ABSTRACT

INTERVIEWEE NAMES: John Saunders and Larry Vidrine

COLLECTION: 4700.1185

IDENTIFICATION:

INTERVIEWER: Gary Huey

PROJECT: Gillis Long Biography

DATES: 7 August 1986 FOCUS DATES: 1970s-1980s

Gillis Long as Louisiana State University student body president; Gillis helping Saunders in his campaign for Congress; Long making early-morning phone calls; efficiency of Gillis Long and his office; sending people flags that had flown over the U.S. Capitol; reasons Long and Lindy Boggs voted for Constitutional Amendment that would give Washington, D. C., voting rights; Long=s alliance with black legislators; Long=s love for politics; Long playing to the crowd when giving speeches B acting like Acountry bumpkin;@ populism of Gillis Long B concern for poor people, black people, etc.; Long=s service in the Navy during World War II; Long=s liberalism hurt him in race for governor against John McKeithen; McKeithen supporting Speedy Long over Gillis in congressional race to punish him from opposing him for governor; deLesseps Morrison losing Evangeline Parish in his run-off with McKeithen; Morrison=s use of Catholicism (Alily whites@) in the election; popularity of Gillis Long in his district; African Americans and labor supported Long; people who were philosophically opposed to Long=s politics liked him and supported him; effectiveness of Long as a fund raiser; Long=s support for the Civil Rights Act used to hurt him in gubernatorial race; Edwin Edwards=s coalition; Dave Treen and Louis Lambert gubernatorial run-off; 1972 Congressional election and Edwin Edwards; Long voting with the Black Caucus in Congress; importance of getting the support of the sheriff when running for office; Gillis=s liberal stance alienated white middle class and white farmers; Cajun support for Long; 40 percent of Long=s district was conservative and would not vote for him; conservatism of Louisiana=s congressmen; Long=s last race for Congress; Long=s legacy; federally funded projects on Long=s district; congressmen doing small favors for constituents; Long=s support for the military -- military spending; Long=s assessment of President Ronald Reagan; Richard Nixon; John Glenn=s presidential aspirations; Gillis losing his congressional seat to Speedy Long in 1972