Edwin Edwards

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Edwin Washington Edwards (born August 7, 1927) served as the Democratic governor of Louisiana for four terms (1972 - 1980, 1984 - 1988, and 1992 - 1996), more terms than any other Louisiana governor. He was also Louisiana's first Catholic governor of the twentieth century and perhaps with the exception of Huey P. Long, was Louisiana's most popular governor. A colorful, powerful and legendary figure in Louisiana politics, Edwards was long dogged by charges of corruption. In 2001 he was sentenced to 10 years in prison on racketeering charges.

1 Background
2 Gubernatorial tenure and campaigns, 1971-1987
- 2.1 "Anyone But Edwards"
3 Gubernatorial Campaign and Term, 1991-1995
4 Indictment and Conviction
5 Edwards' record of longevity
6 References

[edit] Background

Edwin Edwards was born in rural Avoyelles Parish, near Marksville, to a family of Cajun sharecroppers.

He graduated from Louisiana State University law school at age 21 and began practicing law in Crowley, Louisiana. His career was helped by his being bilingual and articulate in English and Cajun French. He also learned to cultivate the goodwill of the media, both working reporters and editorial page editors. One of his favorites was Adras LaBorde, longtime managing editor of the Alexandria Daily Town Talk. LaBorde even influenced Edwards in regard to environmental policy.

He entered politics through election to the Crowley City Council in 1954. He was a member of the Democratic Party, which in that era had a monopoly on public offices in Louisiana. After serving in the Louisiana state Senate, Edwards was elected to the United States House of Representatives, having served from 1965 to 1972. He won the congressional seat in a special election called when the incumbent, T.A. Thompson of Lake Charles, was killed in an automobile accident near Gastonia, North Carolina. Edwards was easily reelected to full terms in the House in 1966, 1968, and 1970. In 1968, he defeated Republican Vance William Plauche (born 1924) of Lake Charles, son of former one-term Democratic Congressman Vance Gabriel Plauche (1941-1943) with more than 80 percent of the general election vote.

In the election of 1971-1972, Edwards won the governorship. His greatest support came from the state's Cajun, Creole, and African-American voters. In the first primary, Edwards led with 276,397 (23.5 percent). Bennett Johnston, a United States Senator from Shreveport, followed with 208,830 (17.8 percent). In third place was former Congressman Gillis William Long of Alexandria, with 164,276 (14 percent). Former Governor James Houston "Jimmie" Davis was fourth with 138,756 (11.8 percent). Far to the rear of the pack was Congressman Speedy O. Long of Jena in rural La Salle Parish with only 61,359 (5.2 percent). Edwards defeated Johnston in the runoff primary, 584,262 (50.2 percent) to 579,774 (49.8 percent). The victory showed that south Louisiana was eclipsing the north in both population and in the future political domination of the state. Edwards then defeated Republican gubernatorial nominee David C. Treen, then of Metairie in Jefferson Parish, in the February 1972 general election. Though Treen ran a vigorous campaign, Louisiana's Democratic tradition favored Edwards from the start. Edwards polled 641,146 (57.2 percent) to Treen's 480,424 (42.8 percent) Edwards also overcame the south Louisiana "jinx" that had doomed former New Orleans Mayor deLesseps Story "Chep" Morrison, Sr., in his three gubernatorial bids.

[edit] Gubernatorial tenure and campaigns, 1971-1987

In his first year in office, Edwards appointed his first wife Elaine S. Edwards, also a native of Avoyelles Parish, to complete the Senate term of the deceased Allen J. Ellender. Mrs. Edwards served from August-November 1972, when the elected J. Bennett Johnston, Jr., took the seat, which he held with little challenge until 1997. Things soured in the Edwards household, and the couple divorced in 1989.

In his first term as governor, Edwards initiated the creation of the first new constitution for Louisiana in 50 years. He easily won reelection in 1975, with 750,107 votes (62.3 percent). In second place was Democratic State Senator Robert G. "Bob" Jones of Lake Charles, son of former Governor Sam Jones, with 292,220 (24.3 percent). Secretary of State Wade O. Martin, Jr., ran third with 146,363 (12.2 percent). Thereafter, both Jones and Martin became Republicans.

