On this day, Sept. 8, 1935, U.S. Sen. Huey Long was shot in the Louisiana capitol building. He died two days later at the age of 42.
Long was a Great Depression-era radical populist with the motto, “Every Man a King.” He advocated federal spending on public works, and old-age pensions promised a $2,500 minimum income per family.
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Critics accused him of being a dictator for his control of the state government. He earned the nickname “The Kingfish” after he once quipped, “I’m a small fish here in Washington. But I’m the Kingfish to the folks in Louisiana.”
At the pinnacle of his popularity, Long was attacked in Baton Rouge by Dr. Carl Weiss, the son-in-law of a political opponent.
It is not clear whether Long was assassinated or accidentally killed by bodyguards who thought Weiss was trying to kill Long. Long was struck by two bullets; Weiss was shot 61 times.
Long’s last words were, “God, don’t let me die. I have so much left to do.”
– Scott McCabe
