I was reminded that you can't get far away from reminders of Huey Long in Baton Rouge when we passed by the sign for the Huey P. Long Field House on the LSU campus Saturday. More than 70 books have been written about the "Kingfish" but it's time for another one, this time a factual account of Long and his machine, with emphasis on matters like the Win or Lose Oil Company and who continues to benefit from it. I was only eight or nine when that corporation was founded but I can still hear my dad describe it correctly, "They (the Long bunch) win and we (citizens of Louisiana) lose." Long's first dividend from the company was equivalent to one million dollars today.
Write a book on Huey Long and win awards. My former history teacher at LSU, the late T. Harry Williams, wrote the definitive biography, "Huey Long." and received the Pulitzer and the National Book Award. My old professor was too kind, in my opinion, and devoted too little space to the Win or Lose Oil Company.
The most famous novel on Long's career was "All the King's Men," written by LSU English professor Robert Penn Warren. He won the Pulitzer for 1947, and a movie based on the book won three Academy Awards in 1949, including for best picture. Among other books written on Long was "Kingfish, the Reign of Huey Long."
Long was at the height of his dictatorial powers when he was assassinated in 1935. The empire he built collapsed after his death, and some of those involved in corruption were sent to prison.
Write a book on Huey Long and win awards. My former history teacher at LSU, the late T. Harry Williams, wrote the definitive biography, "Huey Long." and received the Pulitzer and the National Book Award. My old professor was too kind, in my opinion, and devoted too little space to the Win or Lose Oil Company.
The most famous novel on Long's career was "All the King's Men," written by LSU English professor Robert Penn Warren. He won the Pulitzer for 1947, and a movie based on the book won three Academy Awards in 1949, including for best picture. Among other books written on Long was "Kingfish, the Reign of Huey Long."
Long was at the height of his dictatorial powers when he was assassinated in 1935. The empire he built collapsed after his death, and some of those involved in corruption were sent to prison.
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