Elaine S. Edwards
Encyclopedia
Elaine Schwartzenburg Edwards (born March 8, 1929) is a former interim member of the United States Senate
and the first wife of Edwin Washington Edwards
, making her a former First Lady of Louisiana.
Edwards was born in Marksville
, the seat of Avoyelles Parish, to Errol Schwartzenburg and Myrl Dupuy Schwartzenburg. She married Edwin Edwards in 1949.
On August 1, 1972, Edwin Edwards appointed Elaine to the U.S. Senate after the death of Allen Ellender. Edwin's reasons for appointing his wife included her willingness to resign after a new senator was elected and her agreement with his political philosophy. However, during the 1976 presidential election campaign, Elaine endorsed Gerald Ford
over Jimmy Carter
, while her husband first endorsed California governor Jerry Brown
, and later endorsed Carter after Brown didn't get the nomination.
An observer said that Elaine Edwards "wanted the opposite of what Edwin wanted. She hated the fishbowl of politics."
Edwin and Elaine Edwards divorce
d in 1989 after 40 years of marriage. She is the mother of four children, including Stephen Edwards, who was convicted alongside his father in 2000, stemming from a riverboat casino licensing scheme. The other three children are Anna, Victoria and David.
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
and the first wife of Edwin Washington Edwards
Edwin Edwards
Edwin Washington Edwards served as the Governor of Louisiana for four terms , twice as many terms as any other Louisiana chief executive has served. Edwards was also Louisiana's first Roman Catholic governor in the 20th century...
, making her a former First Lady of Louisiana.
Edwards was born in Marksville
Marksville, Louisiana
Marksville is a city in and the parish seat of Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 5,537 at the 2000 census. Louisiana's first land-based casino, Paragon Casino Resort, opened in Marksville in June 1994...
, the seat of Avoyelles Parish, to Errol Schwartzenburg and Myrl Dupuy Schwartzenburg. She married Edwin Edwards in 1949.
On August 1, 1972, Edwin Edwards appointed Elaine to the U.S. Senate after the death of Allen Ellender. Edwin's reasons for appointing his wife included her willingness to resign after a new senator was elected and her agreement with his political philosophy. However, during the 1976 presidential election campaign, Elaine endorsed Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
over Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
, while her husband first endorsed California governor Jerry Brown
Jerry Brown
Edmund Gerald "Jerry" Brown, Jr. is an American politician. Brown served as the 34th Governor of California , and is currently serving as the 39th California Governor...
, and later endorsed Carter after Brown didn't get the nomination.
An observer said that Elaine Edwards "wanted the opposite of what Edwin wanted. She hated the fishbowl of politics."
Edwin and Elaine Edwards divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
d in 1989 after 40 years of marriage. She is the mother of four children, including Stephen Edwards, who was convicted alongside his father in 2000, stemming from a riverboat casino licensing scheme. The other three children are Anna, Victoria and David.