1959 Year In Review

Announcer: And now close your eyes and listen to this.

Governor Earl Long: "There never was a...(inaudible)."

Announcer: The words are barely distinguishable, but they draw a picture: Governor Earl Long of Louisiana. He suddenly showed up in the Legislature, grabbed a microphone and yelled.

Governor Earl Long: " ... he got $200,000 out of (inaudible), raised the taxes $2 and the next session of Legislature he couldn't get one vote. If that's not on his income tax, I'll resign as Governor of Louisiana; wouldn't you like to see that take place?"

Announcer: A short time later he was in a state mental institution. Not for long, though. He fired the doctors and came out campaigning again like this.

Governor Earl Long: "I don't have an enemy in this state I hope, except rascals like Bill Dodd, Ray Knight and DeLesseps Morrison. I'm proud of them! I'll be back. Keep your eye on the indicators. I thought I owed it to you to come look you in the eye and let as many of you see me and see I'm living and I'm not nuts. If I'm nuts, I've been nuts all my life. Thank ya, and God bless ya."

Announcer: The voters finished that story, defeating Earl Long soundly in a December election.