Edwin Edwards

Edwin Washington Edwards (born 7 August, 1927) is a United States politician who served as governor of Louisiana for four terms (1972 - 1980, 1984 - 1988, and 1992 - 1996), more terms than any other Louisiana governor.

A colorful, powerful 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.

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 entered politics, being elected to the Crowley City Council in 1954. He was a member of the Democratic Party, which in that era had a virtual monopoly in Louisiana. After serving in the Louisiana State Senate Edwards was elected to the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1965 to 1972.

In 1971 he was elected governor, his greatest support coming from the State's previously largely neglected Cajun and African-American voters.

In his first term as governor, Edwards initiated the first new constitution for Louisiana in 50 years. He easily won reelection in 1975.

In 1979, moderate Republican reformer David C. Treen was elected governor. Edwards defeated Treen's re-election attempt in 1983; before election day, Edwards had told 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".

In the 1987 governor's race, Edwards trailed Rep. Buddy Roemer in Louisiana's unique primary election. Edwards, sensing defeat, withdrew from the runoff, which made Roemer the governor-elect. It was the only electoral defeat Edwin Edwards ever suffered.

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 Shreveport Journal wrote that the only way Edwin Edwards could ever be elected again was to run against Adolf Hitler. As it turned out, Edwards got the next best thing.

Retaining his electoral strength among Democrats, particularly African-Americans, Edwards led the field in the 1991 primary. To the surprise of many, however, Edwards would not face Governor Buddy Roemer in a rematch of the 1987 race. Instead, Edwards's runoff opponent was none other than David Duke, the highly controversial former KKK leader. Governor Roemer placed third, his political career essentially over.

The run off between a Neo-Nazi and the widely considered corrupt Edwards gained national attention. Support for Edwards grew in between the primary and the run off. 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 President Bush admitted that Edwards was a better choice than Duke. A very popular bumpersticker urging support for Edwards (although clearly not produced by his campaign) read "Vote For the Crook. It's Important". Edwards said that this would be his final term as governor and he cared about leaving a good legacy, which made many think 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 was out of office. Edwards declined to run for re-election in 1995, and was replaced 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.

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

"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, former governor Edwards filed for divorce from his wife Candy, saying that Mrs. Edwards had "suffered enough" during his incarceration. In June of 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, Edwards is scheduled to be released in 2011.

Preceded by : First and second term: John J. McKeithen Third term: David C. Treen Fourth term: Buddy Roemer

Governors of Louisiana

Succeeded by: First and second term: David C. Treen Third term: Buddy Roemer Fourth term: Mike Foster, Jr.

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