Robert Penn Warren's novel, All the King's Men, depicts the story of the rise of a political leader named Willie Stark. Many readers have speculated that Warren based the character of Willie Stark on Huey Long, a controversial Louisiana political leader who was prominent in the early 1900s. Although Robert Penn Warren has “repeatedly denied that Willie Stark is a fictional portrayal of Huey Long ”, many aspects of the novel are directly related to the political career and personal life of Huey Long (Payne). Robert Penn Warren creates a character whose experiences and political career are directly related to the events of Huey Long's life. Speculations that Willie Stark is a fictional representation of Huey Long are indisputable due to the events of the novel and the characterization of Willie Stark, Huey Long came from a humble background. His father, Huey Pierce Long, Sr. was a “cattle rancher” from Winn Parish, one of the “poorest parishes in a very poor state” (Hueylong.com). Willie Stark also came from a modest background. Penn describes Willie as a “red-faced, red-necked country boy” who demonstrates humble roots similar to those of Huey Long (7, Warren). Willie also comes from a lower class family, which allows him to identify with the common man of society. For example, during his impromptu speech in front of the convenience store, Willie uses Germanic diction and talks to the “people” of the town about his calling to “come home” and the importance of roots (16-17). Huey and Willie's upbringing is clearly a connection between the two men and has a direct impact on their personalities and the decisions they make throughout their lives. Perhaps a more concrete example of the association between the fictional Will... middle of paper... ...described as a man who “bathes daily in a swamp of corruption, including occasional infidelity” (Keller). The real death of Willie Stark in the novel symbolizes the "death" of Huey Long in the mayoral election following the discovery of his less than acceptable actions. Although Robert Penn Warren denies suggestions that Willie Stark was created as a fictional representation of Huey Long, the correlations between the novel, All the King's Men, and Huey Long's life are indisputable. Warren's character development of Willie Stark perfectly mimics Huey Long through his political advances, his sexual indiscretions, his personality, and his assassination in the Capital building. Historical parallels shine clearly throughout the novel's plot, but the internal details of All the King's Men clearly demonstrate the connections between Huey Long and Willie Stark.