for their trigger-happy sloppyness, "God danm it! You have gotten me killed! And as it is you shot one of your own in the back!" The wounded bodyguarded survived but ended up being paralysed. This bodyguard in question was given special commendation by Long, and he and his family were financially taken care off for many years to come.
Now I will say that FDR's infirmity remains a private matter and is never a issue. Long makes a challenge for the Democratic nomination and gives a FDR a run for his money early on but FDR rallies backs and is assured of the Democratic nomination. Just prior to his assasination Senator Long was seriously contemplating a 'Plan B' : go as an independent 3rd party candidate. So I ask how well will a 3rd party candidacy of Huey Long do in the 36 presidential election? Will he do well enough to be a potential spoiler? Thoughts, comments?
 

maverick

Banned
As far as I knew, Long's plan was to have other guy as the sacrificial lamb in 1936, probably Burton K. Wheeler, running on the "Share our wealth" platform as a third party...

That would have splitted the vote, given the Presidency to the Republicans and assured Long the Nomination in 1940, according to said plan...

For more information on Long's Presidential plans, check out his book and second autobiography, My First days in the White House
 
As far as I knew, Long's plan was to have other guy as the sacrificial lamb in 1936, probably Burton K. Wheeler, running on the "Share our wealth" platform as a third party...

That would have splitted the vote, given the Presidency to the Republicans and assured Long the Nomination in 1940, according to said plan...
For this third party to have any possible impact in the 36 election Long would have to be the presidential candidate and he would, no doubt, be strongly compelled to do so. Even with that FDR will most likely still be reelcted in November 1936. There is still the possibility that Long will challenge FDR for the Democratic nomination in 1940 on a "No Third Term" platform; assuming that Long is not indicted, convicted or impeached.



For more information on Long's Presidential plans, check out his book and second autobiography, My First days in the White House
Proposterius and amusing. No way in hell would Herbert Hoover and FDR would accept a job in a Huey Long cabinet. :D
 
IMO the best POD is FDR's VP (John Nance Garner) pick in '32 falling down the stair during the convention. Needing a southerner, and needing one fast, he picks Huey P. Long as the VP.

FDR is elected, and Long makes waves with his populist, almost extreme speeches that draw massive crowds. In Miami an assassin squeezes off few shots and kills President-elect Roosevelt.

The new President, Huey P. Long is sworn in only a few weeks later, and in his Inaugural Speech lays out the "New Deal" that everyone is slowly realizing Roosevelt never really explained . . .
 
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