Corrupt Politicians and My 49th Birthday

 

I have a hard time letting go of traditions, no matter how ridiculous or recent they are. Three years ago, to mark my 46th birthday, I wrote a post about the film that won the Best Picture Oscar in 1946, “The Best Years of Our Lives.” 1946…I turned 46…get it? The following year I wrote about the ’47 winner, “Gentleman’s Agreement,” and then last year, when I turned 48, I ruminated on “Hamlet” and the other films nominated in 1948.

Today is my 49th birthday. It also happens to be the last day of the Republican National Convention. John McCain makes his Big Speech tonight, following Sarah Palin’s turn last night. It seems a perfect time to talk about the Best Picture winner for 1949. Do you remember what it was? “All the King’s Men,” a powerful film about a rural politician who gains fame for his populist views and ultimately, thanks to his insatiable thirst for power, becomes more corrupt and dangerous than the politicians he once condemned. I’m not implying that the story of Willie Stark mirrors the career of John McCain in many ways (although, in my opinion, McCain has sold his soul several times over in his quest for the White House). If anything, the populist angle of the story more closely evokes the sensibilities of an Obama or Palin.

I’d like to say that the story of “All the King’s Men” reminds me of the back-room machinations of past and current Republican leaders but I have to admit the Republicans have no monopoly on such power grabs (remember, I grew up under the papal authority of the first Mayor Daley). And I can’t ignore the fact that “All the King’s Men” is loosely based (some say, not so loosely) on the life of Democratic Governor and Senator from Louisiana, Huey P. Long, who was assassinated on September 8, 1935 at the State Capitol in Baton Rouge. Long’s “Share Our Wealth” and “Every Man a King” philosophies were enormously popular during the Depression and he achieved near dictatorial status in his home state. Long was planning to mount a presidential bid before he was cut down at the age of 42.

I have always been fascinated by the story of Huey Long. Because he’s such a riveting character, I’m tempted to view him, as Richard Nixon did, as an American folk hero. Did Robert Penn Warren’s Pulitizer Prize-winning book “All the King’s Men” and the subsequent film versions slander Huey Long? It’s clear that his ideas were radical and his power absolute but he also achieved a lot of positive things during his political career. In the end, however, there’s no way in hell I can defend a man who was ready to hop into bed with vile American thugs such as Father Charles Coughlin and Gerald L. K. Smith, a Disciples of Christ minister and founder of the America First Party. (Hmm…America First. Sound familiar?) In 1934, Long started the Share the Wealth Society, whose purpose was to redistribute America’s wealth. Talk about controversial. Under this plan, no individual in this country would be allowed to accumulate a personal net worth of more than $5 million (income taxes would be levied on the rich to ensure this) and every American family would get a “homestead allowance” that would guarantee a yearly income of not less than one-third the average family income in the United States. After Long was assassinated, Gerald Smith took over the group and aligned it more closely with the anti-Semitic Coughlin and white supremacy groups.

After he died, Huey Long’s son Russell followed his dad into politics and become one of this country’s longest serving Senators. He was the only person in U.S. history to have been preceded in the Senate by both of his parents (his mother briefly took over her husband’s senate seat in the 1930s). U.S. Senators must be at least 30 years old but Russell Long was elected the day before his 30th birthday (he didn’t take office for a month so it was okay). When he finally retired in 1987, Ronald Reagan called him “one of the most skillful legislators, compromisers, and legislative strategists in history.” And what about our current candidates? Well, when Joseph Biden was a brand new senator, he was in awe of Russell Long. 

From a 1975 New York Times article:

If he is not careful, Biden said, Long can persuade him to vote for almost anything—especially when it comes to oil tax cuts—and not until he is halfway home from work does he awaken to ask himself: “Wait a minute; what have I voted for?”

It was during the debate on the tax-cut bill on the Senate floor that Biden, at 32 the youngest U.S. senator, paid tribute in his fashion to Long, wily 56-year-old chairman of the Senate Finance Committee who was fighting to preserve tax breaks for oilmen.

“I do not know anyone more persuasive,” the Delaware senator said. “I am afraid that by the time he has finished he will convince me that oil depletion will assist my chicken farmers, that everyone in this body who is a farmer has oil under his land and that this is really a farm bill.”

The way Biden painted it, he is spellbound time and again by Long’s siren song. “He worries the devil out of me,” said the young senator. “By the time he gets finished, I just know I am going to be voting for something I should not be voting for—and walk out of her thinking I just won. I’ll get halfway up to Wilmington on the Metroliner and say, ‘Wait a minute! I don’t have any oil wells in my state!’”

