Share Your Stories: Personal Memories & Views of Huey Long

I am the granddaughter of poor north Louisiana farmers. My dad was able to get a high school education and go on to college because of the free public education made possible by Governor Long.
My grandparents lived in a shack and made a meager living on 25 acres, most of which they had to sell by 1940 to survive. The paved roads Governor Long implemented allowed my grandparents to get their crops to market. My grandmother, Sally Ballard, had a faded photo on her dresser when she died. It was one of Governor Long dedicating a hospital.
I am a CPA, MBA in Accounting from Rice University. I know that I would not have had any of this if Governor Long had not provided programs that helped my grandparents and my dad improve their lives. I try to visit his grave every few years to pay my respects. My respect and admiration for him has only grown over the years. I would not be where I am today without his tremendously compassionate programs.
Glenda B. Turner

My grandfather's voice still resonates in my mind as I hear him and see him lecturing me on what this world is coming to. There were politicians he absolutely could not stand locally and federally. Mostly, I remember the stories of Huey Long. Governor Long was going to see that families of all socio-economical backgrounds were going to have the equal opportunities. Governor Long was the people's man.
The story I remember the most was hearing of Governor Long's death and the thousands of people who attended the services from all over Louisiana. Two of those attending were my grandmother and my great-grandmother. My grandfather saved all of Huey Long's published speeches, which I found in my grandmother's hope chest.
The one artifact that I regret we no longer have in our possession is buried with my grandfather. In 1982, after cancer stole Poppa from our family, he was presented at the Joseph Laughlin Funeral Home on Magazine Street in New Orleans — fastened to his jacket was his 'Every Man a King' lapel pin.
Glenda April Castro, Metairie, LA

I think it is relatively unknown to many how severe poverty was in the early 1920s in Louisiana and the lack of basic services that were available to all of its citizens, e.g. schools, roads, bridges, hospitals, health care. Enter Huey P. Long.
Gov. and Sen. Long was responsible for so many great things that happened to Louisiana when he was in office. It is remarkable he accomplished so much. He was a genius. Say what you will about his motives, clothes, speaking manner, roots, whatever, this man changed it all in favor of the Louisiana citizen.
In my opinion, the criticism he received in the waning years of his life and career was over the top and generated by the wealthy and powerful that feared him. He was not a socialist, nor a fascist as some portray him to be. What he accomplished was within the bounds of a state and federal democracy. When his opponents could not defeat him at the polls or on the floor of the state capitol or the Senate, they verbally maligned him and finally killed him.
What would he have been and where would he have gone on a state and national level we will never know. One thing we do know is that Louisiana is a much better, more educated, healthier state than it could have ever been without the KINGFISH. When you watch the DVD biography of Huey P. Long by Ken Burns, keep in mind who the people are who are criticizing Mr. Long and examine their motives, from those residing in Louisiana to FDR. Watch this DVD, think for yourself, look around you, study Louisiana history, and decide for yourself. Louisiana folks should always revere the great Huey P. Long.
Dr. Dan Gremillion, Nashville, TN (native of Ferriday, LA)

My dad, A.W. ‘Slick’ Morton, was an orphan from Tallulah by the age of 9 or 10. He later became a star football player at Tallulah High. In 1933, Huey Long got wind of my dad's football prowess and summoned him to his penthouse at the Roosevelt Hotel. Until that trip from Tallulah to New Orleans, my dad had never even seen a paved road.
My dad and another good football player, Cy Wickson, were both introduced to Huey — still wearing his pajamas midmorning. Huey commented, ‘Ain't no more good football players goin' to Tulane, they're all goin' to LSU,’ and then he turned to someone else in the room and had my dad and Wickson dropped off in Baton Rouge.
My dad ended up a 3-year starter from 1935-37 and captained the team his senior year. Without Huey, my dad would have never graduated from college or enjoyed the success of separate careers as a football coach and general contractor.
John Morton, Alexandria, LA

