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| Louisiana's Edwin Edwards goes back on the ballot: 'I'm kind of a strange fella' | Louisiana's Edwin Edwards goes back on the ballot: 'I'm kind of a strange fella' |
| (3 months later) | |
| Edwin Edwards is an enduring politician, even by Louisiana’s standards. He first ran for local office in 1954, and has competed in another 25 elections, winning all but one. | Edwin Edwards is an enduring politician, even by Louisiana’s standards. He first ran for local office in 1954, and has competed in another 25 elections, winning all but one. |
| It was a streak that took him to Louisiana’s governor's mansion, where he ruled, off and on, for a record four terms. His luck ran out in 2002 when, at 73 years old, he was jailed after being found guilty of fraud, extortion, conspiracy and racketeering. | It was a streak that took him to Louisiana’s governor's mansion, where he ruled, off and on, for a record four terms. His luck ran out in 2002 when, at 73 years old, he was jailed after being found guilty of fraud, extortion, conspiracy and racketeering. |
| 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”. | 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”. |
| Not so. Now, three years after he was released from prison, Edwards is not just alive, but kicking. He recently married his third wife, 35-year-old Trina, with whom he has a young son, Eli. | Not so. Now, three years after he was released from prison, Edwards is not just alive, but kicking. He recently married his third wife, 35-year-old Trina, with whom he has a young son, Eli. |
| And, once again, the Silver Fox, as they call him in Louisiana, is standing for election. Come November, Edwards, an 86-year-old Democrat, will be on the ballot in the race to represent Louisiana's sixth congressional district. | |
| It took Edwards 15 minutes to answer the door when I arrived at his home, situated on a pristine golf course. | It took Edwards 15 minutes to answer the door when I arrived at his home, situated on a pristine golf course. |
| Eventually, the front door swung open, and Edwards grabbed my hand, pulled me indoors and sat me in front of his desk. As all good politicians do, he began with a question: why would the Guardian be interested in a small, congressional election in Louisiana? | Eventually, the front door swung open, and Edwards grabbed my hand, pulled me indoors and sat me in front of his desk. As all good politicians do, he began with a question: why would the Guardian be interested in a small, congressional election in Louisiana? |
| I said we were mostly interested in him. “Well,” he said. “I'm kind of a strange fella.” | I said we were mostly interested in him. “Well,” he said. “I'm kind of a strange fella.” |
| Uncle Earl | Uncle Earl |
| Louisiana has a long history of electing eccentric, beguiling governors. 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. | Louisiana has a long history of electing eccentric, beguiling governors. 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. |
| Edwards has portraits of the Long brothers in his office. Of the two, Edwards is most comparable to Earl Long, often known as “Uncle Earl”, who served three terms as governor between 1939 and 1960. Uncle Earl was plagued by suspicions of tax evasion, and was also a master of one-liners, a skill Edwards shares. | Edwards has portraits of the Long brothers in his office. Of the two, Edwards is most comparable to Earl Long, often known as “Uncle Earl”, who served three terms as governor between 1939 and 1960. Uncle Earl was plagued by suspicions of tax evasion, and was also a master of one-liners, a skill Edwards shares. |
| Indeed, outside of Louisiana, most people associate Edwards with one, memorable zinger, delivered like a dart in an election in 1983. “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. “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. |
| “I have a sharp wit,” Edwards told me. “And sometimes I say things that get myself in trouble. But I like to entertain myself, and, frankly, I like to be entertaining." | “I have a sharp wit,” Edwards told me. “And sometimes I say things that get myself in trouble. But I like to entertain myself, and, frankly, I like to be entertaining." |
| Despite 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. | Despite 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. |
| Privately, senior Democrats wince when I mention his name, but they acknowledge it could have been worse. | Privately, senior Democrats wince when I mention his name, but they acknowledge it could have been worse. |
| Edwards, 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. | Edwards, 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. |
| “Frankly, I don’t think the law applies to me," he says. "It is retroactive and was passed after I was convicted and sentenced. But I don’t want to get into that.” | “Frankly, I don’t think the law applies to me," he says. "It is retroactive and was passed after I was convicted and sentenced. But I don’t want to get into that.” |
| Edwards 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 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. | Edwards 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 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. |
