Synopses & Reviews
Review
"Even though Earl Long served three different times as governor of Louisiana (the first time for only a year when as lieutenant governor he succeeded a governor he helped persuade to resign and the third time with a greater popular mandate than his older brother Huey ever received) and died (but not in Blaze Starr's arms!) in 1960 as congressman-elect, 1990 may be his best year ever. First, he was romanticized in the movie Blaze, where Paul Newman made Earl look not only bright but also virile; and now he is the subject of an engaging biography. 'Uncle Earl' supported President Truman in 1948, refusing to join the Dixicrats, and was ahead of his time in promoting black voting rights in Louisiana. On the seamy side, Earl accepted bribes from organized crime and probably was mentally ill. This is a delightful and perhaps the best study available of Louisiana politics in the Long eras." Reviewed by Daniel Weiss, Virginia Quarterly Review (Copyright 2006 Virginia Quarterly Review)
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. [291]-304) and index.