Megalomaniac or Narcissist?: Re-examining the Leadership Style of Huey P. Long through Sport

Former governor (1928-1932) and U.S. senator (1932-1935) of Louisiana Huey P. Long has been described by contemporaries as a megalomaniac, demagogue, and skillful manipulator due to his immense drive for power and propensity for monument building. His involvement with the building campaign at the Louisiana State University, and in particular the sport and recreation venues housed on the campus (e.g., Tiger Stadium and the Huey P. Long Field House), serve as an exemplar of his willingness to construct large and ornate facilities that proudly support his name. By first reviewing the differences between megalomania and narcissism as distinct negative leadership styles and then combining that with a historical analysis of Long’s behaviors and various political and financial maneuvers involving sport before his death in 1935, this study suggests we should reposition Long’s leadership classification from a megalomaniac to narcissist.