Kingfish U - by Robert Mann (Hardcover)

About the Book

"No Louisiana leader has been more closely associated with Louisiana State University than Governor and U.S. Senator Huey P. Long, who devoted the last five years of his life to turning the small, undistinguished state school into an academic and football powerhouse. From the time he declared himself the 'official thief' for LSU in 1930 to his death in September 1935, the school's budget flourished, its physical plant burgeoned, its faculty grew in numbers and reputation, and its student body tripled. During this time, no university in the South experienced more growth in size and stature than LSU--and Long's enthusiasm for the school was behind almost every aspect of it. In addition to improving LSU's academic reputation, Long also believed its future and its national visibility were tied to the success of the school's football team and its band. Not an avid football fan before 1930, Long took an intense interest in the LSU Tigers. He attended home games and many out-of-town games. He gave pre-game and halftime pep talks to players. He devised plays and stalked the sidelines during games. He poured money into a larger, flashier band, supervised the hiring of two band directors and, with the second one, wrote a new fight song, 'Touchdown for LSU,' still played today. During Long's time as governor, the school's president--who later went to prison for misusing university funds--answered to Long as much as to the LSU Board of Supervisors. While he rarely meddled in academic affairs of the university, Long did insist that no faculty member criticize him publicly. When students or faculty from 'his school' opposed him, retribution was swift. Kingfish U is the story of Huey Long's intense and active involvement with LSU from 1928 through 1935. It also chronicles Long's lingering legacy at LSU, including the school's hyper-politicized governance and the importance of football to the school's political capital and public standing"

Book Synopsis

No political leader is more closely identified with Louisiana State University than the flamboyant governor and U.S. senator Huey P. Long, who devoted his last years to turning a small, undistinguished state school into an academic and football powerhouse. From 1931, when Long declared himself the "official thief" for LSU, to his death in 1935, the school's budget mushroomed, its physical plant burgeoned, its faculty flourished, and its enrollment tripled.

Along with improving LSU's academic reputation, Long believed the school's football program and band were crucial to its success. Taking an intense interest in the team, Long delivered pregame and halftime pep talks, devised plays, stalked the sidelines during games, and fired two coaches. He poured money into a larger, flashier band, supervised the hiring of two directors, and, with the second one, wrote a new fight song, "Touchdown for LSU."

While he rarely meddled in academic affairs, Long insisted that no faculty member criticize him publicly. When students or faculty from "his school" opposed him, retribution was swift. Long's support for LSU did not come without consequences. His unrelenting involvement almost cost the university its accreditation. And after his death, several of his allies--including his handpicked university president--went to prison in a scandal that almost destroyed LSU.

Rollicking and revealing, Robert Mann's Kingfish U is the definitive story of Long's embrace of LSU.

Review Quotes

"Robert Mann has captured how Huey Long used his power and influence to build and promote Louisiana State University through its Fighting Tigers football team. Kingfish U is a must-read for political types, academics, football fans, and lovers of history and great writing."--Dan Borné, voice of LSU's Tiger Stadium and former aide to U.S. senator Russell Long

"The impact of Huey Long on LSU was enormous and more complicated than most folks realize. Kingfish U is both thoroughly researched and great fun to read. Robert Mann masterfully weaves the controversies, visions, and key characters into a compelling narrative."--Wayne Parent, author of Inside the Carnival: Unmasking Louisiana Politics

About the Author

Robert Mann is the author of numerous books, most recently Becoming Ronald Reagan: The Rise of a Conservative Icon and Backrooms and Bayous: My Life in Louisiana Politics. He holds the Manship Chair in Journalism at the Manship School of Mass Communication, Louisiana State University.