Once in office as governor on May 21, 1928, Long moved quickly to consolidate power, firing hundreds of opponents in the state bureaucracy, at all ranks from cabinet-level heads of departments to state road workers.
Like previous governors, he filled the vacancies with patronage appointments from his own network of political supporters.
Every state employee who depended on Long for a job was expected to pay a portion of their salary at election time directly into Long's campaign fund, which raised $50,000 to $75,000 each election cycle.
The  funds were kept in a famous locked "deduct box" to be used at Long's discretion for political and personal purposes.
It was rumored that this box contained over a million dollars.

Once his control over the state's political apparatus was strengthened, Long pushed a number of bills through the 1929 session of the Louisiana State Legislature to fulfill campaign promises.
His bills met opposition from many legislators, wealthy citizens, and the media, but Long used aggressive tactics to ensure passage of the legislation he favored.
He would show up unannounced on the floor of both the House and Senate or in House committees, corralling reluctant representatives and state senators and bullying opponents.
When an opposing legislator suggested that Long was not familiar with Louisiana's Constitution, he declared "I'm the Constitution around here now."

One of the programs which Long had approved was a free textbook program for schoolchildren.
Long's free school-books angered Catholics, who usually sent their children to private schools.
Long assured them that the books were to be granted directly to all children, regardless of whether they attended public-school.
However, this was criticized by conservative constitutionalists who claimed it was a violation of the separation of church and state and sued Long.
The case ultimately went to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of Long.

Irritated by what he saw as immoral gambling in New Orleans, Long sent the National Guard to raid these establishments with orders to "shoot without hesitation."
Gambling equipment was burned, prostitutes were arrested, and over $25,000 was confiscated for government funds.
Local newspapers ran photos of nude women being forcibly searched by National Guardsmen.
City authorities had not requested military force and martial law had not been declared.
The state's Attorney General denounced Long's actions as illegal, but was rebuked by Long: "Nobody asked him for his opinion."

Despite wide disapproval, Long had the Governor's Mansion, built in 1887, razed by convicts from the State Penitentiary under his personal supervision.
In its place, Long had a much larger Georgian mansion built.
It bore a strong resemblance to the White House as he reportedly wanted to be familiar with the residence when he became president.
Once in office as governor on May 21, 1928, Long moved quickly to consolidate power, firing hundreds of opponents in the state bureaucracy, at all ranks from cabinet-level heads of departments to state road workers. Like previous governors, he filled the vacancies with patronage appointments from his own network of political supporters. Every state employee who depended on Long for a job was expected to pay a portion of their salary at election time directly into Long's campaign fund, which raised $50,000 to $75,000 each election cycle. The  funds were kept in a famous locked "deduct box" to be used at Long's discretion for political and personal purposes. It was rumored that this box contained over a million dollars.
Once his control over the state's political apparatus was strengthened, Long pushed a number of bills through the 1929 session of the Louisiana State Legislature to fulfill campaign promises. His bills met opposition from many legislators, wealthy citizens, and the media, but Long used aggressive tactics to ensure passage of the legislation he favored. He would show up unannounced on the floor of both the House and Senate or in House committees, corralling reluctant representatives and state senators and bullying opponents. When an opposing legislator suggested that Long was not familiar with Louisiana's Constitution, he declared "I'm the Constitution around here now."
One of the programs which Long had approved was a free textbook program for schoolchildren. Long's free school-books angered Catholics, who usually sent their children to private schools. Long assured them that the books were to be granted directly to all children, regardless of whether they attended public-school. However, this was criticized by conservative constitutionalists who claimed it was a violation of the separation of church and state and sued Long. The case ultimately went to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of Long.
Irritated by what he saw as immoral gambling in New Orleans, Long sent the National Guard to raid these establishments with orders to "shoot without hesitation." Gambling equipment was burned, prostitutes were arrested, and over $25,000 was confiscated for government funds. Local newspapers ran photos of nude women being forcibly searched by National Guardsmen. City authorities had not requested military force and martial law had not been declared. The state's Attorney General denounced Long's actions as illegal, but was rebuked by Long: "Nobody asked him for his opinion."
Despite wide disapproval, Long had the Governor's Mansion, built in 1887, razed by convicts from the State Penitentiary under his personal supervision. In its place, Long had a much larger Georgian mansion built. It bore a strong resemblance to the White House as he reportedly wanted to be familiar with the residence when he became president.
Huey Long