T. Harry Williams Center for Oral History Collection

ABSTRACT

INTERVIEWEE NAME: Jesse and Larry Bankston COLLECTION: 4700.1173

IDENTIFICATION:

INTERVIEWER: Gary Huey

PROJECT: Gillis Long Biography

DATES: August 5, 1986 FOCUS DATES: 1960s-1980s

ABSTRACT:

Tape 1707, Side A:

Populist Movement; Huey Long; Earl Long; Gillis Long as socialist; how Jesse first met Gillis;

John Sherill; John McKeithen; Gillis Long decided to run for Congress after 1971; losing an envelope with ten thousand dollars; Jesse helped Long run for Congress in 1964; Jimmy Snyder; Julian Bond; 1963 race; Russell Long; Jesse as campaign manager; Blanche Long; Rules Committee; Voting Rights Act; McKeithen; Gillis Long's family was very poor; story that Gillis Long and his family had to live in a chicken coop at one time;

Tape 1707, Side B:

Gillis Long's influence in Congress; Kohlmeyer; Howard Hughes; fundraising; John Breaux; Joe McPherson; Gillis would stay at the Bankston's house sometimes; Gillis Long's close friends; the Long name; Long loved to fish; Cold Water Commission; Long's victorious congressional campaign; raising money; Jesse helped Edwin Edwards; districts; black votes;

Tape 1708, Side A:

Henson Moore; Blue Guercio; Long liked making lists; making the Democratic Party more acceptable to the American public; blueprint for the Party; Gephardt; Bankston doesn't believe that Long worked himself to death; Long's health; Claude Pepper; Bill Morgan;

TAPES: T1707, 1708 TOTAL PLAYING TIME: 2 hours

# PAGES TRANSCRIPT: 50

OTHER MATERIALS: Transfer and copyright to Gary Huey

RESTRICTIONS: None