The Big Lie

The McCarthy era changed every aspect of American life. Charges of communism were levied against professionals in the arts, business, and every level of government. How those charges defined a dark time and came to destroy two of Louisiana’s most powerful politicians is the story of The Big Lie: Hale Boggs, Lucille May Grace, and Leander Perez. In the fall of 1951, Louisiana was about to elect a new governor. For most voters in Louisiana, the central question was a simple one: which candidate wo