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The 1936 election crisis
The 1936 election was hotly contested, and it only grew fiercer as the day approached. All three candidates had devolved from policy debates to personal attacks on one another by September. By November they were reduced to name calling. Truman called Long an uncompromising white elitist who would reduce America to a one party dictatorship, and Long in turn accused him of being a religious fanatic who would help "blacks, browns, and yellows" gain equal rights but would do nothing for the poor white man on the street. Borah called both of them destructive radicals who would wipe out American freedom and democracy if they were permitted in power. Long responded by calling him, along with the rest of the Republican party, a corporate fatcat.
Long delivering his famous "Republican fatcats" speech
The election day itself was incredibly chaotic. Kingfish were mostly responsible for the chaos, but not the sole cause. Huge numbers of blacks blockaded voting booths in Northern and Western cities, refusing to let anyone through who did not promise to vote for Truman (who had promised to expand civil rights, among other things). A pro-Republican newspaper in Massachusetts printed a false story that Long had been assassinated and the election postponed. Rumors of bribery by every party were present in every state. Members of The Militia intimidated and assaulted Jews and businessmen as they came to vote. Members of the SOWS led "election marches" to support Long, many of which devolved into riots.
The SOWS on an election march
New York was were the election was most violent. All three parties had a base of active support in the city. Blacks led marches to support Truman, Henry Ford's branch of The Militia roamed the city, and hundreds upon hundreds of posters supporting Borah were printed by the city's newspapers. If that was not enough, a fire broke out in the city that firefighters were unable to control. Its cause is unknown, but much of the city burned to the ground and many voters never got the the ballot boxes. In the end, 20,000 people were homeless and much of city's businesses had been burned.
The wall of smoke advances in New York
The 1936 election thus had the dubious honor of being America's most destructive, and also one of the lowest voter turnouts in American history, with only 35% of voters reaching the ballots. But never the less, the results were in, and the chaos was over. Or so Americans thought...
Harry S. Truman (Democrat)
Popular vote: 13,087,035 (29.2%)
Electoral Collage: 93 (17.5%)
Although Truman won an incredible 86% of the black vote, along with large numbers of other ethnic minorities, they still remained minorities, and he only carried five states, California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, and his home state of Missouri. The Democrats had simply been too weak after the split to contest any others. The traditionally Democratic South had joined Long as well.
William Edgar Borah (Republican)
Popular vote: 15,776,151 (35.2%)
Electoral Collage: 219 (41.2%)
Borah's attempts to distance himself from Hoover had apparently worked. He carried virtually all of the Midwest and most of the North. His success showed that there was still plenty of moderation within the American people. Not everyone was willing to go radical for the sake of rapid economic improvement, and people still had faith in moderate government and capitalism.
Huey Long (New Democrat/Kingfish)
Popular vote: 15,955,426 (35.6%)
Electoral Collage: 219 (41.2%)
To say that Huey Long won by the skin of his teeth does not really do his victory justice. Technically he did not win at all. He had, as expected, swept the South, and got the better of the contested vote in New York. He was tied with Borah in terms of the electoral collage, and only got 0.4% more of the popular vote. This did not stop him from boldly announcing his victory over national radio however, stating that the Kingfish had triumphed.
Long's triumphant arrival at a "victory" party
In reality, it was now up to the House of Representatives, many of them brand new, to determine who would become President. They had until March 4th, 1937 to decide.
The 1936 election was hotly contested, and it only grew fiercer as the day approached. All three candidates had devolved from policy debates to personal attacks on one another by September. By November they were reduced to name calling. Truman called Long an uncompromising white elitist who would reduce America to a one party dictatorship, and Long in turn accused him of being a religious fanatic who would help "blacks, browns, and yellows" gain equal rights but would do nothing for the poor white man on the street. Borah called both of them destructive radicals who would wipe out American freedom and democracy if they were permitted in power. Long responded by calling him, along with the rest of the Republican party, a corporate fatcat.
Long delivering his famous "Republican fatcats" speech
The election day itself was incredibly chaotic. Kingfish were mostly responsible for the chaos, but not the sole cause. Huge numbers of blacks blockaded voting booths in Northern and Western cities, refusing to let anyone through who did not promise to vote for Truman (who had promised to expand civil rights, among other things). A pro-Republican newspaper in Massachusetts printed a false story that Long had been assassinated and the election postponed. Rumors of bribery by every party were present in every state. Members of The Militia intimidated and assaulted Jews and businessmen as they came to vote. Members of the SOWS led "election marches" to support Long, many of which devolved into riots.
