Edwin W. Edwards Biography Quotes 3 Report mistakes

Early Life and Background
Edwin Washington Edwards was born on August 7, 1927, in rural Avoyelles Parish near Marksville, Louisiana, and grew up in a French-speaking Cajun household. After service as a young man during the closing years of World War II, he studied law and began practicing in the rice country of southwest Louisiana. He settled in Crowley, where his flair for language and comfort on the stump quickly translated into local influence. He married Elaine Schwartzenburg in 1949, and the couple would become a prominent partnership in Louisiana public life for four decades.

Rise in Louisiana Politics
Edwards entered elective office on the Crowley City Council, then moved to the Louisiana State Senate. In 1965, following the death of U.S. Representative T. Ashton Thompson, Edwards won a special election to Congress from the 7th District. In Washington he positioned himself as a populist, pro-development Democrat with a sharp wit and a keen eye for constituent service. Returning home to run for governor in 1971, he won a hard-fought Democratic contest against J. Bennett Johnston and then defeated Republican Dave Treen, launching one of the most eventful gubernatorial careers in modern American politics.

Governor: First and Second Terms (1972-1980)
Sworn in as Louisiana's 50th governor in 1972, Edwards allied himself with the state's populist tradition while embracing a modernizing agenda. He presided over the 1973 constitutional convention, which produced the Louisiana Constitution of 1974, streamlining government and updating the state's legal framework. During an era of oil-fueled prosperity, he expanded services, invested in infrastructure, and supported projects emblematic of Louisiana's ambitions. The Louisiana Superdome opened in 1975, a symbol of big-vision development begun under his predecessor John McKeithen but celebrated and supported during Edwards's tenure. He also approved Louisiana's unique open primary system, reshaping the state's electoral landscape. His first two terms were marked by strong public support and the deft management of a diverse coalition, with figures such as Lieutenant Governor Jimmy Fitzmorris playing visible roles.

Return to Office: Third Term (1984-1988)
Barred by consecutive term limits in 1979, Edwards stepped aside as Dave Treen became the state's first Republican governor since Reconstruction. Edwards returned in 1983, defeating the incumbent Treen and reclaiming the governorship. The mid-1980s were more difficult: the oil bust battered state revenues and exposed the risks of earlier spending growth. Edwards confronted deficits, sought new revenue, and defended state services. Even as he remained personally popular, his name appeared frequently in investigations. He was tried in federal court in the mid-1980s and acquitted, a reminder of his longstanding friction with prosecutors and the press. Political partners and rivals alike, including Lieutenant Governor Bobby Freeman and legislative leaders, navigated a harsher economic climate with him.

Comeback and Fourth Term (1992-1996)
After withdrawing from a 1987 runoff against Buddy Roemer, Edwards mounted one more campaign in 1991. In a stunning political drama, he advanced to the runoff against David Duke, a former Ku Klux Klan leader, while Roemer finished third. A broad bipartisan coalition of civic, business, and civil rights leaders rallied to Edwards, who won overwhelmingly. His fourth term coincided with the state's turn to legalized, regulated gaming. Under his watch, Louisiana expanded gambling options through riverboat gaming and video poker, and authorized a land-based casino in New Orleans. These policies aimed at revenue and tourism but also fueled criticism that would later echo in court. His lieutenant governor then, Melinda Schwegmann, joined a roster of statewide officials navigating the uncertain economics of the early 1990s.

Investigations, Trial, and Imprisonment
Federal scrutiny shadowed Edwards throughout his career. The most consequential case came at the end of the 1990s and centered on the licensing of riverboat casinos. In 2000 a federal jury convicted Edwards on racketeering and related charges. U.S. District Judge Frank Polozola presided over the proceedings, which also ensnared associates including his son Stephen Edwards. The conviction ended his active political career and led to a lengthy prison term. Even in adversity, his charisma and one-liners remained part of the public conversation, as friends, foes, and former rivals like Buddy Roemer and Dave Treen assessed what his saga meant for Louisiana's political culture.

Later Years
Edwards was released from federal prison in 2011. That same year he married Trina Grimes Scott, a union that drew national attention due to their age difference and his storied past. The couple briefly appeared on a reality television series, reflecting his ongoing ability to command headlines. In 2014 he ran for Congress from Louisiana's 6th District, making the runoff but losing to Garret Graves, a sign that while his name recognition was unparalleled, the state's political landscape had changed. He continued to appear at public events, offering commentary on Louisiana politics and reminiscing about campaigns and colleagues ranging from J. Bennett Johnston to Elaine Edwards, Dave Treen, and Buddy Roemer.

Personal Life and Legacy
Edwards's personal life intertwined with politics. His first wife, Elaine Edwards, served briefly in the U.S. Senate in 1972 after he appointed her to fill the vacancy created by the death of Senator Allen Ellender, until J. Bennett Johnston won the special election. Their partnership produced three children, including Stephen Edwards. After their divorce in 1989, Edwards married Candace (Candy) Picou in 1994; they later divorced. With Trina Edwards, he welcomed a son in the 2010s, extending his family into a new generation. He died on July 12, 2021, in Gonzales, Louisiana, at age 93.

Edwin W. Edwards remains one of the most consequential and controversial figures in Louisiana history. A four-term governor and former congressman, he personified the state's blend of populist theater and hard-nosed dealmaking. His achievements included constitutional modernization, infrastructure milestones, and a restructuring of elections, while his downfall underscored the perils of power and proximity to moneyed interests. Friends and adversaries alike acknowledged his command of the podium, his fluency in the language and humor of South Louisiana, and his skill at forging alliances with people as different as Jimmy Fitzmorris, Bobby Freeman, and Melinda Schwegmann. The 1991 landslide over David Duke stands as a defining civic moment, while the 2000 conviction remains a cautionary tale. Together, they frame a life that, for better and worse, mirrored Louisiana's ambitions and contradictions for half a century.

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