Editing Huey Long (section)

===Senator===
[[File:Huey Long speaking (higher quality).png|thumb|upright|left|alt=A photograph showing Long raise his fist as he speaks into a microphone|Long delivering a speech]]
When Long arrived in the Senate, America was in the throes of the [[Great Depression]].<ref>[[#White|White (2006)]], pp. 143–44.</ref> With this backdrop, Long made characteristically fiery speeches that denounced [[Economic inequality|wealth inequality]]. He criticized the leaders of both parties for failing to address the crisis adequately, notably attacking Senate Democratic Leader [[Joseph Taylor Robinson|Joseph Robinson]] of [[Arkansas]] for his apparent closeness with President [[Herbert Hoover]] and big business.<ref>[[#Williams|Williams (1981) [1969]]], pp. 560–63.</ref>

In the [[1932 United States presidential election|1932 presidential election]], Long was a vocal supporter of New York Governor [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]].<ref>[[#Hair|Hair (1996)]], p. 242.</ref> At [[1932 Democratic National Convention|that year's Democratic National Convention]], Long kept the delegations of several wavering Southern states in the Roosevelt camp.<ref name="heritage"/><ref name="FDR"/> Due to this, Long expected to be featured prominently in Roosevelt's campaign but was disappointed with a peripheral speaking tour limited to four [[Midwestern]] states.<ref name="Williams 1981 p. 602">[[#Williams|Williams (1981) [1969]]], pp. 600–03.</ref><ref>[[#Brinkley|Brinkley (1983) [1982]]], pp. 46–47.</ref>

Not discouraged after being snubbed, Long found other venues for his populist message. He endorsed Senator [[Hattie Caraway]] of Arkansas, a widow and the underdog candidate in a crowded field and conducted a whirlwind, seven-day tour of that state.<ref name="Williams 1981 pp. 583">[[#Williams|Williams (1981) [1969]]], pp. 583–93.</ref><ref name="brinkley4849">[[#Brinkley|Brinkley (1983) [1982]]], pp. 48–49.</ref>{{efn|group=note|According to Brinkley, "Long's reasons for this decision were not entirely clear." Long noted that he felt a chivalric impulse to help this "brave little woman" and that Caraway was one of the few senators to vote for his wealth-limiting proposals. Long appreciated that she often voted against her senior colleague from Arkansas, Robinson. Many observers speculate that Long's true intent was to further establish a national reputation for himself. ''The New York Times'' contemporarily suggested that he was plotting to "yield him control of the [Senate] minority—or perhaps the majority". Brinkley claims that it was Long's first effort to propel himself to national leadership, which required him to appeal directly to the people rather than through political channels in Washington.<ref name="brinkley4849"/>}} During the campaign, Long gave 39 speeches, traveled {{convert|2100|mi}}, and spoke to over 200,000 people.<ref>[[#Snyder|Snyder (1975)]], pp. 128–29.</ref> In an upset win, Caraway became the first woman elected to a full term in the Senate.<ref>[[#Brinkley|Brinkley (1983) [1982]]], p. 52.</ref>

Returning to Washington, Long gave theatrical speeches which drew wide attention. Public viewing areas were crowded with onlookers, among them a young [[Lyndon B. Johnson]], who later said he was "simply entranced" by Long.<ref name="sleazy"/><ref>[[#Brinkley|Brinkley (1983) [1982]]], p. 42.</ref> Long obstructed bills for weeks, launching hour-long [[filibusters]] and having the clerk read superfluous documents. Long's antics, one editorial claimed, had made the Senate "impotent".<ref name="Brinkley 2011 p. 55">[[#Brinkley|Brinkley (1983) [1982]]], p. 55.</ref> In May 1932, ''[[The Washington Post]]'' called for his resignation.<ref name="sleazy"/> Long's behavior and radical rhetoric did little to endear him to his fellow senators. None of his proposed bills, resolutions, or motions were passed during his three years in the Senate.<ref name="heritage"/><ref>[[#Hair|Hair (1996)]], p. 269.</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Chester|first1=Lewis|last2=Hodgson|first2=Godfrey|last3=Page|first3=Bruce|title=An American Melodrama: The Presidential Campaign of 1968|date=1969|publisher=Viking Press|location=New York|isbn=978-0-670-11991-2|page=264}}</ref>