Every Man a King: The Autobiography of Huey P. Long

by Huey Long

Huey Long (1893–1935) was one of the most extraordinary American politicians, simultaneously cursed as a dictator and applauded as a benefactor of the masses. A product of the poor north Louisiana hills, he was elected governor of Louisiana in 1928, and proceeded to subjugate the powerful state political hierarchy after narrowly defeating an impeachment attempt. The only Southern popular leader who truly delivered on his promises, he increased the miles of paved roads and number of bridges in Louisiana tenfold and established free night schools and state hospitals, meeting the huge costs by taxing corporations and issuing bonds. Soon Long had become the absolute ruler of the state, in the process lifting Louisiana from near feudalism into the modern world almost overnight, and inspiring poor whites of the South to a vision of a better life. As Louisiana Senator and one of Roosevelt's most vociferous critics, "The Kingfish," as he called himself, gained a nationwide following, forcing Roosevelt to turn his New Deal significantly to the left. But before he could progress farther, he was assassinated in Baton Rouge in 1935. Long's ultimate ambition, of course, was the presidency, and it was doubtless with this goal in mind that he wrote this spirited and fascinating account of his life, an autobiography every bit as daring and controversial as was The Kingfish himself.

Genres: History, Politics, Biography, Nonfiction, American, Economics, American History

412 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1933

About the author

American politician who served as the 40th Governor of Louisiana from 1928 to 1932 and as a member of the United States Senate from 1932 until his assassination in 1935.

A Democrat, he was an outspoken populist who denounced the rich and the banks and called for "Share the Wealth." Long is best known for his Share Our Wealth program, created in 1934 under the motto "Every Man a King." It proposed new wealth redistribution measures in the form of a net asset tax on corporations and individuals to curb the poverty and homelessness endemic nationwide during the Great Depression.

As the political boss of the state he commanded wide networks of supporters and was willing to take forceful action. He established the political prominence of the Long political family.

Reviews

[A. Ware · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book moved me. I didn't know much about Huey P. Long before reading it, but I'd always gotten the impression that he was a bad guy, a corrupt politician, etc. I knew that opinions on Long varied wildly depending on who you asked. Some people I've spoken with here in New Orleans had cited his education reforms and roadbuilding efforts, but there was still a pall over his name that I couldn't quite place.

Reading Every Man A King made me realize why opinions about the man might be so fiery. He was definitely a socialist and ahead of his times. In the early 20th century, that was enough to condemn most men. It's incredible that he managed to ever gain any power at all, especially given his doggedness in demanding taxes on Big Oil and the utilities monopolies. He made a lot of people in the establishment downright angry, and it's easy to see why anyone benefiting from the status quo would want to undermine his influence. A Huey Long presidency could have sent the United States in an entirely different direction.

He repaired and built new roads. He improved the condition of hospitals for the mentally ill. He expanded on the health services of the entire state and provided free textbooks for the children, which really upset people for some reason. He even helped get the first female senator elected in Arkansas.

I have to say that I finished this book with a major crush on Long.

[Robfussell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Power to the People

[Thomas Ray]

E748 L86 A3
Memorial & Historical Society libraries

[Hannah Rossi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every Man A King, the autobiography of former Louisiana governor, Huey P. Long, follows the politician over much of his short adult life. Long, a man that was both lauded by the people of Louisiana and detested by large corporations such as the Standard Oil Company, recounts in this book some of his greatest feats on his mission to improve the quality of life for millions of Louisianans. It is because of his tenacity and perseverance that Louisiana possesses the infrastructure, schooling systems, and healthcare programs that it has today.
One of the most interesting aspects of this novel is that it puts you in the mind of a politician that seems wholeheartedly sincere in all of his endeavors. In a world where many politicians are ruled by greed or desire for higher positions, it is refreshing to read about a politician that was truly motivated by what he believed to be the needs of the masses. Long was what one would consider to be a true populist, motivated by the needs of the people, rather than by his own desires.
In addition to Long’s distinctive character, another unique aspect of this novel was the fact that it focused almost entirely on his endeavors to pass various legislation, or his attempts to play the political field. What was hardly touched on, however, was Long’s personal life. Occasionally, he discusses his wife and children, but very rarely does this occur. While many might find that this makes the book a rather dry read, I found that it was just the opposite; this lense into the workings of the legislature and the shady backdoor dealings of politicians made the book all the more interesting for me.
Overall, this book is a must read for everyone, with it being interesting, accurate, and informative.

