Knox FocusThe Senator From Louisiana: John H. Overton
By Ray Hill Short and pudgy, John Holmes Overton served as United States senator from Louisiana from 1933 until his death in 1948. Throughout the first part of his senatorial career, Overton suffered from his affiliation with the notorious political machine of Huey Long. An excellent lawyer, Overton had been Long’s attorney and was elevated to Congress in 1931 when incumbent James Aswell died. Overton won the special election to succeed Aswell and, in 1932, Huey anointed his friend as the Long machine’s candidate to oust U.S. Senator Edwin S. Broussard.
Huey Long’s clarion call to make “Every Man a King,” and every woman a “Queen,” as well as his constant orations against wealth and the wealthy gave Louisiana’s “Kingfish” a national following t