Actor Broderick Crawford won a Best Actor Oscar in 1949 for his portrayal of the Huey Long-like Willie Stark. Crawford was only (gulp!) 38 when he filmed this movie. His next major film, “Born Yesterday,” starring the fabulous Judy Holliday, was also an incisive look at corrupt politicians. Crawford was brilliant as millionaire tycoon Harry Brock opposite Holliday’s Billie Dawn. I have to sit down when I realize that Crawford was 39 when he made this film. I am ten years older than that old geezer Harry Brock? Help!

In “All the King’s Men,” Willie Stark is plunging in the polls when he delivers a speech that wins the heart of the masses by appealing to them as one of their own (hello, Sarah Palin). He throws out the prepared speech that the party wrote for him (goodbye, Sarah Palin) and casts himself as the underdog who will work for the people (hello, Sarah Palin). Here’s part of the speech that won Willie Stark the election and Broderick Crawford the Oscar:

Naw, I’m not gonna read you any speech. But I am gonna tell you a story. It's a funny story so get ready to laugh. Get ready to bust your sides laughin', 'cause it's sure a funny story. It's about a hick, a hick like you, if you please. Yeah, like you. He grew up on the dirt roads and the gully washes of a farm. He knew what it was to get up before dawn and get feed and slop and milk before breakfast, and then set out before sunup and walk six miles to a one-room, slab-sided schoolhouse. Aw, this hick knew what it was to be a hick, all right. He figured if he was gonna get anything done, well, he had to do it himself. So he sat up nights and studied books. He studied law, because he thought he might be able to change things some—for himself and for folks like him. 

Now I'm not gonna lie to ya. He didn't start off thinkin' about the hicks and all the wonderful things he was gonna do for 'em. Naw, naw, he started off thinkin' of number one. But something came to him on the way. How he could do nothin' for himself without the help of the people. That's what came to him. And it also came to him with the powerful force of God's own lightning back in his home county when the school building collapsed 'cause it was built of politics' rotten brick. It killed and mangled a dozen kids.

But you know that story. The people were his friends because he’d fought that rotten brick. And some of the politicians down in the city, they knew that, so they rode up to his house in a big, fine, shiny car and said as how they wanted him to run for Governor. And he swallowed it. He looked in his heart and he thought, in all humility, how he'd like to try and change things. He was just a country boy who thought that even the plainest, poorest man can be Governor if his fellow citizens find he's got the stuff for the job. All those fellows in the striped pants, they saw that hick and they took him in.

Now, listen to me, you hicks. Yeah, you're hicks too, and they fooled you a thousand times, just like they fooled me. But this time, I'm gonna fool somebody. I'm gonna stay in this race. I'm on my own and I'm out for blood. Now listen to me, you hicks! Listen to me, and lift up your eyes and look at God's blessed and unfly-blown truth. And this is the truth. You're a hick, and nobody ever helped a hick but a hick himself!

Alright, listen to me! Listen to me! I'm the hick they were gonna use to split the hick vote. Well, I'm standin' right here now on my hind legs. Even a dog can learn to do that. Are you standin' on your hind legs? Have you learned to do that much yet? Here it is! Here it is you hicks! Nail up anybody who stands in your way! Nail up Joe Harrison! Nail up McMurphy! And if they don't deliver, give me the hammer and I'll do it myself!

Great speech and great delivery. Too bad that the message of such stories is always how power corrupts. I recently saw another spectacular film that examines this theme—Elia Kazan’s “A Face in the Crowd” from 1957 starring Andy Griffith as “Lonesome” Rhodes, a country hick who catches on with the public, becomes a populist hero, and then, once again, ends up a monster in his insatiable thirst for power.

Is it possible to be a populist and avoid the Dark Side? As much as I wanted to puke during the hysterical chanting at last night’s Republican Convention, particularly during Rudy Giuliani’s disgusting attack dog speech where he practically equated being a “community organizer” with being a “child molester,” I was equally uncomfortable when the Obama crowds were whipped into an adulatory frenzy at last week’s Democratic show. I hope that Obama can process the hero-worshipping of him without succumbing to the pitfalls of a Willie Stark or Lonesome Rhodes.

And so, today I am 49, only one year away from the big 5-0. I am several years older than Ulysses S. Grant, Teddy Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, and Bill Clinton were when they were elected President. I am three years older than Barack Obama, five years older than Sarah Palin. How did that happen? I can’t fathom being in such a powerful leadership role as these people. Is that because I still see myself as a “kid,” no matter how old I get biologically? Do I suffer from a bad case of arrested development? I certainly do not want McCain to become President but the one area that is a sticking point for many people about him is for me one of his main pluses: his age. Part of me is far more comfortable staying in the mode where my parents’ generation is running the world. Of course they are running it, no matter how badly. After all, we’re just the children, we’re just learning, we’ll get our turn. Um…no…it’s long past time for us (and me) to stand up and take our place among the leaders.

