ON FORMER GOVERNOR EDWIN EDWARDS.

YOU'LL NOTICE WE'RE IN THE FORMER STUDIO WHERE WEEKLY BE BOD CAST LOUISIANA THE STATE WE'RE IN.

IN THIS STUDIO WE COVERED EDWARDS.

ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS DEPATES TOOK PLACE AND FROM HERE VIEWERS FIRST LEARNED OF THE DETAILS OF INVESTIGATION ONE AFTER ANOTHER THAT CAME TO DOMINATE HIS TIME IN OFFICE.

WE HAVE SOME VERY SPECIAL GUESTS TONIGHT AND I WILL INTRODUCE THEM.

BUT FIRST A BRIEF LOOK BACK AT EDWARDS CAREER.

>>: YOU KNOW ALL THESE YEARS PEOPLE HAVE NEVER MET ME ANALYZE MY CHARACTER AND MY LIVES.

SOMETIMES ABOUT ISSUES I HAVE NEVER GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO TELL MY STORY.

>>: EN1995 AT THE END OF EDWIN EDWARDS FOURTH TERM AT GOVERNOR HE ADDRESSED THE LEGISLATOR LOOKING BACK AT HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

>>: IT MADE ME REALIZE HOW MANY PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THE ADVAGGAGES THAT WE HAVE AND I ALWAYS HAD A SIMPTIETH FOR POOL WHO ARE POOR WITHOUT EDUCATION BIG FAMILIES AND HAVING TO STRUGGLE TO GET ON IN LIFE.

>>: GOVERNOR EDWARDS DID AN AWFUL LOT FOR THIS STATE.

ONE OF THE MOST BRILLIANT PEOPLE.

HE WAS HAND SOME VERY ARTICULATE AND WHITE AND SORT AFFHAD A ROGUISHNESS ABOUT HIM.

>>: THERE WAS ALWAYS THAT ATTITUDE THERE.

TALK ABOUT POWER.

HE HAD HE WANTED IT AND HE GRABBED IT.

>>: HE HAD A BIG PERSONALITY THAT FILLED THE STAGE IN A DIFFERENT KIND OF WAY.

SOME PEOPLE SAW HIM A DYNAMIC GUY WHO COULD GET THINGS DONE.

>>: MORE EDWIN EDWARDS.

MORE EDWIN EDWARDS.

>>: THE FIRST THING HE CHANGED HE REVAMPED THE STATES CONSTITUTION.

>>: BEFORE THAT THERE WERE 200 AGENCIES DEPARTMENTS AND THE CONSTITUTION MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO REORGANIZE GUM TO 20 DEPARTMENTS WHICH MADE IT MUCH MORE RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS AND ALSO VERY MORE ECONOMICAL.

>>: I SAY THE BIGGEST ACAMELISHMENTS WHEN HE CHANGED THE TAXATION OF OIL AND GAS FROM A STRAIGHTED PER ANYWHERAL OR PER CUBIC FOOT TO A PERCENTAGE OF VAL SKEW BY CHANGETLING TO A PERCENT OF VALUE THEN WE WERE ABLE TO ENJOY THE GREAT BOOM WHEN OIL PRICES WENT WAY UP.

>>: ALL 11 OF THE HOSPITAL EITHER COMPLETELY REBUILT BY MERE OR MODERNINIZE OR RENOVATED.

>>: WHO PAVED THE PARKING LOT.

>>: HE WAS CONSTITUTION BARRED FROM SEEKING A THIRD TERM AT THAT TIME.

BUT A NEW ELEMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION CALLED THE JUNGLE PRIMARY PAVE THD WAY FOR A REPUBLICAN TO TAKE HIS SEAT.

>>: EDWARDS IS BY DEFAULT THE FATHFER OF THE REPUBLICAN PART.

>>: I SPENT A LOT OF MONEY A LOT OF TIME ON LONG TIME MERIT UNTIL I FINALLY GOT THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION AND PHASE DAVE TRENE IN THE GENERAL ELECTION AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS UNFAIR.

