Richard H. Long

Richard Henry Long (1865–1957) was an American businessman and politician who was the Democratic nominee for Governor of Massachusetts in 1918 and 1919. He lost both elections to future President of the United States Calvin Coolidge.

Early life Long was born in South Weymouth, Massachusetts, in 1865. When he was 14 years old he went to work in his father's shoe factory in Braintree, Massachusetts. In 1903, Long opened a new shoe factory in Framingham, Massachusetts.

During World War I the factory switched to manufacturing war supplies - leather and canvas goods- for England. The R. H. Long Motors Company ceased production of cars in 1926.

In 1927, Long formed the R. H. Long Motor Sales Company, which owned car dealerships in Framingham and Wellesley, Massachusetts. The following year, however, Long was once again a Democrat and he ran for the party's nomination for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts. He lost the primary to Edward P. Barry. In 1916, Long was a leader in Woodrow Wilson's campaign for president. He ran again in 1919 and easily won the Democratic primary over Eugene Foss, George F. Monahan, and Frederick Simpson Deitrick with 68% of the vote. He once again lost the general election to Coolidge, this time 61% to 37%. Long's huge defeat was largely attributed to his support for the Boston Police Department officers who took part in the Boston Police Strike. He narrowly lost the Democratic nomination to John Jackson Walsh.

By 1920, Long no longer supported the Wilson administration, stating that it was "demoralizing the Democratic Party". On October 25, 1920, he endorsed Republican Warren G. Harding for President, stating that he believed the Democratic Party "would be better off under Harding than under Cox".

Long was a delegate to the 1928 Democratic National Convention. He was pledged to Al Smith, but did not support him due to Smith's stance in favor of modifying the 18th Amendment. Long was the only member of the Massachusetts delegation who voted against Smith.

Personal life and death On July 10, 1920, Mabelle Long was a passenger in a plane that crashed in Salisbury, Massachusetts, en route from Franklin Field to Hampton, New Hampshire. She was found alive at the scene but died by the time she reached Anna Jaques Hospital in Newburyport, Massachusetts. On July 17, 1921, Long married Laura Bosqute, a stenographer in his Worcester office, in a private ceremony. She was 21 years his junior and thrice divorced. Laura Long died on May 15, 1947. On January 22, 1950, Long, then 84, married his 44-year-old secretary, Helen Vose.

Long died on April 16, 1957, in Framingham. He was survived by his wife and 4 of his children.