Comments

[Jeff]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

[david]

Danny, may this be the year that your incisive, film-filled commentary helps us save ourselves, from ourselves.

Happy birthday.

[Ellen Bloom]

Happy Birthday Danny!

[La Framéricaine]

Happy Birthday, Danny! You still a baby! I can't recall how I felt about being 49. I just know that I loved turning 50.

I stopped by after wishing Elisabeth bon anniversaire. She admires your blog and I appreciate her blog so I figured that I better get on over here and give you a thoughtful read.

I'm so pleased that I did. Don't even know how you do the thing you do but it's great! I was especially excited to see that you are a documentary genre fan because I'm usually out here all alone loving them! I drag my poor French husband with me. Just saw "The Exiles," "Anita O'Day," and "Trouble The Water." All stunners! We schlepped up to LA for TE and AOD and saw TTW down here in Orange County. The coincidences just keep piling up!

Anyway, a very happy birthday to you and kudos on the great blog.

[Barbara]

Hi Danny - Happy Birthday!

[Elisabeth]

Hey, Danny - I couldn't let the day end without paying a visit to your blog to come and wish you a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, UN TRES JOYEUX ANNIVERSAIRE! Enjoy every single moment of that last year of your forties, but don't sweat it too much about turning fifty, it's really no big deal (then again....)! I sure hope that you had a fun-filled day.

Reading your entry led me to decide to re-watch the old "All the Kings' Men" and to check out the more recent version too. So, thanks for having written this post.

And I know, it kills me too that I am older than Obama, Palin, and even than Bill Clinton when he was first elected President.

Now, I can get ready for my daughter to turn 22 on Sept. 12! Sounds a bit surreal!

[Debbie]

Happy Birthday, Danny. Fifty isn't so scary.

Two things, first, speaking of scary, I warned you about Sarah Palin. I'm still nauseous from last night.

Second, on a lighter note, I wonder how many people realize that Broderick Crawford is the son of the wonderful character actress Helen Crawford who supported Astaire and Rodgers in several films. Thank god for Turner Classic Movies.

[cruisin-mom]

Happy birthday Danny...hope you receive back the joy you bring all of us who read your wonderful posts

[Heather]

Rats, I'm a day late because I am still catching up with my Google reader after getting back from vacation. But belated Happy Birthday, Danny. This is a great post.

The McCain/Palin ticket scares the living daylights out of me! I sure hope you're right about them not having a shot.

[Judy]

woops, another late happy birthday.
I don't think anyone matures beyond 19 anyhow...and I know the 50s are the best years. It's just beginning, the fun.
Don't forget the pen is mightier than the sword. Keep up reminding people of the lies and rhetoric on display and get to the heart of the real issues. Rudi is a jerk as the sticker on my front door claims...New Yorkers are glad to be rid of him. Did you hear anything positive McCain plans to do...anyone who chants bomb, bomb iran to the tune of the Beach boys is definitely not presidential material in my book. Anyone who believes american girls need abstinence education can look to her own daughter to see the results of such an education. Pregnancy at 17. What is the McCain/Palin ticket? Palinty of nothing!

[churlita]

Happy belated birthday!

We can't all be leaders, but we can all make a difference in our own way and I think you definitely do that.

Education is the key to stopping the McCain/Palin train. If you look at her actions in Alaska, you'll see that she is the opposite of what she claims to be and should NOT be anywhere near the presidency. Scar-reeee.

[Special Needs Mama]

Happy birthday to you! I think I might need to hang my kitchen utensils the way they are in that last photo. Hope you had a good one.

[Melinda]

Happy Birthday, Danny!

[Pearl]

Hey, Danny,

Cruisin' Mom truly said it best: may you have a magical, joyful year.

Hope you had a super b'day together with your family. "Bis 120!"

[NewssyLee]

Thanks to you

[Gordon]

Happy Birthday, Danny.
When Obama wins in November (see, I'm an optimist ?) he will be the first President younger than I am. What a happy day that will be.

[Julie Schreiber]

Happy Birthday Danny! Hope you have a fabulous year!
Love your cuz, Julie

[Laurie]

Happy Birthday Danny. Michael just turned 53 (same age as me now) August 31st.
We both send our love.

[Emily Barton]

But isn't it always children who declare they want to be president? Anyway, great post. All the Kings Men is one of my favorite books, but I've never seen the movie. Seems I must do so. And Happy Birthday, a couple of days late!