Mr. Jack B. McGuire, retired banker, historian, and authority on one of our state’s more colorful political figures, gave a talk on his new book “Killing the Kingfish” at NSU’s Cammie Henry Archive before a capacity crowd Thursday, October 22. The book addresses the 1935 assassination of former Louisiana governor and then U.S. Senator Huey Long at the Louisiana Capitol building.

The book addresses not only the assassination but delves into the events leading up to it such as an earlier 1935 plot to murder him and his feud with Judge Pavy. The book also delves into the tense, volatile, and occasionally violent atmosphere that surrounded Long’s leadership of Louisiana and his national ambitions. In addition to “Killing the Kingfish”, McGuire is also author of “Win the Race, or Die Trying Uncle Earl’s Last Hurrah”, a book on Earl K. Long’s last political race, a race for Congress that he did indeed win but died before he could take office.

The talk was sponsored by Dr. Charles Pellegrin, Professor of History and Interim Director of the School of Social Sciences and Applied Programs, and Ms. Donna Baker, Head Archivist and Records Officer of NSU’s Cammie G, Henry Research Center.

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