My late dad, Henry Rickerfor, worked for the Recorder of Mortgages for the city of New Orleans during Huey Long's time. In those days, the city administration was at odds with Governor Long. Accordingly, all city employees, well at least those in the Recorder of Mortgages, were charged with going to the homes of New Orleans' residents and "canvassing" for their candidate and against Huey Long.
My dad often remarked how useless and frustrating that was. Many residents would not invite them into their homes once they were identified as promoting the opponent of Huey Long. And those who would invite them in always seemed to have a picture of Huey Long on their mantlepiece. My dad said it was an exercise in futility.
Huey Long was so admired — actually worshipped — by the people here that my dad said he would leave his "canvassing" for the day depressed. I met a gentleman years ago who was such a believer in Huey that he told me he used to pray to Huey Long … and, most importantly, Huey answered his prayers.
Ron Rickerfor

Huey Long died long before I was born, but his name and legacy were an everyday part of my life. My grandfather, Eddie Manuel of Mamou, Louisiana, was a friend of Huey Long and a supporter of every Long to run for office. He told me as long as I can remember, "Always vote for the Long."
At my grandmother's funeral, Russell Long came and presented a book on the life of Huey P Long to my grandfather. He wrote the following inscription in the front cover "To Eddie Manuel, my father's good friend." I asked my grandfather what that was all about, and he told me that he and Huey were good friends, and that at one point in his life, he actually drove Huey around in an "open car" campaigning and running for governor of Louisiana. You just never know.
Benny Richard, Hayes, LA

I was born in my grandmother's shotgun house, which sat on the old Hu Long place in Winnfield, LA. My grandmother was very pro-Long. She had raised two children by herself during the Depression, and she stood firm on her belief that Huey Long had saved many a poor person's life with his various programs.
On occasion, especially when Earl pulled some stunt or one of the other Long politicians may have done something she did not agree with, she'd get mad and say something about the Longs. But under no circumstances would she allow anyone else to say anything negative about Huey or Earl Long.
My grandmother always said that much of the negative news (media) on Huey came from "carpetbaggers" who came south to profit off the poor folks. And in time, I came to realize that much of what was written about Huey was from people who were not Southern and were from families of wealth.
No doubt Huey did many things that were not quite up to today's so-called ethical standards, but I firmly believe that many of the big name news editors of that time period were influenced by the landed gentry who Huey had displaced when he was elected to the Railroad Commission, and later as governor.
Greggory Davies, Retired Deputy Sheriff, Winnfield, LA

I was born in 1933, about the time Huey P. Long was campaigning for the Senate. My parents were poor farmers in Tangipohoa Parish on a small piece of land that my father inherited that had been part of a land grant that my ancestors received from the Spanish Government, before the Louisiana Purchase. My family were strong supporters of Gov. Huey Long.
In the later 1940s, 1950s, and early 1960s I frequently traveled U.S. 190 and U.S. 71 between Baton Rouge and Alexandria. Most of the time there was an older gentleman sitting in a chair under an oak tree along the highway distributing a poem he had written proclaiming the greatness of Huey P. Long. If anyone would take the time to listen he would recite the poem. My memory is clouded after many years but I think he was a black man. His race has no bearing on the issue or the fact that is clear in my memory, he was very pleased with Gov.-Sen. Long.
Howell B. Joiner

I am an African American senior born in 1933. I clearly remember many stories about Huey P. Long shared among older black people most of which were complimentary and held him in high regard. This attitude confused me for many years because from his political rhetoric I somehow thought he was anti-black. Later I learned of the good work he had done for education of black people and also made numerous opportunities for employment of professionally trained blacks. My maternal aunt was employed as a "Jeans Supervisor" for black schools (the equivalent of a superintendant of education) in Bossier Parish. It is my understanding that the Jeans Supervisor program was started under the leadership of Huey P. Long.
Washington Butler, Jr.

