So pick from the poll above and leave some comments below! What is your opinion of Louisiana Governor Huey Long?
Absolutely, that was beautifulFor my opinion, see my user title; I acknowledge that Long was dictator within his own state, but the people of Louisiana did love him, and he genuinely did help Louisiana. DanMcCollum hit it on the head; I think Long really wanted to help people, and really thought his way of doing things was best. Of course, that doesn't excuse him, and his hunger for more and more power is terrifying, to say the least, but I think he was, at worst, an "ends-justify-the-means" character. Louisania was controlled by entrenched interests that could probably be called "feudal" before Long came around, and though he ruled with an iron fist, I think he prepared Louisiana to become a better state.
Either way though, he's a colorful, bombastic character, who helped shape the character of America in the 30s. Not an American hero, but not an American villain either. A great man, but not a good one.
I have heard the claim that he was at very least less racist than most of his state's establishment, is this true?
I recall an incident where the KKK got really upset with him and Long said he would not allow the Grand Wizard to enter his state. The man was not the normal southern politicians who screamed, " Nigger, Nigger, Nigger." and in fact belittled those who did. That being said I have little doubt that Long due to his background was still a closet racist.
I think Long was actually less racist than many other man of his time. I always thought he recognized that poor whites and poor blacks had a lot of interests in common against the Southern elite.But most white politicians of the Greatest Generation and earlier were closet racists, even the liberal ones. At least Long took measures to help minorities.
Still, he had too much power for a politician.
I think Long was actually less racist than many other man of his time. I always thought he recognized that poor whites and poor blacks had a lot of interests in common against the Southern elite.
I think Long was actually less racist than many other man of his time. I always thought he recognized that poor whites and poor blacks had a lot of interests in common against the Southern elite.
I think Long was actually less racist than many other man of his time. I always thought he recognized that poor whites and poor blacks had a lot of interests in common against the Southern elite.
Yup.Which is why the Southern elite feared him and was willing to coalesce around Roosevelt- their worst nightmare was a multiracial alliance.
On the OP: Apart from smashing the oligarchy's hold on Louisiana politics, I disagree with everything Long did and believed in, apart from making LA as hospitable to minorities as was possible in the '30s.
Which is why the Southern elite feared him and was willing to coalesce around Roosevelt- their worst nightmare was a multiracial alliance.
On the OP: Apart from smashing the oligarchy's hold on Louisiana politics, I disagree with everything Long did and believed in, apart from making LA as hospitable to minorities as was possible in the '30s.