The SOWS on an election march
New York was were the election was most violent. All three parties had a base of active support in the city. Blacks led marches to support Truman, Henry Ford's branch of The Militia roamed the city, and hundreds upon hundreds of posters supporting Borah were printed by the city's newspapers. If that was not enough, a fire broke out in the city that firefighters were unable to control. Its cause is unknown, but much of the city burned to the ground and many voters never got the the ballot boxes. In the end, 20,000 people were homeless and much of city's businesses had been burned.
The wall of smoke advances in New York
The 1936 election thus had the dubious honor of being America's most destructive, and also one of the lowest voter turnouts in American history, with only 35% of voters reaching the ballots. But never the less, the results were in, and the chaos was over. Or so Americans thought...
Harry S. Truman (Democrat)
Popular vote: 13,087,035 (29.2%)
Electoral Collage: 93 (17.5%)
Although Truman won an incredible 86% of the black vote, along with large numbers of other ethnic minorities, they still remained minorities, and he only carried five states, California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, and his home state of Missouri. The Democrats had simply been too weak after the split to contest any others. The traditionally Democratic South had joined Long as well.
William Edgar Borah (Republican)
Popular vote: 15,776,151 (35.2%)
Electoral Collage: 219 (41.2%)
Borah's attempts to distance himself from Hoover had apparently worked. He carried virtually all of the Midwest and most of the North. His success showed that there was still plenty of moderation within the American people. Not everyone was willing to go radical for the sake of rapid economic improvement, and people still had faith in moderate government and capitalism.
Huey Long (New Democrat/Kingfish)
Popular vote: 15,955,426 (35.6%)
Electoral Collage: 219 (41.2%)
To say that Huey Long won by the skin of his teeth does not really do his victory justice. Technically he did not win at all. He had, as expected, swept the South, and got the better of the contested vote in New York. He was tied with Borah in terms of the electoral collage, and only got 0.4% more of the popular vote. This did not stop him from boldly announcing his victory over national radio however, stating that the Kingfish had triumphed.
Long's triumphant arrival at a "victory" party
In reality, it was now up to the House of Representatives, many of them brand new, to determine who would become President. They had until March 4th, 1937 to decide.
- 1
Such a violent election. Maybe the military ought to step in?
*Cue MacArthur steeping in and kicking everyone out*
*Cue MacArthur steeping in and kicking everyone out*
You'd think Long would have done better in the progressive Midwestern states than he did. Also very odd the idea of the Democratic Party of the 1930s being so popular amongst black voters. Seems almost certain that the House will rule against Long (Democrats and Republicans putting differences aside to unite in order to keep out the Kingfish), however its hard to see Long and his supporters not contesting that on the streets ....
Going to be interesting anyway!
Going to be interesting anyway!
The Four Months of Scandal
The four months in which congress chose the new president were some of the most scandalous months in American history. Constant rumors of bribery and corruption within the House of Representatives were present. Long made numerous private calls on the homes of congressmen, mostly those in the Midwest and the North. He also continually claimed before congress that because he won a majority of the popular vote, he had been selected by the American people to be president and voting against him who be a betrayal of democracy. He also openly accused Borah and his running mate, Frank Knox, of corruption. He made numerous speeches during this period, the most famous was delivered on February 28th, an edited version of which appears here.
Long during his speech on The Mall
"Quite along while ago some fine men came along and they said that we don't like this King George. He taxes us too much and he messes around with our business too much and we're gonna get rid of him. And boy oh boy they did, didn't they? And they said to themselves that the people were gonna vote, and that whoever got the most votes was gonna be president. And in the last election I got more votes then any other candidate. And now congress says that I may not be president! I have no idea where along the line the constitution changed! I must have missed the memo! So as far as I can tell King George is back! And he may not call himself a king. He may call himself a CEO or a Chairman of the Board but that don't change what they're doin'! They're saying no, no, the American people are wrong! And they're calling up their friends in congress and they're buyin' up their votes. But they can't change the fact that I won the majority of votes, and the American people choose me! I am not a candidate for president, I am THE president, and if congress can't see that, well I'm gonna buy em' some glasses!"