[Jennifer Bentley · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the 1930s there was such popular support for socialist-leaning politicians, policies... to think that childcare for working class man & women, fair housing, equitable access to education... were all things that we used to want for ourselves and our neighbors. We have become so scared of our shadows.

[Fain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Huey Long, a Man many southerners know as an evil man, actually had a very interesting life. This book was very intriguing because it described what he actually thought, and how his slander was likely a mere Hatchet Job.

[Liam Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

A playful gander into the world of Southern politics in the 1920s. Long is a charismatic character and author and recounts experiences that are not only still relevant, but also humorous and inspiring. Definitely worth picking up

[Jonathan Mccombie · Rating 4 out of 5]

the closer an american politician can get to socialism, shame he never got to become president, but far too controversial for the establishment to accept

[Marc · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got some clarity over Huey P. Long. Typos were distracting.

This was an interesting tracing of Huey P. Long’s political life. Senator Long truly believed that every man was a king and he was always looking for ways to improve the life of the common man in Louisiana. This book is from Long’s perspective, so there is no historical commentary. He was a populist for sure. Could he have ever enacted legislation to take from the rich and give to the poor?Could he have surpassed FDR in this effort? The text must have been produced from a scan and as a result there were a lot of annoying typos. Will have to read from historians who wrote about The Kingfisher to get more insight.

[Andrew Epperson · Rating 2 out of 5]

While Huey Long must certainly be considered amongst the most interesting American politicians, his autobiography was poorly written and unrevealing. The latter was likely intentional because of Long’s presidential aspirations, while the former falls at the writer’s feet.
Long’s second book is considered the best of his works, so I’ll likely read that at some point. This was simply a way for Long to denounce newspapers and his political enemies. The comparisons made between Long and former President Trump are legitimate, though their politics are only loosely similar.

[Douglas MacLehose · Rating 4 out of 5]

The One-And-Only Huey Long

Fun read about the legendary Huey Long in his own words. Take everything he says with a grain of salt, but interesting historically nonetheless. Unfortunately, there are many typos throughout the book, which I think has to do more with the transcription to e-reader than the original text. Often gets bogged down in minutiae from 1930’s Louisiana politics, but that’s to be expected from the Kingfish. Enjoy the read!

[Mitchell Stern · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obviously this book is not an objective account of Huey Long’s career. However, Long himself is a fascinating figure and this book does show how he earned such a devoted following and what Long’s mindset was. Reading this book is useful in helping you come up with your own answer to the fundamental question about whether Long was a champion of the people or a tyrant in waiting.

[Bobby Daugherty · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good introduction to Huey Long from the man himself. While it is obviously biased it has more to offer than the "bad man" biographies his detractors have produced.

[Ryan O'Malley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Regardless of how you feel about Long in general, this was a poorly written book. Which is surprising because he’s an objectively interesting person.

[Andrew Figueiredo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty neat to hear Huey Long's own telling of his crazy political career. That said, there are numerous places where it's evident he's stretching the truth or at the very least downplaying anything he ever did wrong.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

I do not remember why I only gave this 2 stars when I read it as I still remember so much about it. When I remember a book this well, it would be because I liked it so I do not know. I do know where it is, so will just read it again.

[Chuck · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really worth a read. Try one of the biographies

[Tonja · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted it to be more than it was. I will have to read a biography to get a fuller story and better historical context, although I'm certain HPL would think his autobiography sufficient for all.