Share the Wealth (radio program)

Share the Wealth was a radio program hosted by Huey Long, then a U.S. Senator from Louisiana, during the 1930s, primarily during the height of the Great Depression. The program served as a vehicle for Long to promote his "Share Our Wealth" plan, a populist economic program designed to redistribute wealth from the wealthy to the less fortunate.

Long used the radio broadcasts to reach a wide audience across the United States, explaining his plan and attacking the perceived injustices of wealth inequality. He argued that the concentration of wealth in the hands of a few was the root cause of the Depression and advocated for policies such as limiting personal fortunes, guaranteeing a minimum annual income for every family, and providing free education.

The program was known for Long's charismatic speaking style and his fiery populist rhetoric, which resonated with many Americans struggling during the economic hardship of the era. Share the Wealth played a significant role in popularizing Long's ideas and building a large national following for his political movement.

The program and the Share Our Wealth plan faced criticism from both conservatives, who opposed wealth redistribution, and from some liberals, who questioned the plan's feasibility and potential economic consequences. Despite the controversy, Share the Wealth remains a significant example of populist political communication in American history. Long's assassination in 1935 brought an end to the radio program and the widespread national movement it helped to cultivate.