Long did not have the support of everyone however. Due to his anti-immigrant rhetoric, he had effectively turned Hollywood against him. On December 15th, the film It Can't Happen Here launched in most major theaters in the United States. Based on a book of the same name, the film focused on a populistic, demagogic, southern politician who gets elected president and turns America into a brutal dictatorship, in a none to subtle dig at Long. His party was even called the "Shark Princes." The film was boycotted by the Kingfish for an "unjust depiction of southern politicians." Long was able to negate most of the damage with a huge and highly publicized charity for the victims of the New York fire at Christmas.
A poster for the movie
As March 4th neared tensions in congress heightened. They finally exploded when a fistfight broke out between the Kingfish Burton K. Wheeler and the Republican Charles L. McNary two days before the decision. Wheeler apparently gave a speech about how Hollywood was "nothing but a political machine designed to strike down new ideas like the Kingfish party, filling the American people's heads with lies and anti-American propaganda." McNary, (who was an enormous fan of It Can't Happen Here) jumped at Wheeler and wrestled him to the ground, punching him repeatedly in the face. Wheeler fought back and kicked him in the stomach. The fight was then broken up and both Wheeler and McNary were hospitalized, for several months in Wheeler's case. A pro-Republican Massachusetts newspaper ran the headlines: McNary gives the Kingfish a well deserved beating
McNary, a very irritable Republican
Wheeler, who ended up with a broken nose and three broken teeth
The day of decision finally arrived however. On March 4th, 1937, by a vote of 23 to 25, (as each state received only one vote) Huey Long became the 33rd President of the United States of America.
Long walking a "victory lap" around Capitol Hill
The four months in which congress chose the new president were some of the most scandalous months in American history. Constant rumors of bribery and corruption within the House of Representatives were present. Long made numerous private calls on the homes of congressmen, mostly those in the Midwest and the North. He also continually claimed before congress that because he won a majority of the popular vote, he had been selected by the American people to be president and voting against him who be a betrayal of democracy. He also openly accused Borah and his running mate, Frank Knox, of corruption. He made numerous speeches during this period, the most famous was delivered on February 28th, an edited version of which appears here.
Long during his speech on The Mall
"Quite along while ago some fine men came along and they said that we don't like this King George. He taxes us too much and he messes around with our business too much and we're gonna get rid of him. And boy oh boy they did, didn't they? And they said to themselves that the people were gonna vote, and that whoever got the most votes was gonna be president. And in the last election I got more votes then any other candidate. And now congress says that I may not be president! I have no idea where along the line the constitution changed! I must have missed the memo! So as far as I can tell King George is back! And he may not call himself a king. He may call himself a CEO or a Chairman of the Board but that don't change what they're doin'! They're saying no, no, the American people are wrong! And they're calling up their friends in congress and they're buyin' up their votes. But they can't change the fact that I won the majority of votes, and the American people choose me! I am not a candidate for president, I am THE president, and if congress can't see that, well I'm gonna buy em' some glasses!"
Long did not have the support of everyone however. Due to his anti-immigrant rhetoric, he had effectively turned Hollywood against him. On December 15th, the film It Can't Happen Here launched in most major theaters in the United States. Based on a book of the same name, the film focused on a populistic, demagogic, southern politician who gets elected president and turns America into a brutal dictatorship, in a none to subtle dig at Long. His party was even called the "Shark Princes." The film was boycotted by the Kingfish for an "unjust depiction of southern politicians." Long was able to negate most of the damage with a huge and highly publicized charity for the victims of the New York fire at Christmas.
A poster for the movie
As March 4th neared tensions in congress heightened. They finally exploded when a fistfight broke out between the Kingfish Burton K. Wheeler and the Republican Charles L. McNary two days before the decision. Wheeler apparently gave a speech about how Hollywood was "nothing but a political machine designed to strike down new ideas like the Kingfish party, filling the American people's heads with lies and anti-American propaganda." McNary, (who was an enormous fan of It Can't Happen Here) jumped at Wheeler and wrestled him to the ground, punching him repeatedly in the face. Wheeler fought back and kicked him in the stomach. The fight was then broken up and both Wheeler and McNary were hospitalized, for several months in Wheeler's case. A pro-Republican Massachusetts newspaper ran the headlines: McNary gives the Kingfish a well deserved beating
McNary, a very irritable Republican
Wheeler, who ended up with a broken nose and three broken teeth
The day of decision finally arrived however. On March 4th, 1937, by a vote of 23 to 25, (as each state received only one vote) Huey Long became the 33rd President of the United States of America.
