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Higher Office(s) Served: Senator

HUEY PIERCE LONG was born in Winnfield, Louisiana on August 30, 1893. His early education was attained in the public schools of his native state. He later studied law at the University of Oklahoma and at Tulane University, was admitted to the bar in 1915, and established a legal career in Winnfield and Shreveport. Long entered politics in 1917, winning election to the Louisiana Railroad Commission, a position he held for ten years, four of which he served as chairman. He was an unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate in 1924, and served as a Democratic National Committeeman from 1928 to 1935. Long won the 1928 Democratic gubernatorial nomination, and was elected governor by popular vote on April 17, 1928. He was sworn into office on May 21, 1928. During his tenure, a free textbook program was sanctioned, state-owned hospitals were expanded, a medical school at Louisiana State University was approved, a public school system was initiated into the far-off rural parishes of the state, a progressive highway program was authorized, natural gas was launched in New Orleans, and funding was secured for construction on a new state capitol building. Also during his term, Long faced impeachment charges for gross misconduct and misuse of state funds, but the state senate dropped the proceedings. Long went on to win election to the U.S. Senate. In August, 1935, Long announced his candidacy for the Presidency. One month later, he was shot by an assassin while at the State Capitol in Baton Rouge. Huey P. Long, also known as "the Kingfish," died two days later and was buried on the grounds of the State Capitol.

Sources:

Architect of the Capitol

Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress

Dawson III, Joseph G. The Louisiana Governors: From Iberville to Edwards. Baton Rouge: Lousiana State University Press, 1990.

Louisiana Secretary of State: The Governors of Louisiana

Sobel, Robert, and John Raimo, eds. Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. 2, Westport, Conn.; Meckler Books, 1978. 4 vols.