>>: THE OPEN PRIMARY OPENED EVERYTHING UP.

REGARLESS OF PARTY REGISTRATION.

>>: BUT ALIGATIONS OF CORPORATION AND THE STATES MOUNTING MONEY PROBLEM DUE TO THE OIL TURN CAUGHT UP WITH HIM.

>>: THERE WAS A LOT OF CORG OR HINTS OF CORPORATION CERTAINLY A NOTHING OF INVESTIGATIONS AND FUNNY IT STARTED WITH THE SUPUSHEN CORRUPTION WAS FUNDING HIS GAMBLE HABIT.

>>: I COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

I WAS A PUBLIC FIGURE.

THE PRESS HAD AN OBLIGATION TO INVESTIGATE.

AND LAW ENFORCEMENT PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PRIVILEGE.

I ACCEPTED THAT.

>>: THIS INDITE HAS MADE FROM MISH TAKES WHICH I HAVE MADE.

WE WILL NOT KNOW WHICH OF US IS TO BLAME UNTIL THE TRIAL.

>>: HE WENT TO TRIAL AND AVOIDED CONVICTION.

BULLET IN 87 THE VOTERS OF LOUISIANA ISSUES THEIR OWN VERDICT ELECTED BUDDER ROAMER.

ROAMER LOSS PROPERTILY AFTER EXPANDING GAMING AND AFTER 91 FAILED TO MAKE THE RUN OFF.

EDWARDS DEFEATED A WHITE SUMIMMIST.

AND RACKETEERING AND MONEY LAUNDERING REGARDING THE GAMING EXPANSION.

>>: I THINK HE WAS SIMPLY A THROW BACK TO THE OLD WAY OF THINKING IN OUR STATE THAT THE LAW DOES NOT APPLY TO EVERYONE.

>>: HISTORY IS GOING TO BE CRUEL TO EDWIN EDWARDS.

EDWARDS FOR COURT CASE NO FOR COURT CASES FOR EXSL.

BUT THEY DON'T KNOW ANYTHING HE DID TO TAKE THE STATE A BETTER PLACE.

>>: BETH COURTNEY AND BOB COURTNEY COVERED DURING THOSE EARLY AND ON GOING EDWARDS YEARS.

BETH OF COURSE BECAME PRESIDENT AND CEO OF LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING WHICH WAS BRAND NEW.

BOB A POLITICAL REPORTER FOR WBRJ IN BATON ROUGE.

BETH WHAT WAS IT LIKE COVERING A POLITICAL FORCE LIKE EDWIN EDWARDS.

>>: WELL I ALWAYS SAY IT WAS FORTUNATE FOR US THAT LPB SIGNED ON IN 75 AND THE FIRST SHOW WE DID WAS LOUISIANA THE STATE WE'RE IN IT WAS FOFINATE FOR US WE HAD A CHARACTERMATIC GOVERNOR BECAUSE PEOPLE WANT TODAY WATCH WHAT HE WAS SAYING AND LONG STORIES ABOUT ISSUES WERE WATCHED BY GENERAL PUBLIC.

AND PBS COULDN'T BELIEVE SO MANY PEOPLE WERE INTERESTED IN POLITICS IN LOUISIANA AND I SAID ITS BECAUSE WE HAVE A CHARACTER MASTIC GOVERNOR.

>>: AND ONE THAT REMEMBERED PERSONAL THINGS ABOUT PEOPLE BOB.

>>: ONE OF MY FIRST EMPRIGZOFFS EDWIN EDWARDS WAS THAT AS A YOUNG RADIO REPORTER I WENT TO INTERVIEW HIM AT A FUNCTION IN 1971 WHEN HE WAS FIRST RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR DIDN'T KNOW HIM FROM ADAM HE DIDN'T KNOW ME.