Long walking a "victory lap" around Capitol Hill
- 1
Who would start that?
Zzzzz... said:
Clever, very clever. (lol)
SovietAmerika said:
No... at least not yet...
Tommy4ever said:
Ha! Wrong! (why am I so gleeful?)
trekfan said:
Welcome aboard!
You.... forshadow a MacArthur involvement.... I really cant wait to see that. Subbed.
As "The Kingfish," I will naturally take interest in any USA TL that has Huey Long.
Food for thought: I have been a member here for a while, so it is just a coincidence that a Kingfish TL pops up.
I look forward to Long's cabinet, and first days in office.
Food for thought: I have been a member here for a while, so it is just a coincidence that a Kingfish TL pops up.
I look forward to Long's cabinet, and first days in office.
Long's cabinet
Long was not one for tradition. While most presidents keep a few of the former's cabinet, he quickly fired and replaced every cabinet member. He also had far fewer cabinet positions then most presidents, preferring to handle most issues personally.
Secretary of State: Ezra Pound
Pound was the natural choice for head of state, as he had plenty of experience abroad. Having lived in Britain, France, and Italy, he had extensive knowledge of Europe's internal politics and the political trends of it's major countries. He once told Long that "the French will naturally shift to the Left, the Germans to the Right, and the British will move towards whatever suits their fancy." A charming and hansom man, he proved a skilled negotiator who would strike many deals during Long's presidency. Long was still an isolationist however, and this often left Pound with little to do, prompting him to work on his poetry.
Pound relaxing in his office trying to think up a line for his epic: The Cantos
Secretary of the Treasury: Henry Ford
Long once said that "the only things I trust a businessman to do is make money, one way or another." It was perhaps this line of thinking that led him to put Ford as head of the treasury. Ford was a true entrepreneur and an excellent handler of money. He was often the hardest worker in the White House, staying up for days at a time with little rest. He was also still officially the CEO of the Ford Motor Company, and greatly expanded it while managing the treasury.
Ford a bit worse for wear after pulling an all night shift
Secretary of the Interior: Father Charles Coughlin
In his second autobiography My First Days in the White House, Long writes that he always considered Coughlin the most determined and loyal of his fellow Kingfish. This is possibly why he appointed Coughlin commander of America's internal health. Coughlin was a vital link in Long's plans for America. Over time Coughlin would become manager of propaganda, head of the Un-American Activities Committee and the Corrupt Business Practices Committee, and Long's right hand man. His influence in the party would grow, although he was a lesser known figure then Ford or Vice-President Lindbergh.
Coughlin during one of his fiery speeches
Secretary of Justice: Seward Collins
Collins was a very active head of the federal police force, promising to "hunt down the enemies of the American People wherever they may be found." He doubled the size of the federal police force and often deployed them to areas that could have been managed by the state police. There were also unspeakable amounts of corruption within his forces (the full scale of which would not be widely known until the 1990s). He made local police chiefs pay him "protection money," using his influence to get those who did not fired. He collaborated with gangsters (such as Al Capone, who he ordered released from Alcatraz prison) to enforce his will upon the average American citizen. The intense corruption of his police force meant that state power was slowly eroded away.
Heavily armed federal agents escort an arrested senator in California
Secretary of Labor: Joe McWilliams
The last secretary position that had any real power was headed by a complete unknown. From a poor mining family and having little education, McWilliams served to Long's every whim as Secretary of Labor. He organized federally controlled unions, which would replace private unions that would be eliminated by Long's policies. Other then that, he eventually became the head of propaganda directed at labor, and generally served party interest while giving Long an example of his equal opportunity position. He is now considered grossly incompetent and weak-willed.
Propaganda authorized by McWilliams, directed at non-state unions
Long was not one for tradition. While most presidents keep a few of the former's cabinet, he quickly fired and replaced every cabinet member. He also had far fewer cabinet positions then most presidents, preferring to handle most issues personally.