In 1979, Republican reformer David Treen was narrowly elected governor. Edwards had supported Treen's opponent, Democratic Public Service Commissioner Louis Lambert of Ascension Parish. In 1983, Edwards defeated Treen's re-election attempt. Before election day, Edwards had joked with reporters: "The only way I can lose this election is if I'm caught in bed with either a dead girl or a live boy". Edwards zinged Treen many times, once describing Treen as "so slow it takes him an hour and a half to watch 60 Minutes." During a gubernatorial debate in 1983, Treen asked Edwards, "How come you talk out of both sides of your mouth?" Edwards instantly responded, "So people like you with only half a brain can understand me." Although Edwards won the 1983 election in a landslide, effectively ending Treen's political career, former Governor Treen has spoken out against his former opponent's incarceration.

In addition to his third-term victory, Edwards saw several of his intraparty political opponents in the state Senate go down to defeat, including Daniel Wesley "Dan" Richey of Ferriday in Concordia Parish and Edward G. "Ned" Randolph, Jr., of Alexandria in Rapides Parish.

After his 1983 victory, Edwards took some 600 supporters on a controversial 8-day European tour, including France. Each paid $10,000. Edwards expected a 70 percent profit on the contributors' tickets in order to retire a whopping $4.2 million campaign debt. Many questioned the propriety of the governor being indebted to "fat cats" to pay his campaign debts.

The third Edwards administration went badly by all accounts. The oil money that fueled the success of Edwards's first two terms was in short supply in the third term. Edwards was also forced to stand trial on charges of corruption brought by U.S. Attorney John Volz. Although Edwards was acquitted, and later recited a rhyming invitation for Volz to kiss a certain part of the governor's anatomy, Edwin Edwards seemed to have lost the old magic. Entering a tough re-election campaign in 1987, Edwards seemed vulnerable.

Several notable candidates lined up to face Edwards in 1987. Perhaps his strongest early challenger was Republican Congressman Robert L. "Bob" Livingston. Also in the race were W. J. "Billy" Tauzin, a Cajun congressman who was then a Democrat, Secretary of State James H. "Jim" Brown, and way down in the polls at first, a congressman from north Louisiana, Charles E. "Buddy" Roemer, III.

[edit] "Anyone But Edwards"

Edwin was the issue of the campaign. Because of his name recognition, his resilient supporters, and unmatched political skill, even a weakened Edwin Edwards could safely assume he would win a place in Louisiana's unique primary election system runoff. The question was whether his opponent in the runoff would be someone who could beat him.

There was a prevailing sense in the race that Edwards needed Livingston in the runoff. Livingston was a Republican in a state that had at that point elected only one Republican governor since Reconstruction. And Livingston was, to be polite, lacking in charisma and personality, which would work to Edwards's advantage. Any other opponent, a moderate Democrat without the ethical problems, would be dangerous. To that end, Edwards talked up Livingston. It didn't work. Perhaps the key moment in the 1987 race came at a forum between the candidates. As usual, the main topic of discussion was Edwin Edwards. His challengers were asked, in succession, if they would consider endorsing Edwards in the general election if they didn't make it to the runoff. The candidates hedged, particularly Secretary of State Brown. The last candidate to speak was Buddy Roemer: "No, we've got to slay the dragon. I would endorse anyone but Edwards." The next day, as political commentator John Maginiss put it, Jim Brown was explaining his statement while Buddy Roemer was ordering "Slay the Dragon" buttons. Roemer stormed from last place in the polls and on Election Night, overtook Edwin Edwards and placed first in the primary election.

In what seemed to be the end of Edwards' political career, the governor withdrew from the contest in his concession speech, automatically electing Buddy Roemer governor. In fact, he was cleverly setting a trap for Roemer. By withdrawing, Edwards denied Roemer the opportunity to build a governing coalition in the general election race, and denied him the decisive majority victory that he surely would have attained. In one stroke, Edwards made Buddy Roemer a minority governor. Also, Edwards virtually ceded control of the state to Roemer even before his inauguration. By doing so, he passed on the burden of the state's problems to the new governor, who was essentially under the gun even before assuming office. For four years, Roemer struggled to be a reform governor of Louisiana as so many had before him. And although virtually no one realized it at the time, Edwin Edwards quietly waited in the wings for his shot at redemption.

