The Unknown Long

George S. Long of Louisiana

By Ray Hill

One of the most enduring of all political dynasties is that founded by Huey Pierce Long, Louisiana’s “Kingfish.” Even those who barely know anything about politics and history are oftentimes familiar with the flamboyant huey Long, who was assassinated in 1935. Huey P. Long was governor of Louisiana and represented the Pelican State in the United States Senate until his death. Long’s widow,Rose,was briefly a member of the United States Senate by virtue of an appointment by Governor O. K. Allen. Thier son, Russell, was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1948 at age thirty and remained in office until his retirement in 1987. Various Long relatives and cousins served in a number of offices. The most famous of Huey’s brothers was Earl K. Long, who became governor when Richard Leche abruptly resigned from office. Even more flamboyant than Huey, “Uncle Earl” won two four-year terms in his own right as Louisiana’s chief executive. Uncle Earl’s wife, Blanche, was Louisiana’s Democratic National Committeewoman from 1956-1963. Huey and Earl’s older brother, George Shannon Long, was a member of the Oklahoma State House of Representatives and was elected to Congress from Louisiana in 1952.

While much more understated than either Huey or Earl,George Long was quite a character in his own right. A dentist and an attorney, George S. Long had moved to the Sooner State after graduating from dental school. Like his two younger brothers, George was bitten by the political bug and ran for public office in both his adopted state of Oklahoma and his native state of Louisiana. A family of political brawlers, the Longs fought as frequently enough with each other as anyone else.As the Shreveport Times once noted, “Sometimes it is a little arduous to keep straight just where the Longs stand with each other, politically.” When Dr. Long, as George liked to be called, had run for the U.S. House of Representatives twice before, brother Earl had campaigned for his opponent. Indeed, the Times thought Earl Long had campaigned against his older brother “vigorously and perhaps even viciously.” One editorial in the Times stated, “Some of the descriptions of George by Earl on those occasions were hardly printable.” Like any good member of the Long family, George was capable of dishing it out as well as taking it, as the newspaper readily acknowledged that those things Dr. Long said about his younger brother were equally unprintable.

The two made up, and Earl, when restored to the governorship, appointed his older brother to a state job at the Pineville Hospital. Dr.Long attracted some mighty unwelcome publicity from Louisiana newspapers over expenditures he insisted were legitimately the state’s, while some suspected they were more personal in nature. eventually, Dr. Long resigned his post, although the shreveport Times noted, George didn’t know he had resigned his state job until Earl “told him about it.” When Dr. Long sought election yet again to Congress in the 1952 election, Earl Long campaigned hard for his sibling.

Never against nepotism, while campaigning for the house in 1952, Dr. Long crowed it would be good for him to be in Washington, D.C., because, “I can give Russell a lot of good advice.” Doubtless, whether Senator Long wanted it or not.

There were Longs holding three of the highest offices within the gift of the people of Louisiana: Russell in the U.S. Senate, Earl in the governor’s office, and George in the U.S. House of Representatives. And all of them had been elected by the people. Like any good family member,Dr. George S. Long had used defeat “simply as a springboard for a new attempt at victory.”

While living in Tulsa, Oklahoma, George S. Long became something of a perennial candidate for public office. Aside from winning a seat in the state House of Representatives,Long’s efforts to be elected to the U.S. Senate and the Oklahoma State Corporation Commission were failures. It was not for lack of trying; Dr. Long ran for corporation commissioner in the elections of 192

Congressman George Long Dies After sudden Heart Attack

Congressman George Long, a veteran Washington politician, unexpectedly passed away on an unspecified date after suffering a heart attack. The incident occurred shortly after he exited a taxi en route to his office during a period of heavy snowfall in Washington D.C. Despite initial reports of “satisfactory progress” in his recovery at Bethesda Naval Hospital,he died at 1:55 p.m.

Initial Incident and Hospitalization

According to reports, Congressman Long experienced a seizure-like event while preparing to enter a taxi. He was promptly accompanied by his wife and transported to Bethesda Naval Hospital. Initial press releases indicated that Long was “resting comfortably” and was placed under an oxygen tent overnight. Doctors afterward confirmed the cause of the incident was a heart attack.

Brief Period of Optimism and Subsequent Death

The congressman’s office initially reported that Long was making “satisfactory progress” in his recovery. However, this positive outlook was tragically short-lived. Just hours after the encouraging update,Congressman Long died at 1:55 p.m. at Bethesda Naval hospital.

Background on George Long

The original source material mentions Dr. George Long showing no inclination to retire. While the specific details of his political career and accomplishments are not provided in the source text, this suggests a long-standing presence in Washington politics. Further research would be needed to detail his legislative achievements and contributions.

heart Attacks: Understanding the Risks

A heart attack, also known as a myocardial infarction, occurs when blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked, typically by a blood clot. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides complete facts on heart attack symptoms,risk factors,and treatment. Common symptoms include chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, and pain in the arm or jaw. Risk factors include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, and family history of heart disease.

Key Takeaways

• Congressman George Long died unexpectedly from a heart attack after initially appearing to be recovering.
• The incident occurred in Washington D.C. during a snowstorm.
• Initial reports of his condition were optimistic, but his health deteriorated rapidly.

The sudden passing of congressman Long serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of heart disease. Further reporting will likely detail his legacy and the impact of his death on the political landscape.

^{© 2025 Ray Hill}