Secretary of State: Ezra Pound
Pound was the natural choice for head of state, as he had plenty of experience abroad. Having lived in Britain, France, and Italy, he had extensive knowledge of Europe's internal politics and the political trends of it's major countries. He once told Long that "the French will naturally shift to the Left, the Germans to the Right, and the British will move towards whatever suits their fancy." A charming and hansom man, he proved a skilled negotiator who would strike many deals during Long's presidency. Long was still an isolationist however, and this often left Pound with little to do, prompting him to work on his poetry.
Pound relaxing in his office trying to think up a line for his epic: The Cantos
Secretary of the Treasury: Henry Ford
Long once said that "the only things I trust a businessman to do is make money, one way or another." It was perhaps this line of thinking that led him to put Ford as head of the treasury. Ford was a true entrepreneur and an excellent handler of money. He was often the hardest worker in the White House, staying up for days at a time with little rest. He was also still officially the CEO of the Ford Motor Company, and greatly expanded it while managing the treasury.
Ford a bit worse for wear after pulling an all night shift
Secretary of the Interior: Father Charles Coughlin
In his second autobiography My First Days in the White House, Long writes that he always considered Coughlin the most determined and loyal of his fellow Kingfish. This is possibly why he appointed Coughlin commander of America's internal health. Coughlin was a vital link in Long's plans for America. Over time Coughlin would become manager of propaganda, head of the Un-American Activities Committee and the Corrupt Business Practices Committee, and Long's right hand man. His influence in the party would grow, although he was a lesser known figure then Ford or Vice-President Lindbergh.
Coughlin during one of his fiery speeches
Secretary of Justice: Seward Collins
Collins was a very active head of the federal police force, promising to "hunt down the enemies of the American People wherever they may be found." He doubled the size of the federal police force and often deployed them to areas that could have been managed by the state police. There were also unspeakable amounts of corruption within his forces (the full scale of which would not be widely known until the 1990s). He made local police chiefs pay him "protection money," using his influence to get those who did not fired. He collaborated with gangsters (such as Al Capone, who he ordered released from Alcatraz prison) to enforce his will upon the average American citizen. The intense corruption of his police force meant that state power was slowly eroded away.
Heavily armed federal agents escort an arrested senator in California
Secretary of Labor: Joe McWilliams
The last secretary position that had any real power was headed by a complete unknown. From a poor mining family and having little education, McWilliams served to Long's every whim as Secretary of Labor. He organized federally controlled unions, which would replace private unions that would be eliminated by Long's policies. Other then that, he eventually became the head of propaganda directed at labor, and generally served party interest while giving Long an example of his equal opportunity position. He is now considered grossly incompetent and weak-willed.
Propaganda authorized by McWilliams, directed at non-state unions
- 1
Collins, Coughlin, and McWilliams scare me. Pound and Ford seem decent men, though.
The Political Monopoly
When Long was inaugurated it seemed to many that he would be in no position to enact any of the sweeping and radical policies that he promised. Because of the narrow margin of his election Congress was evenly divided between Kingfish and Republicans, with the Democrats serving as a smaller third party. It was clear that whatever bills Kingfish purposed the Republicans would vote against on principle, and vice versa. A alliance with the Democrats was the natural answer for both parties. But with Harry S. Truman leading the Democrats, that would be difficult at best, and impossible at worst.
Truman was thought by many (including his own party) to be at best an ignorant radical, and at worst an uncompromising idiot. He was a devout Baptist and a die hard civil rights fighter. He also possessed a near obsessive hatred for Huey Long. He often shouted to crowds about how Long was a "ruthless totalitarian" and the only progressive thing he'd do for America was "systematically exterminate the Republicans along with the rest of his opposition." Looked at from a modern perspective it is not surprising that he was elected leader of the Democrats, as most Democrats who hadn't joined the Kingfish were those who disliked Long. He loathed the Republicans almost as much, and made many speeches about how the Democrats would remain politically independent.
Truman featured on the cover of LIFE
Thus Congress was effectively deadlocked. No party could rally the necessary votes to pass any of their proposed bills. That is, until the night of April 15th. After a violent debate in the House of Representatives with several Kingfish, Truman was walking to his apartment that he kept in Washington. He was talking with William Thornton Kemper, a banker and old friend of his who was urging Truman to join with the Republicans to oppose Long. A car drove down the street at high speed, and a Thompson submachine gun was fired in the general direction of Truman and Kemper. Kemper was hit twice in the leg and once in the shoulder, while Truman was hit in the stomach, abdomen and arm. Both were rushed to a hospital. The next day Tomas Stizburg, a small time gangster, walked into the Washington police station and confessed to shooting Truman. Truman died later the same day, his last words reportedly being "give 'em hell, give 'em all hell."
