Probably would have given FDR a run for his money if he ran. Long running would have pushed FDR more to the left. Maybe FDR picks long for VP or a cabinet position to keep him on the back burner.
According to T. Harry Williams’ famous biography of Long, he was the only potential challenger FDR was afraid of. Long was a populist and one of craftiest, shrewd politicians in the 1930s.
The most that Huey Long can really hope for is the Vice Presidency in 1940. He could replace Truman's role in history if the party bosses like him, but he also has a corruption problem hanging over his head.
Well, I suppose that despite his incredible popularity, he wouldn't have been able to become President of the United States: yes, I understand everything, but even Teddy Roosevelt couldn't break the two-party system, despite being president before. But perhaps he would have played a role similar to George Wallace: I mean, he probably would have taken away a significant portion of Roosevelt's electorate, which could have led to Alf Landon's victory in the 1936 election.
Accordingly, the Republicans would have returned to power. But I don't think much would have changed: Landon himself was not a radical opponent of the New Deal and actually opposed isolationist sentiments (with the exception of his opposition to Lend-Lease for the USSR, which could have weakened his position).
FDR still wins in 1936, either appoints Long to cabinet to prevent Long from splitting the progressive vote, or FDR just moves left and Long still runs and the election results are similar to 1892 or 1992 where the republican still got second place in EV and PV despite a big third party candidate who might’ve taken from both parties.
He was a left wing populist in most regards, with more than a few authoritarian tendencies. Among his more famous stances is his feeling the new deal wasn't radical enough.
He criticized FDR's New Deal for not going far enough, and in some ways it was in response to this that FDR launched the Second New Deal. As to Long himself, his Share Our Wealth Program called for wealth caps, maximum limit on inheritance, expanded public works program, amongst other things. Whether he could've actually gotten these policies passed is another story, though as governor of Louisiana he was willing to use the bully pulpit and expand the authority of the governor to get his proposals passed. So I imagine he would make aggressive use of Executive Orders, the bully pulpit, and any other tool to get his proposals through.
He was so abrasive and corrupt he would had difficulty keeping his coalition together and SCOTUS would have slapped down his program even harder than the initial New Deal before the court packing scheme. His response to opposition was often outright thuggery, which would make the reaction to a similar idea on court packing likely stronger, instead of how it actually was with FDR where SCOTUS began to yield.
Likely Republicans have larger wins, if not presidency in 1936 or 1940.
Given Long isen't beating Roosevelt for the nomination, the Republicans winning it doubtful. While Long splitting the Democratic vote by running 3rd party is probably one of the few reasonable chances Landon has in a historical 1936, Landon needs just over a 20% swing in the average margin of shift in states by folks jumping from Roosevelt to Long to actually get and Electoral College majority. If it goes to a contigent election Roosevelt has overwhelming support from the House to get relected.
He was a blowhard obstructionist who despite frequently holding the Senate floor hostage vis fillibuster couldn't get a single bill of his passed. It was clear he had no idea how to function in Washington or work with the national level poltical establishment to actually get anything done, and nothing suggests he'd get any better if he stayed in the Senate
He at best runs a 3rd party campaign in 1936 where he promises the Moon without any clue how he's going to get by Congress or the courts. He makes a reasonable showing and forces Roosevelt to defend his left flank to Landon's benefit, but only enough to tip a few states. Its almost certainly not enough to actually stop Roosevelt from getting relected. Long bloviates afterward and probably goes back to Louisiana where he can be the big fish in the pond again.
Probably would have given FDR a run for his money if he ran. Long running would have pushed FDR more to the left. Maybe FDR picks long for VP or a cabinet position to keep him on the back burner.
Long was too egotistical to accept a vice-presidential slot
And FDR was too smart to have him in second place
According to T. Harry Williams’ famous biography of Long, he was the only potential challenger FDR was afraid of. Long was a populist and one of craftiest, shrewd politicians in the 1930s.
The most that Huey Long can really hope for is the Vice Presidency in 1940. He could replace Truman's role in history if the party bosses like him, but he also has a corruption problem hanging over his head.
Idea of mine - if Zangara had shot Roosevelt and Weiss had missed Long.
