Huey Long Invades New Orleans: The Siege of a City, 1934-36

After reading T. Harry Williams outstanding bio of Long, I decided to buy this book, and I was not disappointed. Boulard's study of Long's "invasion" of New Orleans, while much shorter than Williams' book, is great in its own right, as well as tremendously researched and detailed. Coming away from the book I was delighted by the way Boulard brilliantly recreated the New Orleans of 1934-1935 and eras before then. His descriptions of the people and the life in the city were incredible. Similarly, his picture of Long takes on a life of its own. Boulard makes Huey larger than life, much as Williams does. However, his book is very balanced and discusses Huey's movement of troops into New Orleans as dictatorial, while at the same time spending time to praise Huey where it is necessary. I would recommend to anyone who decides to buy this great book to also take in Williams' monumental biography as well as Ken Burn's Long documentary.

Whatever else we might think of Huey Long, most Louisianans would agree that, as governor and then senator, he was a populist -- right? In the summer of 1934, many residents of New Orleans had reason to think otherwise. The senator and T. Semmes Walmsley, mayor of the city, had once been uneasy allies, but began feuding on many fronts. In January 1934, after Walmsley defeated the Long candidate, the senator denounced what he claimed was election fraud by the Democratic "Old Regulars." Then, never one to bother with courts and the law, he clinched his argument by bringing in the Louisiana National Guard (functioning as the senator's private army) to take over the Soule Building, which housed the voter registration office. The guardsmen quickly set up machine guns at the windows, aimed at the mayor's office across the street. Both sides finally agreed to a monitoring process for the September election, which was swept by the Long slate. The Old Regulars deserted the mayor the following summer and flocked to the senator's banner, thereby setting him up nicely for a run at the presidency in 1936. Long's march on Washington, however, was interrupted by an assassin's bullet in September 1935 (fortunately for all of us, probably). This is an exciting, well-documented, and very well-written account of one of the more unnerving episodes in this state's history.

Huey Long in 1934 was one of the most popular, yet dangerous, men in the nation. He had a real chance to be president of the U.S. mostly because the ongoing Great Depression forced people to turn to leaders who were more dynamic and controversial than before.But the Kingfish had problems at home in Louisiana--the corrupt old city of New Orleans kept kicking at his ankles.Long wanted to get New Orleans out of his way before he headed for the White House--and he did so by sending in thousands of young militia men to help him take the city over! A fantastic chapter in American history.This book is at times very funny, other times it is sad. You never really know where the author stands as he seems to give all of the major players their due. The book also has an entertaining collection of photos and cartoons too.

As a native New Orleanian, I know Louisiana politics and politicians are unlike anything in the country. I knew a little about Huey but not being one who cares much for history or politics, I knew only what was taught in school and featured in movies. What I learned from Garry Boulard's book amazed me, kept me up nights. Now when I look around Orleans and Jefferson parishes and see streets or structures named after people like Walmsey (I know exactly where that street is) and Ellender (my children attending Allen Ellender Middle School in Jefferson Parish) I don't have to wonder what roles they played to have their names so prominently displayed; it's all very clear in Huey Long Invades New Orleans: The Siege of a City, 1934-1936. Also, as host of a weekly writers' show, I receive a lot of books and with some I can't get through the first few pages, this one I could not put down. This is the book to read if you are looking for a fascinating story that's well-written, engaging.Finally, an avid reader with a hectic schedule, the last thing I want to put my hands on is a dull book. Not a chance with this one.

I purchased this book because I am a New Orleans transplant and am fascinated by Louisiana politics. I honestly expected the book to be a dry text. I was wrong! The book has the pace of a best-selling novel, but never skips background and detail. The book creates an atmosphere that you can feel. I felt like I was living it, not reading it.Great book.