Stizburg's mugshot after his confession. He is believed to have been hired, but his employers were never found.
The next Democrat to lead the party, Key Pittman, lacked Truman's forceful personality or die hard stances. He was also one of the few Southern Democrats that hadn't joined the Kingfish. He personally got along quite well with Long and although he disagreed with many of Long's policies, thought that "getting something done was better then getting nothing done at all." Modern evidence does indicate that Truman's assassination may have intimidated him into siding with Long.
Key Pittman: was he a compromising moderate or a frighted puppet?
With a senate majority thus gained, Long was confident enough to introduce The Public Works act of 1937. The bill would introduce a massive public works program constructing factories, roads, and railways to ease unemployment. While the bill seemed quite helpful at first glance, Republicans pointed out that the companies created would not be privately owned. Instead, the companies would be federally owned, and their administrators picked by the president without any other party being consulted. They protested that this gave far too much power to the executive branch. the unemployed however, strongly disagreed. Tens of thousands of unemployed, some of them not even Kingfish, marched on the capitol, calling themselves the "Working Army."
The Working Army assembled in front of the capitol
The Public Works Act passed surprisingly quickly in Congress, but Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes ruled it as unconstitutional on May 23rd. The Working Army proceeded to riot, breaking down the doors of the Supreme Court and assaulting many of the judges. But the time the riot was forcibly stopped by General MacArthur's intervention, three justices and numerous others had been badly injured. Justice Hughes was so badly injured that he could not resume his duties. His replacement was Hugo Black, a casual Kingfish a well respected judge who assured Congress that his political feelings would not effect his judgement. However, Francis Parker Yockey, an active member of the SOWS and well known for his antisemitic leanings, was also appointed. After the shuffling of the court, Hughes's verdict was thrown out, and the public works program was started in earnest on July 17th.
Men getting back to work thanks to the Public Works Act
Although The Public Works Act helped ease unemployment and boost America's economy, it also set a dangerous precedent. Long had proposed a bill and gotten it passed, but few presidents had done so against fierce opposition. The violence associated with the bill had left a dark cloud hanging over Washington, and many politicians opposed to Long began to feel something that no side feels in a healthy democracy.
Fear.
When Long was inaugurated it seemed to many that he would be in no position to enact any of the sweeping and radical policies that he promised. Because of the narrow margin of his election Congress was evenly divided between Kingfish and Republicans, with the Democrats serving as a smaller third party. It was clear that whatever bills Kingfish purposed the Republicans would vote against on principle, and vice versa. A alliance with the Democrats was the natural answer for both parties. But with Harry S. Truman leading the Democrats, that would be difficult at best, and impossible at worst.
Truman was thought by many (including his own party) to be at best an ignorant radical, and at worst an uncompromising idiot. He was a devout Baptist and a die hard civil rights fighter. He also possessed a near obsessive hatred for Huey Long. He often shouted to crowds about how Long was a "ruthless totalitarian" and the only progressive thing he'd do for America was "systematically exterminate the Republicans along with the rest of his opposition." Looked at from a modern perspective it is not surprising that he was elected leader of the Democrats, as most Democrats who hadn't joined the Kingfish were those who disliked Long. He loathed the Republicans almost as much, and made many speeches about how the Democrats would remain politically independent.
Truman featured on the cover of LIFE
Thus Congress was effectively deadlocked. No party could rally the necessary votes to pass any of their proposed bills. That is, until the night of April 15th. After a violent debate in the House of Representatives with several Kingfish, Truman was walking to his apartment that he kept in Washington. He was talking with William Thornton Kemper, a banker and old friend of his who was urging Truman to join with the Republicans to oppose Long. A car drove down the street at high speed, and a Thompson submachine gun was fired in the general direction of Truman and Kemper. Kemper was hit twice in the leg and once in the shoulder, while Truman was hit in the stomach, abdomen and arm. Both were rushed to a hospital. The next day Tomas Stizburg, a small time gangster, walked into the Washington police station and confessed to shooting Truman. Truman died later the same day, his last words reportedly being "give 'em hell, give 'em all hell."
