Huey Long

[Joe Republic]

From what I can gather, Huey Long was the closest the US came to a local dictator on a state-wide scale.  (Boss Tweed and Richard Daley spring to mind, but they were more localised to NYC and Chicago respectively).

Long managed to consolidate his power as governor of Louisiana to a point worthy of a dictator.  Even when he served as a senator he still effectively controlled the state.

Long made it known that he planned to run against FDR in the 1936 Democratic primary, but was assassinated in 1935.

My 'hypothetical scenario' for you is: what would have happened if he hadn't been shot?

[Joe Republic]

Oh, and if it helps to make things interesting, let's assume FDR was taken out of the picture.  E.g. he died instead of Long or whatever.

[Colin]

From what I can gather, Huey Long was the closest the US came to a local dictator on a state-wide scale.  (Boss Tweed and Richard Daley spring to mind, but they were more localised to NYC and Chicago respectively).

Long managed to consolidate his power as governor of Louisiana to a point worthy of a dictator.  Even when he served as a senator he still effectively controlled the state.

Long made it known that he planned to run against FDR in the 1936 Democratic primary, but was assassinated in 1935.

My 'hypothetical scenario' for you is: what would have happened if he hadn't been shot?

Well first off to give credit to Daley he was the only one to establish a dynasty. I am just waiting for the day when the Mayor of Chicago becomes hereditary and for life.

[minionofmidas]

Ah, yes, that would make it more interesting.
My first assumption was: Long, being a shrewd politician, drops out of the race rather quickly.
His associates nominate Rep. William Lemke instead, who gets hammered in the election (this, o/c, is what really happened after Long's death.)
No, with Roosevelt dead, that makes matters more interesting.
President John Nance Garner (D-TX) was a conservative Democrat. His opposition to Roosevelt's policies hardened considerably after 1935, so I won't claim he'd have started an immediate rollback on the New Deal, but we can safely assume an end to new programs under his administration.
This, in turn, should propel Long's candidacy forward, giving him a serious chance at winning the nomination.
Either way, whoever wins the nomination wins the 1936 election, though by a smaller margin than Roosevelt's because:
Both Long and IIRC Garner had ethical issues. Plus they were both rural Southerners and might have had trouble captivating the North (Long less so than Garner), although this might be alleviated by a shrewd choice of running mate. Any bonus arising from Roosevelt's death should be used up by the fracas surrounding the nomination - if Long wins it, a Conservative walkout on the Democrats is not impossible.
Republicans would, however, have to nominate a much more moderate - or rather populist - candidate than Landon if they wanted to have any chance of the presidency in 1936, something they showed no intention to do (and had no way of knowing, in those days before sophisticated polling.)

[minionofmidas]

From what I can gather, Huey Long was the closest the US came to a local dictator on a state-wide scale.  (Boss Tweed and Richard Daley spring to mind, but they were more localised to NYC and Chicago respectively).

Long managed to consolidate his power as governor of Louisiana to a point worthy of a dictator.  Even when he served as a senator he still effectively controlled the state.

Long made it known that he planned to run against FDR in the 1936 Democratic primary, but was assassinated in 1935.

My 'hypothetical scenario' for you is: what would have happened if he hadn't been shot?

Well first off to give credit to Daley he was the only one to establish a dynasty. I am just waiting for the day when the Mayor of Chicago becomes hereditary and for life.

Wrong.
Long was followed to the Senate by his brother Earl and son (or nephew, I'm not sure) Russell.

[Colin]

From what I can gather, Huey Long was the closest the US came to a local dictator on a state-wide scale.  (Boss Tweed and Richard Daley spring to mind, but they were more localised to NYC and Chicago respectively).

Long managed to consolidate his power as governor of Louisiana to a point worthy of a dictator.  Even when he served as a senator he still effectively controlled the state.

Long made it known that he planned to run against FDR in the 1936 Democratic primary, but was assassinated in 1935.

My 'hypothetical scenario' for you is: what would have happened if he hadn't been shot?

Well first off to give credit to Daley he was the only one to establish a dynasty. I am just waiting for the day when the Mayor of Chicago becomes hereditary and for life.

Wrong.
Long was followed to the Senate by his brother Earl and son (or nephew, I'm not sure) Russell.

Oh well. Daley is the only one still in power, unless I have overlooked a few Long's in Louisiana.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Long seems to have had a large following in some northern states...

[PBrunsel]

Long seems to have had a large following in some northern states...

Every Man a King Clubs popped up all over the nation. Iowa's EMAK Club had over 12,000 members.

[Joe Republic]

Looking at the context of the time, with dictators ruling many leading nations, I wonder what sort of direction Long would have taken the country?  Assuming he would have actually gone anywhere past Louisiana.

[minionofmidas]

Long had allied himself with the supporters of Francis Townsend.
The "Townsend Plan" called for a pension of 200 bucks a month (quite a bit of money back then) for every American over 60, to be financed out of taxes, and to be spend within the month - you were not allowed to save the money. This last provision was designed to combat the depression era's rampant deflation.
Of course, Congress created the much lower, insurance-financed (Hah! As if!), previous income-linked Social Security in 1935.
Still, MUCH better than nothing, which is what Americans had always had before.

[George W. Hobbes]

Landon narrowly defeats Long, thanks in part to a third-party Garner ticket.

Landon actually was rather moderate, later in life he supported LBJ's Great Society as well as desegregation.

[Ben.]

Long seems to have had a large following in some northern states...

Every Man a King Clubs popped up all over the nation. Iowa's EMAK Club had over 12,000 members.

Long always though Iowa was a state he could "storm" in any presidential race... he also had high hopes of winning acorss the west and in areas of the south... that said I still think that FDR would have survived...

[Rob]

Long would have beat Landon by a huge margin. Remember, Long was enormously popular, and this is in the midst of the Depression.

[minionofmidas]

Landon narrowly defeats Long, thanks in part to a third-party Garner ticket.

Landon actually was rather moderate, later in life he supported LBJ's Great Society as well as desegregation.

...the only part of your post to be relevant is "later in life", though...