| But Edwards is optimistic. “I don’t have anything against Republicans,” he said. “I’m married to a Republican.” | But Edwards is optimistic. “I don’t have anything against Republicans,” he said. “I’m married to a Republican.” |
| Frozen sperm | Frozen sperm |
| While Edwards was in prison, he said, he received as many as 3,000 letters. One of them was a note from a woman from Alexandria, Louisiana, who said she thought the former governor was an interesting man. 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. | While Edwards was in prison, he said, he received as many as 3,000 letters. One of them was a note from a woman from Alexandria, Louisiana, who said she thought the former governor was an interesting man. 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. |
| Edwards wrote back, and explained that his visitors list was already filled up with family and friends. “Well, she wrote back a nice letter and enclosed a picture of herself,” he said. “I looked at the picture and thought the photo was probably 35 years old. But anyone who once looked like that is still worth visiting for.” | |
| He smiled and added: “I was 82 years old, in prison and broke. That was like throwing a rubber raft to a drowning man.” | He smiled and added: “I was 82 years old, in prison and broke. That was like throwing a rubber raft to a drowning man.” |
| Trina began visiting regularly. They married after he was released from prison in 2011. The couple were the subject of a reality TV show, The Governor’s Wife, which flopped. | Trina began visiting regularly. They married after he was released from prison in 2011. The couple were the subject of a reality TV show, The Governor’s Wife, which flopped. |
| Finally, he said, there was the “happy consequence” of their union. He was looking at Eli. | Finally, he said, there was the “happy consequence” of their union. He was looking at Eli. |
| For the hour that Edwards and I spoke, Eli sat patiently on his father's leg. On the occasions he stirred, Edwards patted him on the back and said: “Hey boy! Hey boy!” | For the hour that Edwards and I spoke, Eli sat patiently on his father's leg. On the occasions he stirred, Edwards patted him on the back and said: “Hey boy! Hey boy!” |
| Eli had an unconventional beginning, one that can be traced back to 1997, when his father, who was trying for a child with his second wife, Candy Picou, had a reverse-vasectomy. Candy didn’t conceive, and the couple divorced while Edwards was in prison. | Eli had an unconventional beginning, one that can be traced back to 1997, when his father, who was trying for a child with his second wife, Candy Picou, had a reverse-vasectomy. Candy didn’t conceive, and the couple divorced while Edwards was in prison. |
| After he was released from prison, Edwards received an invoice from a hospital for 16 years of storage for his sperm, which – unbeknown to him – had been frozen. | After he was released from prison, Edwards received an invoice from a hospital for 16 years of storage for his sperm, which – unbeknown to him – had been frozen. |
| The Edwardses were ecstatic.“I paid the bill – $750," he said, "and received the frozen specimen.” | The Edwardses were ecstatic.“I paid the bill – $750," he said, "and received the frozen specimen.” |
| Doctors warned the couple that IVF treatment might not work. “In our case, the first time we tried it, Trina became pregnant,” he said, chuckling. “There is no question I have strong sperm.” | |
| Slippery | Slippery |
| Edwards is the master of not taking himself too seriously. It is a disarming trait, and one that has enabled him to slither out of many an awkward interview. | Edwards is the master of not taking himself too seriously. It is a disarming trait, and one that has enabled him to slither out of many an awkward interview. |
| En route to his house, I had stopped for breakfast at a diner, where I got talking to one of the former governor’s many admirers. I asked what was so special about Edwards. "Everything," the man shot back. "Edwin is Louisiana." But he warned me Edwards would be harder to pin down than “an alligator crawled out of a swamp”. | En route to his house, I had stopped for breakfast at a diner, where I got talking to one of the former governor’s many admirers. I asked what was so special about Edwards. "Everything," the man shot back. "Edwin is Louisiana." But he warned me Edwards would be harder to pin down than “an alligator crawled out of a swamp”. |
| Toward the end of our meeting, I threw the reptile some meat. Would he recount his first night in jail? | Toward the end of our meeting, I threw the reptile some meat. Would he recount his first night in jail? |
| “I was put in a dormitory with about 40 other men. I had a cot. One blanket. I looked at the cot, looked at the guys. One was a guy from Pensacola who I knew. Another was a guy from Houston who I knew. We chatted for a while. I took a shower and went to bed. I’m a very stoic person.” | “I was put in a dormitory with about 40 other men. I had a cot. One blanket. I looked at the cot, looked at the guys. One was a guy from Pensacola who I knew. Another was a guy from Houston who I knew. We chatted for a while. I took a shower and went to bed. I’m a very stoic person.” |
