Harry Connick Sr. 4700.1188

T. Harry Williams Center for Oral History Collection

ABSTRACT

INTERVIEWEE NAME: Harry Connick Sr. COLLECTION: 4700.1188

IDENTIFICATION: Orleans Parish District Attorney. Worked with Gillies Long in 1970s.

INTERVIEWER: Gary Huey

PROJECT: Gillis Long Biography

DATES: 8/15/86 FOCUS DATES: 1970s

ABSTRACT:

Tape 1735, Side A

Became acquainted with Long through brother, Paul Connick, in 1967; was Assistant U.S. Attorney at the time; Connick ran for governor in 1969; lost to Jim Garrison; Edwin Edwards; J. Bennet Johnston; went into private practice; became campaign manager for Long; Buddy Kadusky (?); Dan Kelley (?); John Mmahat; doing campaign work; got to know Long fairly well; admired Long; Connick struck Long as being conservative; differed in many ideas including law enforcement, education; Senator O=Keafe; Long not that conservative; Dennis DeConcini; Jim Thompson; Brunsel (?) Burns; Edward Neece (?); Treen; McKeithen; Kennon; Lindy Boggs; philosophical differences between Connick and Long; raising campaign money; Long a Aterrific money raiser@; Connick considers Edwin Edwards a Aphenomenal politician@; Long=s support for civil rights; Edward=s Acharisma@, Long=s lack of that type of Acharisma@; Long did background research on many issues; Long more reserved; Long cultivated many friendships; John Breaux; Jimmy Kaminsky (?); a lot of work at the campaign headquarters

Tape 1735, Side B

Coffee party that Long put on at Francis Balman=s (?) house; successful party; A. L. Davis introduced Long as Edwards; Long good with audiences; Long concerned about the lack of job opportunities and education among the underprivileged; Huey Long; Earl Long; Colonel Floyd Long; Schwegmann; Long defending his brother against Schwegmann; unknown telling Huey about Long=s concession speech; Long liberal in terms of economics but not banking, according to unknown; Long a fighter for the Aunderdog@; Long grew up in upper-middle-class neighborhood in Alexandria; had an African-American friend as a young boy; Long had a lot of African-American support; Joe Ticheli; Ticheli didn=t compliment people easily; unknown working for Ticheli; Kohlmeyer; Long would call people very early in the morning; Long=s contributions; Long did not smoke and rarely drank; 1971 campaign ideas; Bob D=Hemecourt;