My First Days in The White House [Illustrated Edition]

Book excerpt: In this flamboyant fiction novel, Louisiana Governor Huey “Kingfish” Long, one of Franklin Roosevelt’s political rivals, details a political fantasy in which he is president of the United States. Through imaginary conversations with men of power, he presents his aspirations, including the “Share Our Wealth” plan, created in 1934 under the motto “Every Man a King” and how he would enact the program if elected in 1936. The plan proposed new wealth redistribution measures in the form of a net asset tax on corporations and individuals to curb the poverty and homelessness endemic nationwide during the Great Depression. Long visualizes his inauguration as President of the United States and details his nomination picks for his executive cabinet, including William Edgar Borah as Secretary of State, James J. Couzens as Secretary of the Treasury, and Smedley Butler as Secretary of War. This book was published posthumously in 1935, following Long’s assassination on Sunday, September 8, 1935. It is illustrated throughout with political cartoons.