| Did he not lay awake, wondering how he sunk from governor's mansion to crowded prison cell? | Did he not lay awake, wondering how he sunk from governor's mansion to crowded prison cell? |
| “Oh no! I knew how I got there!” he replied in a flash. “The answer to that is I had a judge who was biased and committed to getting me convicted.” | “Oh no! I knew how I got there!” he replied in a flash. “The answer to that is I had a judge who was biased and committed to getting me convicted.” |
| Edwards’ explanation for what he claims was his wrongful conviction is long, convoluted, and carefully caveated. Boiled down, he seems to be saying he was sent down for the wrong crime. | Edwards’ explanation for what he claims was his wrongful conviction is long, convoluted, and carefully caveated. Boiled down, he seems to be saying he was sent down for the wrong crime. |
| “I won’t use the word innocent, I will simply say I was not guilty of what I was charged with.” he said. "Nor was I was guilty of what I was convicted of.” | “I won’t use the word innocent, I will simply say I was not guilty of what I was charged with.” he said. "Nor was I was guilty of what I was convicted of.” |
| Prosecutors would say Edwards was guilty of a lot more than the 17 counts that he was ultimately found guilty of. He survived two trials for racketeering in the 1980s. The feds spent years trying to gather evidence against him, even going so far as bugging his office. | Prosecutors would say Edwards was guilty of a lot more than the 17 counts that he was ultimately found guilty of. He survived two trials for racketeering in the 1980s. The feds spent years trying to gather evidence against him, even going so far as bugging his office. |
| In the end it was a scam involving riverboat casino licenses which led to him being jailed, along with his son, Stephen, and three other men. Edwards likes to point out that the charges did not relate to his time as governor, but scandal – or the hint of it –followed him like a bad smell. | In the end it was a scam involving riverboat casino licenses which led to him being jailed, along with his son, Stephen, and three other men. Edwards likes to point out that the charges did not relate to his time as governor, but scandal – or the hint of it –followed him like a bad smell. |
| “It was this high-rolling, deal-making style – in and out of the governor's mansion – that prompted supporters and opponents alike to lament that Edwards was squandering his considerable political talents for crass personal gain,” the Times Picayune newspaper wrote the day he was incarcerated. | “It was this high-rolling, deal-making style – in and out of the governor's mansion – that prompted supporters and opponents alike to lament that Edwards was squandering his considerable political talents for crass personal gain,” the Times Picayune newspaper wrote the day he was incarcerated. |
| What then, I ask him, does he concede he was guilty of? He is standing for elected office. Surely he has a duty to come clean to the voters? | What then, I ask him, does he concede he was guilty of? He is standing for elected office. Surely he has a duty to come clean to the voters? |
| Edwards shook his head. "Why would I engage in that kinda dialogue," he said. "I’ll reverse it. If you know something I’ve done wrong, come up to me, and we’ll talk about it.” | Edwards shook his head. "Why would I engage in that kinda dialogue," he said. "I’ll reverse it. If you know something I’ve done wrong, come up to me, and we’ll talk about it.” |
| Of course, I didn’t. So I tried a different angle. In a long career like his, there must surely be something that now, looking into his soul, he regrets? | Of course, I didn’t. So I tried a different angle. In a long career like his, there must surely be something that now, looking into his soul, he regrets? |
| Edwards paused before replying, deadpan, that his life’s chief regret was not improving the road infrastructure around Baton Rouge. | Edwards paused before replying, deadpan, that his life’s chief regret was not improving the road infrastructure around Baton Rouge. |
| That could not have been a more slippery answer, I said. I implored him again to be honest. “Ah,” he sighed. "You’re acting like a goddamn reporter now.” | That could not have been a more slippery answer, I said. I implored him again to be honest. “Ah,” he sighed. "You’re acting like a goddamn reporter now.” |
| Edwards was by now looking tired, perhaps even a touch exasperated. I asked if I could photograph him with Eli before leaving. “Well, let me go comb my hair,” he said, plonking Eli on my lap. | |
| Ten minutes later, Edwards was back, his hair no different. He posed beside a painting of himself as governor, probably some time in the 1970s. Two men, Edwards past and Edwards present, similar expression on their faces. | |
| “I would not want to be one of those nondescript politicians who are neither hot nor cold, just lukewarm and don’t make a difference,” he said, finally. | “I would not want to be one of those nondescript politicians who are neither hot nor cold, just lukewarm and don’t make a difference,” he said, finally. |
| Then he chuckled, and hoisted Eli in the air. “Hey boy!” | Then he chuckled, and hoisted Eli in the air. “Hey boy!” |