So, Huey Long Was Killed Because He Was A Threat? (Death Seemed Suspicious)

[SirReginald]

He announced he was running for President in the 1936 election. Basically, dude was 1930's Bernie Sanders. Plus, he said about a challenger being "Coffee Black". Anyway, an assassin killed him Peeps now said it was his bodyguard who "ACCIDENTALLY" shot him even though that was false Long said, even though he would lose the nomination he wanted to form his own party

 

[SirReginald]

 

[SirReginald]

Damn, nobody wanna talk about this

 

[SirReginald]

BUMP

 

[Tate]

I don't see much reason to think it's any deeper than the official story. Long was reviled by the Louisiana ruling caste. It was only a matter of time until someone tried to kill him.

I question how big of a threat to FDR Long truly was as well. Even in Louisiana, in parishes he won with 99% of the vote, when he attacked FDR he got booed.

 

[thekingsmen]

FDR was needed to join WW2.

 

[SirReginald]

FDR was needed to join WW2.

True

 

[VegasCAC]

Who knows. Huey's plan was to run against FDR in the 1936 primary to popularize his message, and then in 1940 break off and form a third party.

A third party in 1940 might've meant a Wilkie presidency.

 

[Tate]

Who knows. Huey's plan was to run against FDR in the 1936 primary to popularize his message, and then in 1940 break off and form a third party.

A third party in 1940 might've meant a Wilkie presidency.

Iirc long's plan was to form a third party in 1936, but have a fellow progressive senator run on the ticket. Long would campaign heavily for his party and hopefully allow Landon to win the election. This would prove long's ability as a national vote getter to the various Democratic machines while allowing him to atleast partially absolve himself of the blame for being a spoiler. Then in 1940, Long would agree to fold his party if he was granted the democratic nomination.

I don't think this would've been effective however. FDR was extremely popular. Long was popular too, but he lacked the profile that FDR had. And he would've been partially relying on a separate, less charismatic figure to syphon votes from roosevelts left. Even if we grant him a victory in 1936(in the form of a Landon presidency), I very much doubt he could've won the nomination in 1940. Most factions of the Democratic Party apparatus disliked Long, a lot. Sabotaging Roosevelt wouldn't have changed that.

 

[SirReginald]

Who knows. Huey's plan was to run against FDR in the 1936 primary to popularize his message, and then in 1940 break off and form a third party.

A third party in 1940 might've meant a Wilkie presidency.

True. However, it just seemed suspicious that he was killed "accidentally". Dude would have made a great impact in my opinion.