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→Legislative career
Schwegmann became a persistent critic of the administrations of his fellow Democrats, Governors [[Jimmie Davis]] and [[John J. McKeithen]], and he acquired a wide variety of enemies. Former New Orleans [[Mayor]] [[Maurice Edwin Landrieu|Moon Landrieu]], a Democrat and the father of the later [[U.S. Senator]] [[Mary Landrieu]], once declared that Schwegmann was "so poorly informed on the governmental process, you have to excuse him on the basis of ignorance." On several occasions thereafter, the Landrieus and Schwegmanns would find themselves fighting each other politically.
Schwegmann became a persistent critic of the administrations of his fellow Democrats, Governors [[Jimmie Davis]] and [[John J. McKeithen]], and he acquired a wide variety of enemies. Former New Orleans [[Mayor]] [[Maurice Edwin Landrieu|Moon Landrieu]], a Democrat and the father of the later [[U.S. Senator]] [[Mary Landrieu]], once declared that Schwegmann was "so poorly informed on the governmental process, you have to excuse him on the basis of ignorance." On several occasions thereafter, the Landrieus and Schwegmanns would find themselves fighting each other politically.
In the legislature, Schwegmann voted against such measures as pay raises for public officials and tax increases. He also opposed building with state bonds the Louisiana Superdome in downtown New Orleans, since the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. He filed three lawsuits in an attempt to block construction. The original estimate of the cost of the stadium was $35 million, but years before it was finished, Schwegmann predicted that it would cost between $150 million and $200 million. The final cost was $179 million.
In the legislature, Schwegmann voted against such measures as pay raises for public officials and tax increases. He also opposed building with state bonds the Louisiana Superdome in downtown New Orleans, since renamed the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. He filed three lawsuits in an attempt to block construction. The original estimate of the cost of the stadium was $35 million, but years before it was finished, Schwegmann predicted that it would cost between $150 million and $200 million. The final cost was $179 million.
The Superdome was one of McKeithen's pet projects, and the governor tried to use his legendary charm to win Schwegmann over to his side. During one exchange, McKeithen said, "Now, John's going to be reasonable about this. After all, we can help him. John, what can we do for you?"
The Superdome was one of McKeithen's pet projects, and the governor tried to use his legendary charm to win Schwegmann over to his side. During one exchange, McKeithen said, "Now, John's going to be reasonable about this. After all, we can help him. John, what can we do for you?"
"Governor, you can't do nothin' for me", Schwegmann replied.
"Governor, you can't do nothin' for me," Schwegmann replied.
==Two ex-wives die three days apart==
==Two ex-wives die three days apart==
Schwegmann's last court battle involved a $30 million suit filed in 1979 by Mary Ann Blackledge, a former clerk in a Schwegmann's store, who claimed that she and the supermarket magnate had cohabitated as husband and wife for twelve years in a common-law arrangement. She sought $30 million as her share of the wealth they had accumulated while they were together. In 1982, state District Judge Frank V. Zaccaria ruled that Blackledge could not file such a suit unless she had a written contract. He said that she could, however, sue to recover money that she may have spent in business relationships with Schwegmann, but she never brought forth a suit of that nature.
Schwegmann's last court battle involved a $30 million suit filed in 1979 by Mary Ann Blackledge, a former clerk in a Schwegmann's store, who claimed that she and the supermarket magnate had cohabitated as husband and wife for twelve years in a common-law arrangement. She sought $30 million as her share of the wealth they had accumulated while they were together. In 1982, state District Judge Frank V. Zaccaria ruled that Blackledge could not file such a suit unless she had a written contract. He said that she could, however, sue to recover money that she may have spent in business relationships with Schwegmann, but she never brought forth a suit of that nature.
==Turning the company over to his son==
==Turning the company over to his son==
After Schwegmann suffered [[stroke]]s in 1977 and 1978, he turned over control of his supermarkets to his son. He resigned from the PSC in October 1980. John F. Schwegmann was, likewise, elected public service commissioner and continued in his father's footsteps. Among the PSC colleagues of the Schwegmanns was the developer [[Edward Kennon]], originally of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]] in Webster Parish, whose father had also been in the supermarket business.
After Schwegmann suffered [[stroke]]s in 1977 and 1978, he turned over control of his supermarkets to his son. He resigned from the PSC in October 1980. John F. Schwegmann was, likewise, elected public service commissioner and continued in his father's footsteps. Among the PSC colleagues of the Schwegmanns was the developer [[Edward Kennon]], originally of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]] in Webster Parish, whose father had also been in the supermarket business.