[edit] Gubernatorial Campaign and Term, 1991-1995

As the 1991 governor's race drew near, many of Edwards' friends encouraged him to abandon his planned comeback, believing that he had no chance to win. After Edwards' loss in 1987, a journalist for the defunct Shreveport Journal wrote that the only way Edwin Edwards could ever be elected again was to run against Adolf Hitler. These words turned out to be prophetic. In the 1991 primary, Edwards discovered his opponent to be none other than David Duke, the highly controversial former Ku Klux Klan leader. Edwards received 37 percent of the vote while Duke received 32 percent. Governor Roemer placed third, more than ninety thousand votes behind Duke.

The runoff between a Neo-Nazi former Klansman and the widely-considered-corrupt but more minority-friendly Edwards gained national attention. Support for Edwards grew in between the primary and the runoff. Faced with the alternative of Duke, many who were otherwise lukewarm for Edwards found him looking ever better. Edwards found himself receiving endorsements from both Treen and Roemer; even Republican President Bush admitted that Edwards, the Democrat, was a better choice than Duke, a putative Republican. A very popular bumpersticker urging support for Edwards (although clearly not produced by his campaign) read "Vote For the Crook. It's Important." Another read, "Better a lizard than a wizard." Edwards said that this would be his final term as governor and that he cared about leaving a good legacy, which made many hope that the corruption of his previous administrations would not be repeated. Edwards won by a wide margin.

In his last term, Edwards promoted casino gambling in Louisiana. Corrupt dealing in allotting gaming licences led to legal investigations that Edwards succeeded in delaying until he left office. Edwards declined to run for re-election in 1995 and was succeeded as governor by State Senator Mike Foster. Edwards retired to a newly purchased home in Baton Rouge, intent on living out his remaining days in contentment with his young wife, the former Candy Picou.

[edit] Indictment and Conviction

Edwards was indicted in 1998 by the federal government, with prosecution led by U.S. Attorney Eddie Jordan. The prosecution soon released transcripts of audio conversations, as well as excerpts of video surveillance that seemed to indicate dubious financial transactions. The Edwards investigation also tarnished the reputation of San Francisco 49ers owner Edward J. DeBartolo, who was reputed to have paid Edwards several hundred thousand dollars in exchange for Edwards's assistance in securing a casino license.

Edwards was found guilty on 17 of 26 counts, including racketeering, extortion, mail fraud, and wire fraud; his son Stephen was convicted on 18 counts. "I did not do anything wrong as a governor, even if you accept the verdict as it is, it doesn't indicate that," Edwards told the press after his conviction. On his way to prison he said, "I will be a model prisoner, as I have been a model citizen". From 2002 to 2004 Edwin Edwards was incarcerated at the Federal Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas.

In 2004, Edwards filed for divorce from his second wife Candy, saying that Mrs. Edwards had "suffered enough" during his incarceration. In June 2005, the former Mrs. Edwards was arrested for threatening a police officer at a traffic stop.

In 2005, Edwards was moved to the Federal Correctional Institution in Oakdale, Louisiana. According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, he is scheduled to be released in 2011.

[edit] Edwards' record of longevity

Few governors have served four four-year terms. Edwards hence joins the late George C. Wallace, Sr. of Alabama, Jim Hunt of North Carolina, Terry Branstad of Iowa and James A. Rhodes of Ohio as 16-year governors. Vice President Nelson A. Rockefeller would also have been among the long-term incumbents too had he not resigned at the end of 1973, with a year left in his term as governor of New York.

When the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame opened in Winnfield in 1993, Edwards was among the first inductees.

[edit] References

Billy Hathorn, "The Republican Party in Louisiana, 1920-1980," Master's thesis (1980), Northwestern State University at Natchitoches.

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Edwin Edwards

Preceded by: John J. McKeithen	Governor of Louisiana 1972–1980	Succeeded by: David C. Treen
Preceded by: David C. Treen	Governor of Louisiana 1984–1988	Succeeded by: Buddy Roemer
Preceded by: Buddy Roemer	Governor of Louisiana 1992–1996	Succeeded by: Murphy J. Foster, Jr.