Mrs. Ruland's U.S. History Class Project
Huey Long and the "Share the Wealth" Program
By Caitlan, Shannon, Peter, and Mitchel
Huey P. Long: Share The Wealth
When Franklin Roosevelt became president in 1932, he proposed a "New Deal" for the country and set about instigating a series of programs to pull the country out of the Great Depression and improve its economic future. However, not everyone supported his ideas for reform. One of the New Deal's most famous critics was Huey Long, the charismatic and outspoken Senator of Louisiana. In Long's opinion, the New Deal was insufficient to restore the nation's economy and relieve its people of poverty. He proposed a more radical reform: the Share-the-Wealth program. The goal of this program was to more equally distribute the nation's wealth, dividing money among many instead of concentrating it in the hands of a few. Huey Long was a compelling speaker who used radio broadcast to his advantage and attracted a large number of followers, even planning to challenge Roosevelt for the presidency in 1936. However, he was assassinated in 1935 before he was able to fulfill his goals. Nevertheless, he left the world with a lasting political legacy and will be remembered as one of the most influential politicians of his time. The following websites provide insight into Long's life and times, political career, and proposed economic reforms.
This succinct overview about Huey Long is a good place to begin learning about this influential figure. The website includes a fact sheet that describes basic information about the Louisiana senator. It also discusses a little of the opposition and challenges that he faced when commencing his career.
The Louisiana Almanac: The King Fisher
Huey Long was a renowned figure in his home state Louisiana, and in this site, the Louisiana state website gives an account of his life and times. The biography begins with his birth in 1893, elaborates on his performance as Louisiana governor and U.S. Senator, and ends with the details of his assassination in 1935.
Huey Long was an enthusiastic and passionate speaker who frequently utilized the Senate floor to propose his plans for his Share-the-Wealth program. These lengthy and detailed speeches from 1934 to 1935 are his outline of the principles and platforms for the Share the Wealth program and introduce it as the solution to the nation's economic problems.
Huey P. Long: "Share the Wealth"
Huey Long was a charismatic speaker who often used the radio as a medium for communication. In fact, he has been credited with being the most successful politician to effectively utilize radio to broadcast his message. This is a transcript of a speech that Huey Long broadcast in Washington DC on March 7, 1935. Long criticizes Roosevelt for failing to keep the promises he made to the country, and presents his alternative plan for the redistribution of wealth.
"Share the Wealth": Huey Long Talks to the Nation
This is another speech that Long delivered via radio broadcast, in April 1935. His thesis is very similar to that of his March broadcast. He gives an overview of the failings of the New Deal, and presents his alternative. The site also provides a link to listen to the audio version of Long's speech.
Excerpts from "My First Days in the White House"
Huey Long was always confident of his own abilities and eminent success. In 1935, he published a book entitled My First Days in the White House in which he describes what he would do when he became president. This site includes excerpts from this book, including his specific parameters for financial redistribution.
This is an encyclopedia style summary of Huey Long's life and times. It is a good source for information on Long's pre-political life and the events that led up to his career in government. In addition, the site includes a selection of 15 primary sources about Long: excerpts from his speeches, transcripts of radio broadcasts, interviews, and newspapers. Huey Long introduction to his manner of teaching stuff.
This is another highly informational resource on Huey Long's life with much elaboration on pivotal incidents in his career and formative years. It gives good, historical information and is useful for anyone who wants an overview of Long's life.
Classic Senate Speeches: Every man a King
On February 23, 1934 , Huey Long delivered his famous "Every Man a King" speech. This speech, which discusses Long's plan for redistributing national wealth to the better advantage of the average citizen, is considered one of the epochs of Long's oratory career, as well as one of the classic senate speeches of all time. This site includes in-depth analysis of the "Every Man a King" speech, as well as links to original copies of this and another speeches.
Between the Wars: Every Man a King
Huey Long is well-known for his famous motto and political slogan: "Every Man a King." This slogan represented his idea that with the right redistribution of money, everyone could be happy, wealthy, and financially secure. He asked University band director Castro Carrazo to write a song that promoted this theme. This website includes the lyrics to "Every Man a King" and a recording of this song.
Huey
Long by T. Harry Williams
A controversial speaker and politician, Huey Long has had many papers written about him, mainly describing his manner of getting support. This website describes the poverty that was going on at the time, explaining how Long collected his followers.
Last updated March 28, 2005
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