He'd still probably never become president, since the United States has a two party system and the Democratic bosses would never nominate him
Eventually someone gets him on fraud and corruption charges and he spends the rest of his life in prison
I think he runs in 1936 but otherwise becomes largely irrelevant by 1940 as the economy improved.
Well, I suppose that despite his incredible popularity, he wouldn't have been able to become President of the United States: yes, I understand everything, but even Teddy Roosevelt couldn't break the two-party system, despite being president before. But perhaps he would have played a role similar to George Wallace: I mean, he probably would have taken away a significant portion of Roosevelt's electorate, which could have led to Alf Landon's victory in the 1936 election.
Accordingly, the Republicans would have returned to power. But I don't think much would have changed: Landon himself was not a radical opponent of the New Deal and actually opposed isolationist sentiments (with the exception of his opposition to Lend-Lease for the USSR, which could have weakened his position).
While it doesn't change the what-if, I thought there was some speculation that the fatal shot was from the cross fie as his body guards shot back.
FDR still wins in 1936, either appoints Long to cabinet to prevent Long from splitting the progressive vote, or FDR just moves left and Long still runs and the election results are similar to 1892 or 1992 where the republican still got second place in EV and PV despite a big third party candidate who might’ve taken from both parties.
He was unhinged, more in the bad way than good. He wouldn't have gotten far.
He would have been a Trump-like President at some point if he had lived. Probably running against Truman.
We have a much more direct presidential comparison: LBJ.
LBJ was the ultimate insider. Long was anything but.
They didn’t really do primaries back then, no way he gets that far
He would have run as a third party candidate.
He’d be like a good trump…Instead of the bad trump..Donald trump.
He was pretty much a crook, so maybe he wasn't raping young girls, but he certainly would have stolen a good bit.
I guess what I mean is more so policy wise he would have done good things. Huey long while a maniac did good things for the people of his state.
What policies was Huey Long known for? That might create some context as to what might differ if he does survive.
He was a left wing populist in most regards, with more than a few authoritarian tendencies. Among his more famous stances is his feeling the new deal wasn't radical enough.
He criticized FDR's New Deal for not going far enough, and in some ways it was in response to this that FDR launched the Second New Deal. As to Long himself, his Share Our Wealth Program called for wealth caps, maximum limit on inheritance, expanded public works program, amongst other things. Whether he could've actually gotten these policies passed is another story, though as governor of Louisiana he was willing to use the bully pulpit and expand the authority of the governor to get his proposals passed. So I imagine he would make aggressive use of Executive Orders, the bully pulpit, and any other tool to get his proposals through.
He was so abrasive and corrupt he would had difficulty keeping his coalition together and SCOTUS would have slapped down his program even harder than the initial New Deal before the court packing scheme. His response to opposition was often outright thuggery, which would make the reaction to a similar idea on court packing likely stronger, instead of how it actually was with FDR where SCOTUS began to yield.
Likely Republicans have larger wins, if not presidency in 1936 or 1940.
Given Long isen't beating Roosevelt for the nomination, the Republicans winning it doubtful. While Long splitting the Democratic vote by running 3rd party is probably one of the few reasonable chances Landon has in a historical 1936, Landon needs just over a 20% swing in the average margin of shift in states by folks jumping from Roosevelt to Long to actually get and Electoral College majority. If it goes to a contigent election Roosevelt has overwhelming support from the House to get relected.
He was a blowhard obstructionist who despite frequently holding the Senate floor hostage vis fillibuster couldn't get a single bill of his passed. It was clear he had no idea how to function in Washington or work with the national level poltical establishment to actually get anything done, and nothing suggests he'd get any better if he stayed in the Senate
He at best runs a 3rd party campaign in 1936 where he promises the Moon without any clue how he's going to get by Congress or the courts. He makes a reasonable showing and forces Roosevelt to defend his left flank to Landon's benefit, but only enough to tip a few states. Its almost certainly not enough to actually stop Roosevelt from getting relected. Long bloviates afterward and probably goes back to Louisiana where he can be the big fish in the pond again.
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Huey P. Long (1893-1935) The Governor of Louisiana from 1928-1932.
Not a chance he could have been president. A no nonsense southerner in 1936? Forget it. The Civil War was still within living memory then.