On September 8, 1935, one of the most powerful—and polarizing—figures in American political history, Senator Huey P. Long, was shot inside the Louisiana State Capitol in Baton Rouge. Known as the “Kingfish,” Long was a fiery populist who built a political empire based on promises of wealth redistribution, radical reform, and ruthless control.
His assassination by Dr. Carl Weiss, a young Baton Rouge physician, ended the life of a man many believed was on a path to the White House, and perhaps even dictatorship. The shooting sent shockwaves through Depression-era America and marked the violent end of a man who inspired both adoration and fear in equal measure.
The killing of Huey Long was more than an act of violence—it was the climax of a national drama filled with ambition, power, corruption, and the thin line between populism and tyranny.
Who Was Huey Long?
Born in 1893 in Winnfield, Louisiana, Huey Pierce Long rose from modest beginnings to become one of the most formidable political forces in America.
A brilliant orator and shrewd strategist, Long was elected Governor of Louisiana in 1928, where he launched an ambitious program of public works, free education, road-building, and healthcare reform. His style was unapologetically authoritarian—centralizing power, steamrolling opponents, and building a political machine that extended into every corner of the state.
In 1930, he was elected to the U.S. Senate, though he continued to effectively control Louisiana politics from Washington. As the Great Depression deepened, Long positioned himself as a champion of the poor and working class, directly challenging President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal as too timid and elite-friendly.
Share Our Wealth: Long’s Radical Vision
Huey Long’s national rise was powered by his “Share Our Wealth” movement—a plan to redistribute America’s wealth, cap personal fortunes, and guarantee every family a basic standard of living, including:
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A $5,000 household grant
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A minimum annual income of $2,000
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Free college education
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Veteran benefits and pensions
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Taxation on the wealthy to fund social welfare programs
By 1935, Long claimed millions of followers and thousands of local Share Our Wealth clubs across the country. His message struck a chord with millions of struggling Americans—and terrified the political and economic elite.
Long openly planned to run for president in 1936, either as a third-party candidate or against FDR in the Democratic primary. Many feared he could split the vote, handing victory to Republicans—or worse, spark a populist revolution.
The Road to Assassination
While Long was beloved by many of Louisiana’s poor, he also earned powerful enemies: businessmen, judges, newspaper editors, and rival politicians who viewed him as a corrupt demagogue. His control over the state government was near-absolute, and he used tactics including blackmail, political purges, patronage, and even private police forces to maintain power.
In 1935, Long pushed a controversial bill that would gerrymander the judicial district of Judge Benjamin Henry Pavy, a longtime opponent of Long’s regime. Pavy’s removal would weaken an entire faction of anti-Long forces in Louisiana.
Pavy’s son-in-law, Dr. Carl Weiss, a respected local physician, allegedly saw the bill as a final, intolerable act of tyranny. According to the official account, on September 8, Weiss confronted Long in the capitol hallway and shot him at close range in the torso.
Long staggered into a nearby room, bleeding, while his bodyguards fired over 60 bullets into Weiss, killing him instantly.
Huey Long’s Final Hours
Long was rushed to Our Lady of the Lake Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery. At first, it seemed he might recover. But complications from internal bleeding and infection set in.
At 4:10 a.m. on September 10, 1935, Huey Long died at the age of 42.
His final reported words were:
“God, don’t let me die. I have so much to do.”
National Reaction: Mourning and Suspicion
Long’s death ignited a nationwide firestorm. Thousands attended his funeral in Baton Rouge. In Louisiana, he was mourned like a fallen king. Outside the South, reactions were mixed—some viewed him as a martyr of economic justice, others as a would-be tyrant whose death saved American democracy.
Questions about the assassination arose almost immediately:
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Was Carl Weiss truly the shooter?
Some claim Weiss never fired a shot and that he merely struck Long in anger, prompting the bodyguards to open fire. No gun belonging to Weiss was ever conclusively recovered, and autopsies were never performed—leaving room for conspiracy theories. -
Did Long orchestrate his own end?
Long’s increasingly radical moves had made him a danger to entrenched powers. Some speculate he may have been targeted by larger forces, though no credible evidence supports this.
Despite speculation, the official story remains that Weiss acted alone, motivated by personal and political grievances.
The Aftermath: What Might Have Been?
Had Huey Long lived, many believe he would have posed a formidable challenge to Roosevelt in 1936. He had built a national base and had the charisma, media savvy, and organizational skill to make serious waves in American politics.
Would he have become a populist savior—or an American dictator?
Historians remain divided. Some see him as a proto–New Dealer who pushed Roosevelt to adopt more aggressive reforms. Others see him as dangerously autocratic—a man who merged state power with personal ambition, and who showed little respect for checks and balances.
Legacy: The Shadow of the Kingfish
Though Huey Long’s life was cut short, his legacy lived on:
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His political dynasty continued through his brother Earl Long, who served as Louisiana’s governor three times.
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His “Share Our Wealth” platform influenced later welfare programs, including Social Security and federal income support.
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Long became the subject of numerous books, plays, and films, most famously Robert Penn Warren’s All the King’s Men (1946), a Pulitzer-winning novel inspired by Long’s rise and fall.
In Louisiana, Long is still viewed by many as a folk hero—a man who stood up for the little guy, built roads, schools, and hospitals, and dared to challenge the rich.
Conclusion: The Kingfish Falls
The assassination of Huey P. Long in 1935 was more than the loss of a political figure—it was the death of a unique American phenomenon. His life embodied the possibilities and perils of populism. He inspired hope among the oppressed and fear among the powerful. He wielded democracy like a sword—and, many feared, like a club.
Whether hero or threat, savior or despot, Long’s legacy endures as a cautionary tale: of how power can lift a man from nothing to the pinnacle of influence—and how swiftly that power can end, in a single, fatal shot.