A BIG FAT GUY WITH A TAPE RECORDER AND I WALK UP TO HIM AND ASKED HIM FOR A AN INTERVIEW WE TALKED ABOUT ABOUT FIVE MINUTES AND I WENT ON.

BUT INENCOUNTERED IMSEVERAL MONTH LATER HE KNEW ME HE CAME OVER AND SPOKE TO ME AND ASK ME HOW THINGS WERE THAT WAS PRETTY STARTLING TO ME FOR HIM TO STUDDENLY KNOW WHO I WAS.

>>: HOW DID THAT MAKE YOU FEEL.

>>: WELL IT MADE ME FEEL WOW I LIKE THIS GUY.

>>: EXACTLY.

>>: EXACTLY.

I THINK THE SECRET TO ALUTE HIS PERSONAL CHARACTER MASTIC SUCCESS WITH THAT ABILITY.

>>: HE WAS ABLE DO THAT WITH REALLY PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY.

>>: RIGHT.

>>: IF YOU WERE A YOUNG WOMAN HE CERTAINLY COULD ACTUALLY STAYED FARTHER AWAY BECAUSE OF THAT.

>>: IT CAME A POINT IN TIME THOU SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HELPED HIM BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE FIRST TWO TERMS THE OIL INDUSTRY FOR EXAMPLE TOOK A DOWN TURP.

SO HOW DIFFERENT WAS HIS STRENGTH AS GOBNER ONCE THE OIL RAN OUT.

>>: I THINK YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT EDWIN EDWARDS THERE WERE TWO DIFFERENT ERRORS OF HIS LEADERSHIP IN LOUISIANA.

THE FIRST TWO TERMS INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL.

EDWARDS PASS ADNEW CONSTITUTIONADS YOU REFERRED TO ALL THESE OTHER THINGS CHANGE THE SEVERANCE TASK ON OIL AND NATURAL GAS SO WE MADE MORE MONEY AND GOT A GREAT BOOM IN THE ECONOMY AND THEN IT WAS THE LADDER TWO TERMS WHERE THINGS NOT JUST THE INVESTIGATIONS BUT THE WHOLE WORLD CHANGED THE ECONOMY CHANGED SUDDENLY HE DIDN'T HAVE THAT EMBARRASSMENT OF RICHES THAT REPRESENTATIVE KEVIN RILLLY ONE TIME COMPLAINED ABOUT AND SUDDENLY HE COULDN'T BALANCE THE BUDGETARY EASILY SUDDENLY HE COULDN'T GIVE PAY RACE START WITH HOLDING PAY CHECK THIS WAS NOT THE KIND OF WORD THAT EDWIN EDWARDS THRIVED IN.

>>: A POINT TIME DAVE TREME WAS GOVERNOR FOR FOUR YEARS.

EDWARDS ALWAYS SAID HE CAUSE COMING BACK.

MAY BE HE WAS RUNNING THINGS BEHIND THE SCENE.

>>: I REMEMBER THE INAUGURATION I KEPT SAYING THE FIRST REPUBLICAN SINCE RECONSTRUCTION AND WE HAD THERE THERE WADS A SHODO GOVERNMENT ON AIR LINE HIGHWAY EDWARDS NEVER REALLY GAVE IT UP.

>>: HE BALL A HOUSE ON AIR LINE HIGHWAY ITS GONE NOW A HOUSE AND ACREAGE AND HE WOULD HAVE THESE THINGS HE WOULD INVITE THE MEAD YOU TO COME OUT AND VISIT AND DO INTERVIEWS THAT DROP OF A HAT YOU COULD CALL HIM UP ABOUT ANYTHING UNFORTUNATELY OR PERCHINATELY FOR HIM WE RAN TO EDWARDS EVERY TIME THERE WAS A STUMBLE AT THE MANSION YOU KNOW TO GET HIS TAKE ON IT.

