Appointed by Edwin Edwards Religion Roman Catholic Movies The Bat Political party Democratic Party Democratic Party | Nationality American Role Edwin Edwards' ex-wife Preceded by Allen J. Ellender Name Elaine Edwards | |
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Succeeded by J. Bennett Johnston, Jr. Full Name Elaine Schwartzenburg Born March 8, 1929 (age 95)
Marksville, Louisiana ( 1929-03-08 ) Spouse Edwin Edwards (m. 1949–1989) Children Anna Edwards, David Edwards, Victoria Edwards, Stephen Edwards People also search for Edwin Edwards, Nolan Edwards Profiles | ||
Elaine Schwartzenburg Edwards (born March 8, 1929) is a former United States Senator and the first wife of Edwin Washington Edwards, making her a former First Lady of Louisiana.
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Early life
Edwards was born in Marksville, the seat of Avoyelles Parish, to Errol Leo Schwartzenburg (1909–1999) and Myrl Dupuy Schwartzenburg (1907–2001). Elaine also had a brother, Frank, and another brother, Ralph.
Senate career
On August 1, 1972, Edwin Edwards appointed Elaine to the U. S. Senate after the death of Allen Ellender. She agreed to resign after a new senator was elected, and she shared her husband's political philosophy.
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 failed to obtain the nomination.
Personal life
She married Edwin Edwards in 1949. An observer said that Elaine Edwards "wanted the opposite of what Edwin wanted. She hated the fishbowl of politics." Both graduated from Marksville High School.
Edwin and Elaine Edwards divorced in 1989 after forty 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.