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Quick Answer: It’s difficult to watch Ken Burns’ documentary Huey Long (1986) today without drawing major parallels between Long’s political career and that of Donald Trump. Though Trump’s business acumen has been questioned due to numerous failed ventures, it’s clear that both men were successful salesmen. That said, the pair’s successes are intrinsically tied to corruption and ruthless tactics. Furthermore, Long and Trump both think highly of themselves and their ambitions. Each man is power hungry and great at selling themselves to the American people. Whether or not the film is truly a cautionary tale remains to be seen, but it’s undeniable that both Trump and Long exhibit the transfixing charisma of “outsider” businessmen in politics.

In his 1986 documentary Huey Long, Ken Burns explores whether the titular Louisiana Governor, U.S. Senator and 1936 Presidential candidate, was a man of the people or a corrupt, power-hungry politician. At the time, Huey Long stood apart because of his background in sales as opposed to politics. Long may not have been the first or last salesman to enter politics, but he is arguably one of the most notorious. Long’s legacy is especially pertinent in 2016 as the nation questions whether a businessman would be a better president than a career politician. Indeed, that question has become a focal point of the Clinton and Trump campaigns as November looms nearer.

Huey Long

Huey Long, currently featuring in Sundance Documentary Club‘s collection of Ken Burns’ films, was the premier documentarian’s first film to focus on an individual — a choice that’s not to be overlooked. The film illustrates the complexity of the man and the mark he left on American politics and popular culture after his assassination in 1935.

In his signature style, Burns delves deep, offering an exhaustive and thoroughly researched examination of the man and the myths surrounding him. The audience is given space to form their own conclusions on Long’s true legacy based on the narrative of the film and wealth of knowledge presented on the subject. Burns utilizes archival footage and interviews with fellow politician constituents and family members to examine Long’s meteoric rise from successful salesman to presidential hopeful. Burns also incorporates insight from historian Arthur Schlesinger Jr. and Robert Warren Penn, the author who bound Long’s notoriety to his legacy with his classic 1946 novel All the King’s Men, which sparked two major film adaptations. Central to the film is Long’s boisterous, convincing and highly attended speeches.

Huey Long

Sean Penn as Willie Stark in All the King’s Men (2006), who is based on Long

Long is fondly remembered by many of his former supporters as a man of the people who fought to give the average Louisiana citizen a fair shot against the oil monopolies. He created programs targeted at free school programs and infrastructure that educated and employed many across that state. Long avidly campaigned directly to the poor and disadvantaged voters, drawing enormous crowds of both supporters and opponents who hung onto his every word.

But Long is perhaps remembered more for the ruthless tactics he used to get what he wanted, the enemies he created along the way and his unrivaled ability to concentrate and retain power over Louisiana politics as well as its citizens. He may be a hero in Louisiana, but several major authors like Sinclair Lewis and Robert Warren Penn cemented Long’s infamy in American popular culture as a corrupt, cold-blooded politician.

The inclusion of Huey Long in the Sundance retrospective is especially poignant given the current election news cycle. It’s difficult to watch the documentary today without drawing major parallels between Long’s political career and that of Donald Trump. In fact, Sinclair Lewis’ 1935 novel It Can’t Happen Here — a cautionary tale about the rise of fascism and totalitarianism in the United States — has been widely cited in reference to the Trump campaign. The novel was based on Huey Long’s political career and legacy.

In Burns’ documentary, we learned that Long often lied about his middle class upbringing in an attempt to sell himself as a man of the people. This is not unlike Trump, who touts himself as a self-made man, even though he inherited millions to launch his business empire. Burns explores the evidence of accusations, corruption and ethically ambiguous actions associated with Long’s political career that are eerily familiar to the oppositional press on Donald Trump.

The major takeaway from the film is the power of charisma and the allure of a successful salesmen. Both Long and Trump know how to sell themselves and play on what their respective audience wants. While these skills have made both men wildly popular amongst their target audiences, we learn that Long successfully brought his ideas to fruition; he was relentless in achieving his goals and keeping his campaign promises. Given Trump’s history of questionable tactics and his lack of substantive campaign promises, it’s hard to predict which, if any, of his goals would see the light of day.

While Burns’ numerous interviewees don’t always agree on Long, they reveal one fact that cannot be disputed: Long’s ability to transfix and rally a crowd. Salesmen are successful because they know how to read an audience, appeal to their interests and sell a product. Political campaigns might be viewed as, essentially, long-running infomercials in which the candidate sells himself to the public. As such, sales experience and business acumen can create effective political candidates, regardless of whether those candidates have any business governing a country. Salesmanship might make you a successful candidate, but running for office and running a government are two unique beasts.

History, and Long’s life and legacy, prove how far showmanship can carry a politician. That said, Long’s political career also demonstrates that a businessmen who will stop at nothing to win the office will continue behave questionably in order to achieve goals in office.

Huey Long should be mandatory viewing for all voters, especially Trump supporters. Only time will tell whether the film is a cautionary tale for the 2017 White House.