Robert Penn Warren's novel All the King's Men tells 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 played an important role in the early 1900s. Although Robert Penn Warren "repeatedly denied that Willie Stark is a fictionalized portrait 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 linked to the events in Huey Long's life. Speculations that Willie Stark is a fictional representation of Huey Long are unquestionable due to the events of the novel and Willie Stark's characterization, Huey Long came from a humble background. His father, Huey Pierce Long, Sr. was a "rancher" in Winn Parish, one of the "poorest parishes in a very poor state" (Hueylong.com). Willie Stark also came from a humble background. Penn describes Willie as a "red-faced, red-necked farm boy" demonstrating 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 in society. For example, during his impromptu speech in front of the convenience store, Willie uses Germanic diction and speaks to the "people" of the town about his call 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 "daily bathes in a swamp of corruption, including occasional infidelity » (Keller). The real death of Willie Stark in the novel symbolizes the "death" of Huey Long during the mayoral election after his unacceptable actions were revealed. Although Robert Penn Warren denies speculation that Willie Stark was created as a fictional depiction of Huey Long, the correlations between the novel All the King's Men and the life of Huey Long are indisputable. Warren's development of the character of Willie Stark perfectly mimics Huey Long through his political advances, sexual indiscretions, personality and 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..