Voices of Protest is a 1982 non-fiction book by historian Alan Brinkley that examines the populist ideologies of Louisiana Senator Huey Long and Catholic radio host Father Charles Coughlin. Both figures were prominent and polarizing voices in early 20th-century America, especially during the years 1934-1935. Brinkley focuses on how their critiques of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal policies influenced U.S. politics. Long, despite serving as a U.S. Senator, maintained control over Louisiana’s state politics, and proposed his radical "Share Our Wealth" plan to redistribute wealth more equally across the nation. Coughlin, who initially supported Roosevelt, became disillusioned with the New Deal, advocating for the nationalization of key industries. Together, their growing influence pushed FDR to adopt more progressive reforms in the Second New Deal, such as Social Security. However, Long’s assassination in 1935 and Coughlin’s descent into overt anti-Semitism and demagoguery ultimately curbed their political movements. Brinkley’s book emphasizes the role these populist figures played in shaping American political discourse during the Great Depression. Voices of Protest won the National Book Award for History.
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