I was born very poor with a brother and five sisters. My mother and father struggled to send us to school because of the high cost of school books. There finally came a time when they could no longer afford to buy books for 7 children. We children were told that we could no longer attend school.
That very same year, Governor Long persuaded the Louisiana Legislature to fund school books for all children attending public schools. Not only did that mean that my brother and sisters and I could finish our education but also thousands of other children could as well. My family never forgot Huey Long and became long time political supporters of the Long family.
Victor Bussie, President Emeritus, Louisiana AFL-CIO

When you talk about politics in rural Louisiana, Huey Long’s name always comes up. He was a master communicator with the people in rural Louisiana.
When he visited the Washington Parish areas and delivered his famous stump speeches, I am told he would look out into the crowd of people and pick out some of the children who might be in attendance. He would then say to their parents, “Take them down to the local clothing store and buy them a new set of clothes.” He would add, “Tell the merchant to charge them to Old Huey.”
Some of the people who remember those meetings have told me that the clothes purchased and given to them by Huey Long was the first store-bought clothing they ever owned, since almost all children’s clothes were hand made from old flour sacks.
Huey Long's acts of kindness made him very popular. He had a special place in his heart for children, the poor, and others who were less fortunate than many of that day. He improved our great state in ways we enjoy even today.
Sen. Ben W. Nevers, Sr., Louisiana State Senator, District 12

Share Your Huey Long Stories

Although Huey Long’s political accomplishments are well documented in books and chiseled in stone, less publicized is the difference he made in the lives of those he tried to help. We invite you to share your own stories about Huey Long to increase the understanding of his legacy.

Did Huey have any influence on your life? Did someone in your family know him personally, hear him speak, join a Share Our Wealth club, or benefit from his programs? Whether testimonial or criticism, any independent information you choose to contribute will be greatly appreciated and may be posted here with your permission.

Louie Ludwig: Thank God and Huey Long

I often have been disappointed with the way Huey has been portrayed by ill-informed people. Huey's legacy, so misunderstood by glib commenters and historians with axes to grind, is alive in Louisiana in the form of roads, hospitals and healthy, educated children.

Huey Long, though certainly no saint, did more to help real, working people in Louisiana than anyone before or since, and his proposed Share Our Wealth program did as much to goose Franklin Roosevelt to real reforms as did people like Sen. Robert Wagner and Roosevelt's wife, Eleanor.

I believe Louisiana, and the nation, owe Huey a very large debt. For my (very small, inconsequential) part, I recently released a song, "Thank God and Huey Long," about Huey and what he meant to the working people of the state.

— Louie Ludwig, songwriter, New Orleans, LA

The Kingfish

I am a songwriter from London and I have long been a big admirer of Huey Long, to the extent that I incorporated some of his speeches into one of my songs:

No politician today manages to speak with such clarity, purpose and passion.

Huey's policies are perhaps even more appropriate now than when he was alive, with wealth inequality continuing to be a problem in so many countries across the world today.

It was therefore a great honour to finally make it to Baton Rouge to see his statue, appreciate and examine his legacy, as well as sadly see where he was tragically assassinated.

I believe that his works will continue to inspire, and I hope that one day a new Huey Long will rise and continue to fulfill his legacy and bring about a fairer distribution of wealth.

— Trevor Perfect, songwriter, London, UK

Huey Long National History Day Project

I became acquainted with Huey Long through my National History Day project. The theme for 2010 was 'Innovation in History: Impact and Change', and I created an individual performance about Long's 'Share Our Wealth' program, a true innovation in history.

Not only was Long innovative in his proposals to redistribute the wealth through social welfare programs, but also in the ways that he spoke directly to the masses. He spoke on issues they cared about in language they could understand. Long's speeches went straight to the heart of the bitter suffering of the Great Depression. People felt Huey Long was their friend, despite never meeting him.

