"Every Man a King"

Some years ago I bought and read T. Harry Williams' biography, Huey Long (1969). It's a long, thorough, and very readable book about the politician who, if he had not been assassinated, probably would have run against FDR for the Democratic nomination for President in 1936. Long was a populist, governor, and then Senator from Louisiana, creator of a political machine that dominated Louisiana politics for decades. He was corrupt, authoritarian, and very popular in his state. Robert Penn Warren's novel, All the King's Men (1946), was a fictional account of Long's rise to power. I would be very concerned about any political candidate who viewed Long favorably. In the WSJ today:

JD Vance has a new populist muse. Speaking at an Ohio steel plant on Aug. 21, he appealed to Huey Long, Louisiana’s Democratic governor from 1928-32. Long, Mr. Vance said, pursued a policy agenda to make “every man a king.” While the vice president connected this phrase to the importance of public safety, it also seems to reflect his own broader political vision. As a Louisianan, I can attest that every American should be wary of the impossible promises of Long-style populism.

In the Pelican State, we’ve been dealing with consequences of Long’s agenda for nearly a century. Despite his rhetorical promise to make kings of the people, the politician nicknamed “Kingfish” cemented the state government’s king-like power. ....

In his Ohio speech, Mr. Vance at least acknowledged that Long was “kind of a crazy guy.” But the same can be said of Long’s policy agenda, which is quite similar to the populist vision of politicians like J.D. Vance. Long’s genius was persuading people that concentrating power in his hands was the same as empowering them. A century later, Louisiana is still paying the bill for that con. .... (more)

I posted about Long once before here. Years ago, at our church conference, I had a chance to talk with Senator Jennings Randolph (WVa), who had served a couple of years in Congress when Long was a Senator. As I recall, his recollections—Jennings was a great storyteller—were mostly about Long's flamboyant attire—he mentioned ties—and speaking style. A few years ago, my brother and I visited the Capitol building in Baton Rouge that Long had built, and where he was killed. A statue of Huey Long rises above his grave in front of the building. While there, we were approached by a Louisiana couple who continued to admire Long for what he had done for the state.

Daniel Erspamer, "From a Hillbilly to a King," The Wall Street Journal, August 31, 2026.