Book review: Louisiana Governors: Rulers, Rascals, and Reformers

Walter Cowan and Jack McGuire’s new book, Louisiana Governors: Rulers, Rascals, and Reformers—perhaps “dictators, crooks, and the rare decent fella” wasn’t alliterative enough?—comes at a strangely opportune time. With this chronological tour of our gubernatorial history, the authors hold up a magnifying glass to the stewards of Louisiana’s politics, from colonial days up through current governor Bobby Jindal.

The facts fly fast and hard in this densely written tome, and it provides an interesting look at the less-well known of our former chief executives. Among them is Jacques Philippe Villeré, the first native-born Louisianian to hold the office and a dedicated peacemaker between the Creoles and the infant state’s American immigrants. Even the more famous among past leaders aren’t spared a closer glance. The book shares an incident in which then-Gov. Jimmie Davis rode his horse into the Capitol building to protest being blocked from buying a new official car.

The book is well written, and though it takes each governor as an individual, it maintains a steady narrative of Louisiana’s undulating political climate. Of course, the best parts of history are often the dirty bits, and the more salacious of our former leaders get the most pages here. Long’s is among the more extensive sections in the book. But it also illustrates how Louisiana’s turbulent early politics gave rise to a pattern of corruption and reformation that was followed well into the 20th century.

It may prove a little dense for the casual reader, but Louisiana Governors is a great look at the grubbier eras of rulers past—and with any luck, an opportunity to learn from our more egregious mistakes.