The Man Who Almost Beat Roosevelt
📖 The Man Who Almost Beat Roosevelt
By 1935, Huey Long — the Governor and then Senator of Louisiana — commanded an organisation of 7.5 million members, more than the Communist Party had ever dreamed of. His message was simple and electrifying: tax every millionaire down to their last million, and give every American family a guaranteed $5,000 home and $2,500 per year income. "Every Man a King" was his slogan. He had the charisma of a showman and the ruthlessness of a political machine boss.
FDR privately called Long one of the two most dangerous men in America — the other was General Douglas MacArthur. Long planned to run for president in 1936 on a platform to the left of Roosevelt. He was assassinated in September 1935, aged 42, by the son-in-law of a political enemy. Political historians have debated ever since: if Long had lived, could he have split the Democratic vote and given the presidency to a Republican? Would the New Deal have survived?
Long was just one of the obstacles FDR faced. From the right, the Supreme Court struck down his most ambitious agencies. From the left, socialists demanded far more. From Congress, former allies turned against him. Understanding this opposition helps explain WHY the New Deal looked the way it did — and why it stopped short of the radical change many Americans wanted.
Crucially, FDR faced criticism from people who thought he did TOO MUCH and people who thought he did TOO LITTLE:
Earn the mark scheme marks
🧠 Memory Aids: Opposition to the New Deal
Remember the three main critics with "H-S-C":
- H — Huey Long: "Share Our Wealth" — too LEFT-wing, not enough redistribution
- S — Supreme Court: struck down NRA (1935) and AAA (1936) as unconstitutional
- C — Coughlin (Father): radio priest, 30 million listeners, said New Deal helped bankers
The "too much vs too little" framework: Draw a line. On the RIGHT: Republicans, Liberty League, business (government doing too much). On the LEFT: Long, Coughlin, Townsend (government doing too little). FDR was trying to navigate between these two extremes. This framework instantly structures your essay answer.
Court packing dates: NRA struck down in 1935, AAA in 1936, court packing plan fails in 1937. The sequence runs 35-36-37 — easy to remember in order.
Huey Long's key numbers: 7.5 million supporters, $5,000 guaranteed home grant, $2,000 minimum income. He was assassinated in September 1935 — before the 1936 election where he had planned to run. His death removed FDR's most dangerous rival.
Now try it yourself
Quiz · Question 1 of 12
In which year did the Supreme Court declare the NRA (National Recovery Administration) unconstitutional?
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