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'''Edwin Washington Edwards''' (born August 7, 1927) is a retired [[Louisiana]] politician who served four nonconsecutive terms as the [[governor]] of his state from 1972 to 1980, 1984 to 1988, and 1992 to 1996.

'''Edwin Washington Edwards''' (born August 7, 1927) is a retired [[Louisiana]] politician who served four nonconsecutive terms as the [[governor]] of his state from 1972 to 1980, 1984 to 1988, and 1992 to 1996.

In his first election as governor in 1971-1972, Edwards defeated then state Senator [[J. Bennett Johnston, Jr.]], of [[Shreveport]] in the [[Democratic Party]] runoff election and then [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[David C. Treen]] in the [[general election]]. In 1975, Edwards won a second term in the first of the state's "jungle primary" <ref>Officially termed nonpartisan blanket primary elections, under this procedure all candidates -- regardless of political party -- run in one election; if no single person gets a majority then a runoff is held between the top two vote-getters.</ref>, a procedure which he had initiated in a bid to thwart the growth of the Republican Party in his state. Treen won the 1979 election for governor in a crowded field when Edwards could not seek a third consecutive term, but Edwards staged a major comeback in 1983 and handily unseated Treen. In each of his elections, Edwards enjoyed strong support from the [[African-American]] community.

In his first election as governor in 1971–1972, Edwards defeated then state Senator [[J. Bennett Johnston, Jr.]], of [[Shreveport]] in the [[Democratic Party]] runoff election and then [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[David C. Treen]] in the [[general election]]. In 1975, Edwards won a second term in the first of the state's "jungle primary",<ref>Officially termed nonpartisan blanket primary elections, under this procedure all candidates -- regardless of political party -- run in one election; if no single person gets a majority then a runoff is held between the top two vote-getters.</ref> a procedure which he had initiated in a bid to thwart the growth of the Republican Party in his state. Treen won the 1979 election for governor in a crowded field when Edwards could not seek a third consecutive term, but Edwards staged a major comeback in 1983 and handily unseated Treen. In each of his elections, Edwards enjoyed strong support from the [[African-American]] community.

Edwards withdrew from a gubernatorial runoff in 1987, and the leading candidate that year, [[Buddy Roemer]] of [[Bossier City]], became governor without a majority of the vote. In 1991, Edwards won his fourth term by defeating then State Representative [[David Duke]], then of Jefferson Parish, a former member of the [[Ku Klux Klan]] who ran as a Republican but without state party backing. Duke had edged Roemer out of contention in the 1991 primary election. In the Duke-Edwards contest, even Edwards' old interparty rival, Treen, endorsed Edwards.  

Edwards withdrew from a gubernatorial runoff in 1987, and the leading candidate that year, [[Buddy Roemer]] of [[Bossier City]], became governor without a majority of the vote. In 1991, Edwards won his fourth term by defeating then State Representative [[David Duke]], then of Jefferson Parish, a former member of the [[Ku Klux Klan]] who ran as a Republican but without state party backing. Duke had edged Roemer out of contention in the 1991 primary election. In the Duke-Edwards contest, even Edwards' old interparty rival, Treen, endorsed Edwards.  

Prior to being governor, Edwards had been a member of the city council in Crowley in Acadia Parish in south Louisiana. He then served briefly in the Louisiana State Senate until he won a special election in 1965 for a seat in the [[United States House of Representatives]], in which he served until his initial inauguration as governor.

Prior to being governor, Edwards had been a member of the city council in Crowley in Acadia Parish in south Louisiana. He then served briefly in the Louisiana State Senate until he won a special election in 1965 for a seat in the [[United States House of Representatives]], in which he served until his initial inauguration as governor.

During his political career Edwards was known for his arrogance, even (successfully) claiming that the only way he could lose an election was to be "caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy"<ref>Of course, had he run in San Francisco, either would have gotten him an overwhelming majority.</ref>. On taking office in 1972, he named the labor and [[civil rights]] activist, [[A. Z. Young]] of Bogalusa as the first black to head a state government agency, the Department of Hospitals.

During his political career Edwards was known for his arrogance, even (successfully) claiming that the only way he could lose an election was to be "caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy".<ref>Of course, had he run in San Francisco, either would have gotten him an overwhelming majority.</ref> On taking office in 1972, he named the labor and [[civil rights]] activist, [[A. Z. Young]] of Bogalusa as the first black to head a state government agency, the Department of Hospitals.

A native of Marksville in Avoyelles Parish in south central Louisiana, Edwards served time in federal prison after his tenure as governor ended. Edwards was found guilty on seventeen of twenty-six counts in relation to the location of a prison in La Salle Parish. The convictions included racketeering, [[extortion]], [[money laundering]], [[mail fraud]] and wire fraud; Stephen Edwards, his son from his first marriage to the former [[Elaine Edwards|Elaine Lucille Schwartzenburg]] (1929-2018),<ref name=elaine>{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/article_afea9256-579a-11e8-a8f7-bf13ceaabca2.html|title=Former Louisiana first lady Elaine Edwards dies: Edwin Edwards: 'She was a great asset'|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|author=Tyler Bridges|date=May 14, 2018|accessdate=May 15, 2018}}</ref> was convicted on eighteen counts. Elaine Edwards had served from July to November 1972 by her husband's appointment as an interim [[U.S. Senator]] following the death of [[Allen J. Ellender]].<ref name=elaine/>

A native of Marksville in Avoyelles Parish in south central Louisiana, Edwards served time in federal prison after his tenure as governor ended. Edwards was found guilty on seventeen of twenty-six counts in relation to the location of a prison in La Salle Parish. The convictions included racketeering, [[extortion]], [[money laundering]], [[mail fraud]] and wire fraud; Stephen Edwards, his son from his first marriage to the former [[Elaine Edwards|Elaine Lucille Schwartzenburg]] (1929-2018),<ref name=elaine>{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/article_afea9256-579a-11e8-a8f7-bf13ceaabca2.html|title=Former Louisiana first lady Elaine Edwards dies: Edwin Edwards: 'She was a great asset'|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|author=Tyler Bridges|date=May 14, 2018|accessdate=May 15, 2018}}</ref> was convicted on eighteen counts. Elaine Edwards had served from July to November 1972 by her husband's appointment as an interim [[U.S. Senator]] following the death of [[Allen J. Ellender]].<ref name=elaine/>