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Primary sourceBook1935

My First Days in the White House

Huey Long · 1935

A 1935 book by Huey Long imagining his own presidency, published after his death and showing his ambitions for the 1936 election.

Long wrote this book himself, imagining his own presidency and revealing his national political ambitions.

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Book jacket of 'My First Days in the White House' by Huey Pierce Long. Title in large letters at top, with an illustration of men in suits gathered in the foreground and the White House building in the background.
Huey Long, My First Days in the White House, 1935.

About this source

What it is

This book was written by Huey Long in 1935, with illustrations by cartoonist Cléanthe Carr, and published after his death that year. Sometimes called Long's "second autobiography," it is a political fantasy in which Long imagines himself as President of the United States.

Why it matters

The book openly reveals Long's ambitions to run for president in 1936. Through imagined conversations, he spells out his policies, including Share Our Wealth, a balanced budget, an income cap, and plans to modernize the air forces. He even names his imagined cabinet picks, including Al Smith. The book shows how Long used storytelling and self-promotion as political tools, and how seriously he took his national ambitions.

Look closer

  • Why might Long have chosen to write this as a fantasy rather than a straightforward policy platform?
  • What does his choice of imagined cabinet members tell us about his political alliances?
  • Published after his assassination, how might readers at the time have reacted to this book?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Huey Long on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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Front cover of an orange pamphlet titled "Share Our Wealth, Every Man A King" by Huey P. Long, United States Senator, Washington D.C. Includes a quotation from the Bible and a verse excerpt at the top and bottom.Speech

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Share Our Wealth

Huey Long · 23 February 1934

Low-angle view of the Louisiana State Capitol tower in Baton Rouge, a tall limestone Art Deco skyscraper with rows of windows under a blue sky. Carved friezes and a bronze statue group appear at the base, with wide stone steps in front.Artifact

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Louisiana State Capitol

Weiss, Dreyfous and Seiferth · 1930–1932

Black-and-white photograph of a man in a double-breasted pinstriped suit and patterned tie, standing with both arms raised and hands open as he speaks. Striped curtains are behind him.Photograph

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Portrait of Huey Long

Black and white photograph of a smiling man in a light pale suit and patterned tie, standing in a dark doorway with both arms raised and fists clenched, bracing against the door frames on either side.Photograph

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Huey Long During 1935 Senate Filibuster

Harris & Ewing · 27 August 1935

Cover of TIME, The Weekly Newsmagazine, Volume XXV, Number 13, with a red border. A black-and-white photo shows a smiling man in a suit with one arm outstretched, seated at a desk. Caption reads 'Candidate Long' and 'Circulation this issue more than 500,000'.Newspaper article

Primary source

Time Magazine Cover Featuring Huey Long

Time Magazine · 1 April 1935

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