Jack Edwards (U.S.)
Encyclopedia
William Jackson "Jack" Edwards (born September 20, 1928) is a former U.S. Republican
politician, who represented Alabama
in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1965 until 1985.
Edwards was born in Birmingham
, but eventually moved to Point Clear
, a suburb of Mobile
and opened a law practice there. He was active in the Republican Party in the days when it barely existed in Alabama. His great-great grandfather, William F. Aldrich
, had been the last Republican congressman from the state, serving (with a few months' break) from 1897 to 1901.
Edwards was first elected to Congress in 1964, one of five Republicans elected to the House from Alabama amid Barry Goldwater
's sweep of the state in that year's presidential election. He represented the state's 1st District, based in Mobile. The seat had been left vacant when 28-year incumbent Frank Boykin was the state's only congressman not returned in the 1962 at-large election. He defeated Democrat
John Tyson, Sr. by 19 points. This seemed unusual on paper, since most of the 1st's living residents had never been represented by a Republican before. However, southwest Alabama had been first regions of the state where old-line Democrats started switching parties in large numbers during the 1960s—a trend that only accelerated with the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
. He was reelected nine times, never facing serious opposition in what rapidly turned into one of the most Republican districts in the South.
In Congress, Edwards was known as one the chamber's brightest conservatives, and was a strong critic of forced busing. He was also known for good constituent service. He helped originate the Gulf Coast Congressional Report
, a public-service program giving a local view of Capitol politics.
Edwards didn't run for reelection in 1984. He was succeeded by State Senator
Sonny Callahan
, a Democrat who turned Republican after Edwards promised him his endorsement. Edwards resumed his law practice, which he still maintains today. He is still active in state Republican politics; when Callahan retired in 2002, Edwards campaigned for his chief of staff, Jo Bonner
, who won the election and still holds the seat.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician, who represented Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1965 until 1985.
Edwards was born in Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, but eventually moved to Point Clear
Point Clear, Alabama
Point Clear is an unincorporated census-designated place in Baldwin County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2000 census, the population was 1,876. It is part of the Daphne–Fairhope–Foley Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, a suburb of Mobile
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
and opened a law practice there. He was active in the Republican Party in the days when it barely existed in Alabama. His great-great grandfather, William F. Aldrich
William F. Aldrich
William Farrington Aldrich was a U.S. Representative from Alabama, brother of Truman Heminway Aldrich and great-great-grandfather of William J...
, had been the last Republican congressman from the state, serving (with a few months' break) from 1897 to 1901.
Edwards was first elected to Congress in 1964, one of five Republicans elected to the House from Alabama amid Barry Goldwater
Barry Goldwater
Barry Morris Goldwater was a five-term United States Senator from Arizona and the Republican Party's nominee for President in the 1964 election. An articulate and charismatic figure during the first half of the 1960s, he was known as "Mr...
's sweep of the state in that year's presidential election. He represented the state's 1st District, based in Mobile. The seat had been left vacant when 28-year incumbent Frank Boykin was the state's only congressman not returned in the 1962 at-large election. He defeated Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
John Tyson, Sr. by 19 points. This seemed unusual on paper, since most of the 1st's living residents had never been represented by a Republican before. However, southwest Alabama had been first regions of the state where old-line Democrats started switching parties in large numbers during the 1960s—a trend that only accelerated with the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a landmark piece of legislation in the United States that outlawed major forms of discrimination against African Americans and women, including racial segregation...
. He was reelected nine times, never facing serious opposition in what rapidly turned into one of the most Republican districts in the South.
In Congress, Edwards was known as one the chamber's brightest conservatives, and was a strong critic of forced busing. He was also known for good constituent service. He helped originate the Gulf Coast Congressional Report
Gulf Coast Congressional Report
The Gulf Coast Congressional Report, or Congressional Report, is a public service television program broadcast by WKRG-TV in Mobile, Alabama from 1973 to 2006. Originally hosted by Representatives from the congressional districts within the reach of WKRG's signal, the commercial-free talk show gave...
, a public-service program giving a local view of Capitol politics.
Edwards didn't run for reelection in 1984. He was succeeded by State Senator
Alabama Senate
The Alabama State Senate is the upper house of the Alabama Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alabama. The body is composed of 35 members representing an equal amount of districts across the state, with each district containing at least 127,140 citizens...
Sonny Callahan
Sonny Callahan
Herbert Leon "Sonny" Callahan is a politician from Alabama.Callahan was born in Mobile, Alabama he had eight brothers and sisters and he attended classes at a branch of the University of Alabama that was located in Mobile. He did not graduate. Callahan served in the United States Navy from 1952 to...
, a Democrat who turned Republican after Edwards promised him his endorsement. Edwards resumed his law practice, which he still maintains today. He is still active in state Republican politics; when Callahan retired in 2002, Edwards campaigned for his chief of staff, Jo Bonner
Jo Bonner
Josiah Robins Bonner, Jr. is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education, and early political career:...
, who won the election and still holds the seat.