I also read criticism of Long and decided to portray three characters in my performance: Huey Long, critic Walter Lippmann, and a common man. In history, the common man is most often the forgotten one, thus I ended my performance in the common man's voice so that it would not be forgotten. He cries, ‘Rest in peace Kingfish, your legacy lives on in all of us.

— Jonah Weinstein,
Shaker Heights, Ohio
National Finalist, 6th place
2010 National History Day Contest

The Ballad of Huey Long

I am an American songwriter living near London. I recently awoke at 3 a.m. with the idea 'share the wealth'. I thought 'what a good idea' and got up to write it down. When further inspiration failed to materialize during the days that followed, I performed a search for it online and subsequently made a close acquaintance with Huey Long.

After reading about what happened during his life, I remember being totally in awe of Huey Long and spending a day or two just reflecting on the things he'd achieved (and feeling very impressed and ever so slightly proud to be American).

A larger-than-life character — to say the least — and veritable hero for the progress of the state of Louisiana. So much to write about! Indeed, had I written all that occurred to me, the result would have been a very, very long song about the extraordinary Huey Long.

— Cathy Wright, songwriter, London, UK

A Timeless Message

As a child growing up in New Orleans, Louisiana, I was always fascinated with history. Living in a state steeped in the history of oppressing my ancestors, I was moved when our Louisiana History class studied Huey P. Long.

Huey Long’s belief and work to embrace “all men” is a timeless message that all Americans and humans can learn from. His basic premise that every man is a king and every man deserves at least a homestead was a message of justice. Imagine if we put into action just this basic belief. Just think, the homeless problem could be eradicated.

All of us are made in the Image of God. All deserve basic human comforts. This man was feared by those who wanted to continue oppression and practice injustice. He was probably killed because his message if put into action would establish a colorblind America truly practicing “justice for all.”

Huey Long was a man before his time and a man whose message is timeless. It is not too late for us to hear this call for justice to roll down like waters.

— Lydia Cincore Templeton, Esq., Founder and CEO, Children Youth and Family Collaborative, Los Angeles, CA

Huey Long - A Student's Perspective

I'm sad to say that I was never able to see the likes of such a great man as Huey Long, but I have my own story to tell nonetheless. I am 19 years old, and I live in Alabama.

Huey was a great man who looked out for the well being of this great Nation, and I believe this country could have done many great things if he would have been given a chance to be our president. I would do anything in my power to go back and meet him.

I get so sad in my heart when I think about his death. His final words, "God do not let me die, I have so much to do" are just so touching to me. Here was a man who had such love for the people of America, and just when he was about to take it to the top, he was shot.

His legacy will not die as long as I am alive. I hope to one day meet him in the sky and tell him how much he means to me. LONG LIVE THE KINGFISH!

— Jeremy Green, Alabama

Huey Long's Light Still Shines

My mother was born and raised in Oak Ridge, LA. I was so inspired by reading the life and times of Mr. Huey Long! His message is one that we can use today. President Obama could use a page or two from Mr. Long's political platform of Share the Wealth as we are certainly in need of it.

We are in the dawn of a new era for change yet we are still fighting backward and foolish political policies by those who only want to appease the wealthy. Our President has been trying to break through to those that don't want change.

There is still a great divide between those that have and those that don't have. In addition our civil rights are being challenged and threatened by politicians whose interests have nothing to do with justice for the poor and middle class.

I salute Mr. Long's life and legacy for his dedication as a voice for the voiceless. Thank you so much for providing a web page so that those such as myself, an African American woman whose descendants were share croppers but whose children eventually received an education in part due to the efforts of Mr. Long, directly or indirectly. We are to learn from our history so that we don't repeat it.

It gives me great joy to read about a man that fought for true justice and equality. As Martin Luther King Jr., he was a drum major, a soldier fighting for justice providing light during a dark, traumatic, and trying time in American history.

Mr. Long's light is still shining! We will continue to fight for justice and equality until all people are kings and queens in their own right.

— C.McA