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I don't think I've read an American History textbook that doesn't devote a section on this politician. Why is he so relevant? What was the core of his message that made such a splash? Discuss.
This from Wikipedia may explain it…"Huey Pierce Long, Jr. (August 30, 1893 - September 10, 1935), nicknamed The Kingfish, served as the 40th Governor of Louisiana from 1928 to 1932 and as a U.S. senator from 1932 to 1935. A Democrat, he was noted for his radical populist policies. Though a backer of Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1932 presidential election, Long split with Roosevelt in June 1933 and allegedly planned to mount his own presidential bid.Long created the Share Our Wealth program in 1934, with the motto "Every Man a King," proposing new wealth redistribution measures in the form of a net asset tax on corporations and individuals to curb the poverty and crime resulting from the Great Depression. To stimulate the economy, Long advocated federal spending on public works, public education, old age pensions and other social programs. He was an ardent critic of the Federal Reserve System's policies to reduce lending. Charismatic and immensely popular for his social reform programs and willingness to take forceful action, Long was accused by his opponents of dictatorial tendencies for his near-total control of the state government."Most history texts are of the liberal bent; he's a poster boy for that slant. Less liberal texts would include him as a warning perhaps.
Perhaps it's because of the assassination at the height of his fame, or the Pulitzer Prize-winning book of fiction inspired by his life. Would Nirvana have gone on to be an iconic band of the early 1990s if not for what happened to Kurt Cobain? Would Kennedy or Marilyn Monroe images be seared into our minds? Would MLK Jr. be dismissed as a Jesse Jackson-type of figure if he were living today? I think that death in one's prime has a way of dramatically increasing the stature of that person, and the era in which a person dies becomes identified with that person.
So will Sarah Palin go down as a modern day conservative parallel to Huey Long? Or will the liberal textbook writers forget she ever came on the scene?What about Father McLaughlin? Is he another example? I think Long could be characterized as a demagogue. McLaughlin as a crusader. Palin as a novelty. Or am I off base?
So will Sarah Palin go down as a modern day conservative parallel to Huey Long? Or will the liberal textbook writers forget she ever came on the scene?
Ther jury is going to be out for awhile, but more likely she will be remembered on a par with Geraldine Ferraro... a good idea at the time... could have been a game changer but was handled poorly.
What about Father McLaughlin? Is he another example? I think Long could be characterized as a demagogue. McLaughlin as a crusader. Palin as a novelty. Or am I off base?
Nope, I'm pretty sure you're on the mark, unless Palin pulls it out and shows more than she has been allowed to so far.