Stizburg's mugshot after his confession. He is believed to have been hired, but his employers were never found.
The next Democrat to lead the party, Key Pittman, lacked Truman's forceful personality or die hard stances. He was also one of the few Southern Democrats that hadn't joined the Kingfish. He personally got along quite well with Long and although he disagreed with many of Long's policies, thought that "getting something done was better then getting nothing done at all." Modern evidence does indicate that Truman's assassination may have intimidated him into siding with Long.
Key Pittman: was he a compromising moderate or a frighted puppet?
With a senate majority thus gained, Long was confident enough to introduce The Public Works act of 1937. The bill would introduce a massive public works program constructing factories, roads, and railways to ease unemployment. While the bill seemed quite helpful at first glance, Republicans pointed out that the companies created would not be privately owned. Instead, the companies would be federally owned, and their administrators picked by the president without any other party being consulted. They protested that this gave far too much power to the executive branch. the unemployed however, strongly disagreed. Tens of thousands of unemployed, some of them not even Kingfish, marched on the capitol, calling themselves the "Working Army."
The Working Army assembled in front of the capitol
The Public Works Act passed surprisingly quickly in Congress, but Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes ruled it as unconstitutional on May 23rd. The Working Army proceeded to riot, breaking down the doors of the Supreme Court and assaulting many of the judges. But the time the riot was forcibly stopped by General MacArthur's intervention, three justices and numerous others had been badly injured. Justice Hughes was so badly injured that he could not resume his duties. His replacement was Hugo Black, a casual Kingfish a well respected judge who assured Congress that his political feelings would not effect his judgement. However, Francis Parker Yockey, an active member of the SOWS and well known for his antisemitic leanings, was also appointed. After the shuffling of the court, Hughes's verdict was thrown out, and the public works program was started in earnest on July 17th.
Men getting back to work thanks to the Public Works Act
Although The Public Works Act helped ease unemployment and boost America's economy, it also set a dangerous precedent. Long had proposed a bill and gotten it passed, but few presidents had done so against fierce opposition. The violence associated with the bill had left a dark cloud hanging over Washington, and many politicians opposed to Long began to feel something that no side feels in a healthy democracy.
Fear.
- 1
No pressure huh? And welcome aboard!
SovietAmerika said:
Right now America is in desperate need of decent men.
Collins' thugs already look like trouble. Is Long going to rein them in, or will he keep them at arm's length?
The American Act and the Un-American Activities Committee
On June 12th, 1937, at 8:00 in the morning, the residents of Chicago were shocked by a sudden explosion. A military grade bomb had exploded in the main floor of the Chicago Stock Exchange. The exchange was the third largest in America, and it was bustling with activity, even early in the morning. Over 200 people were killed, and the loss of such a large exchange plunged Chicago back into recession.
The building in shambles after the explosion
The Kingfish response to the bombing was immediate. Long made a speech blaming the Communist Party USA for the bombings, and that they had "finally shown their true colors." He issued an executive order for the arrest of all "militant communists" in the United States. Seward Collins's federal police were only to happy to obey. Earl Browder, general secretary of the party (and public supporter of the Soviet Union) was arrested, along with hundreds of others, including the radio actor Ronald Reagan and best known of all, the silent film actor Charlie Chaplin.
Chaplin as his trademark character, The Tramp
Although he had been arrested in connection with the Chicago Bombing, there was no incriminating evidence for Chaplin to be charged with. In fact, very few of those arrested could be criminally charged at all. Chaplin was a major public figure and keeping him in prison illegally would have serious public repercussions. This led to the dubiously named American Act. It rather vaguely allowed "those whose political action will be detrimental to the safety and prosperity of the American people to be criminally charged before a committee whose members are chosen by the sitting president." It amounted to at the very least a gross violation of the first amendment, but it somehow passed through the House of Representatives and Senate with only token opposition to it. Long then chose Father Coughlin to lead what became known as the Un-American Activities Committee.
Coughlin during one of his first addresses to the committee
Over the course of the next five months, the committee tired 378 people for treason, sedition, and terrorism, finding virtually all of them guilty. Most were sentenced to life long imprisonment, but 23 unlucky people, including the science fiction author H. P. Lovecraft, (who's books would be outlawed in 1942, but gained an enormous cult following in Britain) and the comedian Chico Marx (three of his brothers were also tried before the committee and received life imprisonment).
