![]() “Well, she wrote back a nice letter and enclosed a picture of herself,” he said. Given that she lived just 30 miles away from where he was incarcerated, she wondered if he would do her the courtesy of a meeting.Įdwards wrote back, and explained that his visitors list was already filled up with family and friends. One of them was a note from a woman from Alexandria, Louisiana, who said she thought the former governor was an interesting man. While Edwards was in prison, he said, he received as many as 3,000 letters. “I’m married to a Republican.” Frozen sperm “I don’t have anything against Republicans,” he said. It is a staunchly conservative district, stretching from the bayou all the way up to the Mississippi border, and one few pollsters think a Democrat could win.īut Edwards is optimistic. But I don’t want to get into that.”Įdwards considered challenging the law, but opted instead to run for the district held by Republican Bill Cassidy, who is vacating the seat to run for Senate. "It is retroactive and was passed after I was convicted and sentenced. “Frankly, I don’t think the law applies to me," he says. ![]() Privately, senior Democrats wince when I mention his name, but they acknowledge it could have been worse.Įdwards, who despite his past behaviour still comes at or near the top of polls of Louisiana's most popular governors, considered a run for a fifth term as the state's chief executive, but was barred from entering the race by a state law, passed while he was in prison, barring felons from standing for statewide public office for 15 years. Photograph: John Duricka/AP Photograph: John Duricka/ASSOCIATED PRESS But I like to entertain myself, and, frankly, I like to be entertaining."ĭespite Edwards’ tarnished history, politicos from Washington to New Orleans are excited about his congressional campaign – a famed political circus back on the road for one last tour.Įdwin Edwards, to the right of President Jimmy Carter, in New Orleans in 1980. “And sometimes I say things that get myself in trouble. “The only way I can lose this election,” he said, “is if I'm caught in bed with either a dead girl a or live boy.” He won. Indeed, outside of Louisiana, most people associate Edwards with one, memorable zinger, delivered like a dart in an election in 1983. Uncle Earl was plagued by suspicions of tax evasion, and was also a master of one-liners, a skill Edwards shares. Of the two, Edwards is most comparable to Earl Long, often known as “Uncle Earl”, who served three terms as governor between 19. They’ve included country music singer Jimmie Davis (who co-wrote and sang You Are My Sunshine) as well as the legendary Huey and Earl Long.Įdwards has portraits of the Long brothers in his office. Louisiana has a long history of electing eccentric, beguiling governors. ![]() “I'm kind of a strange fella.” Uncle Earl As all good politicians do, he began with a question: why would the Guardian be interested in a small, congressional election in Louisiana? It took Edwards 15 minutes to answer the door when I arrived at his home, situated on a pristine golf course.Įventually, the front door swung open, and Edwards grabbed my hand, pulled me indoors and sat me in front of his desk. Come November, Edwards, an 86-year-old Democrat, will be on the ballot in the race to represent Louisiana's sixth congressional district. He recently married his third wife, 35-year-old Trina, with whom he has a young son, Eli.Īnd, once again, the Silver Fox, as they call him in Louisiana, is standing for election. Now, three years after he was released from prison, Edwards is not just alive, but kicking. As he was being driven to Fort Worth, Texas, for the start of a 10-year sentence, his lawyer told reporters the length of punishment was “effectively a death sentence”.
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