The four Marx brothers
Although some of the greatest Hollywood figures of the time and numerous popular authors would put on trial, along with many actual American Communists, no trial was more famous as the trial of Adolph Ochs, owner of the New York Times. He was on trial for authorizing the printing of a news story that accused the Kingfish of starting the New York fire on election day to prevent their political opponents from getting to the booths. His newspaper followed the crime closely, printing numerous editorials on the trial blasting Coughlin and Long. However, the media magnate and Kingfish William Randolph Hearst turned the power of his newspaper empire against Ochs, whose public image was quickly ruined. Further more, he was a Jewish businessman, who were viewed by those even outside the Kingfish party as corrupt and untrustworthy. On December 1st he was executed, becoming the 24th victim of the Un-American Activities Committee.
Ochs, a victim of American antisemitism
The Un-American Activities Committee would remain in operation until 1952, becoming more and more powerful as time went on. The Committee is believed to be responsible for the executions of over 9,000 people, and the lifelong imprisonment of over 150,000. It's creation marked the death of the Bill of Rights in the United States. Only darker things would come.
On June 12th, 1937, at 8:00 in the morning, the residents of Chicago were shocked by a sudden explosion. A military grade bomb had exploded in the main floor of the Chicago Stock Exchange. The exchange was the third largest in America, and it was bustling with activity, even early in the morning. Over 200 people were killed, and the loss of such a large exchange plunged Chicago back into recession.
The building in shambles after the explosion
The Kingfish response to the bombing was immediate. Long made a speech blaming the Communist Party USA for the bombings, and that they had "finally shown their true colors." He issued an executive order for the arrest of all "militant communists" in the United States. Seward Collins's federal police were only to happy to obey. Earl Browder, general secretary of the party (and public supporter of the Soviet Union) was arrested, along with hundreds of others, including the radio actor Ronald Reagan and best known of all, the silent film actor Charlie Chaplin.
Chaplin as his trademark character, The Tramp
Although he had been arrested in connection with the Chicago Bombing, there was no incriminating evidence for Chaplin to be charged with. In fact, very few of those arrested could be criminally charged at all. Chaplin was a major public figure and keeping him in prison illegally would have serious public repercussions. This led to the dubiously named American Act. It rather vaguely allowed "those whose political action will be detrimental to the safety and prosperity of the American people to be criminally charged before a committee whose members are chosen by the sitting president." It amounted to at the very least a gross violation of the first amendment, but it somehow passed through the House of Representatives and Senate with only token opposition to it. Long then chose Father Coughlin to lead what became known as the Un-American Activities Committee.
Coughlin during one of his first addresses to the committee
Over the course of the next five months, the committee tired 378 people for treason, sedition, and terrorism, finding virtually all of them guilty. Most were sentenced to life long imprisonment, but 23 unlucky people, including the science fiction author H. P. Lovecraft, (who's books would be outlawed in 1942, but gained an enormous cult following in Britain) and the comedian Chico Marx (three of his brothers were also tried before the committee and received life imprisonment).
The four Marx brothers
Although some of the greatest Hollywood figures of the time and numerous popular authors would put on trial, along with many actual American Communists, no trial was more famous as the trial of Adolph Ochs, owner of the New York Times. He was on trial for authorizing the printing of a news story that accused the Kingfish of starting the New York fire on election day to prevent their political opponents from getting to the booths. His newspaper followed the crime closely, printing numerous editorials on the trial blasting Coughlin and Long. However, the media magnate and Kingfish William Randolph Hearst turned the power of his newspaper empire against Ochs, whose public image was quickly ruined. Further more, he was a Jewish businessman, who were viewed by those even outside the Kingfish party as corrupt and untrustworthy. On December 1st he was executed, becoming the 24th victim of the Un-American Activities Committee.
Ochs, a victim of American antisemitism
The Un-American Activities Committee would remain in operation until 1952, becoming more and more powerful as time went on. The Committee is believed to be responsible for the executions of over 9,000 people, and the lifelong imprisonment of over 150,000. It's creation marked the death of the Bill of Rights in the United States. Only darker things would come.
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