AND IT JUST FED INTO THAT ABILITY TO KIND OF RUN THIS I DON'T HAPPENING IT WAS A PLANNED SHODO GOVERNMENT AS MUCH IT IT BECAME KIND OF THATTISM ONE OF TEENS MOST DIFFICULT TO THINGS TO DEAL WITH EDWARDS WAS ALWAYS TALK COMMENTING AND MUNILLIALING BECAUSE REMEMBER HE STILL HAD A GREAT FORCE OF PEOPLE IN THE ADMINISTRATION WHO HE HAD KNOWN AND WORKED WITH AND ALSO IN THE LEGISLATION.

>>: AND FAMILIAR THAT SOUNDS WITH WHAT'S GOING ON TODAY.

>>: IT DOES.

>>: LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT A CLIP YOU BOTH WERE THERE AT THE DEBATE BETWEEN EDWARDS AND TRENE.

>>: I DON'T THINK ITS REALISTIC TO EXPECT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TRAPPED AS THEY ALREADY ARE FOR FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO BEAR THE BURDENS OF 30 PERCENT OF THE TRUTEMS COST OF FLOOD PROGRAM.

MY OWN VIEW THIS IS A STATE AND NATIONAL PROBLEM WE SHOULD DEFINITELY ACCELERATE OUR EFFORTS TO GET FEDERAL FUNDS BECAUSE MISSISSIPPI RIVER IS DRAINING SOMETHING 41 PERCENT OF THE UNITED STATES EAST OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS THROUGH LOUISIANA.

WE IMPACTED BY THAT THE REST OF THE NATION BENEFITS FROM IT AND WE HAVE A GOOD CASE TO MAKE.

BE THAT AS IT MAY I'M PREPARED TO BARROW A HUNDRED TO HUNDRED FIFTY MILLION A YEARS AS LONG AS I'M GOVERNOR TO MATCH FEDERAL FUNDS OR LOCAL FUNDS OR TO GET THE PROGRAM STARTED.

WE BARROW OVER A BILLION 100 FILLFY TT LAST THREE YEARS AND HAVE LITTLE TO SHOW FOR IT.

ONMILLION DOLLAR ANNUAL BARROWING ON 30 YEERD BONDED DEBIT COST THE STATE ABOUT TEN A YEAR TO PACE.

A SMALL PRICE TO PAY AM WHEN YOU CONSIDERED YOU'LL BE REMOVING THE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCE OF FLOODS EVERY TWO YEARS DAMAGING ON THE AVERAGE TWO TO 300 MILLION-DOLLARS EVERY TWO YEARS I THINK FROM A STAND POINT OF DOLLARS AND WE ARE COMING OUT WELL BY MOVING AHEAD AND PUTTING UP THE MONEY AND GETTING THE PROGRAM DONE NOT COUNTING THE LOSS OF LIVE THE FEAR THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE TO LEAVE IN CONSTANT THREAT OF FLOODING.

I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE CONTINUED.

I'M PREPARED TO MOVE.

>>: DO YOU HAVE ANY PLANS TO TRY AND CONTROL FUTURE CAMPAIGN SPENDING AND WHEN YOU LOBBY TO PASS APPROPRIATE CAMPAIGN FINANCIAL LIMITATIONS.

SPEAKER: FIRST ITS NOT REALLY ACCURATE TO SAY ITS HIGHER.

IN WEST VIRGINIA JAY SPENT 12 MILLION OF HIS OWN MONEY IN IZCAMPAIGN THE BUMMER STICKERS SAID MAKE HIM SPEND IT.

AND ANOTHER BUMPER STICKER SAID SPEND IN JAY ITS JURY'S/JURIES.

IT CERTAINLY IS ABSEEN AND I REGRET IT VERY MUCH.

WHY I MADE THE SERIOUS PROPOSAL THAT NOBODY TOOK SERIOUS BANING FEBRUARYISM SERIOUS FOR US TO HUSTLE OUR FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS AND THE OVER OPRESSED BUSINESS MEN AND WOMAN IN LOUISIANA FOR MILLION OF DOLLAR FOR THEZ CAMPAIGNS WE'RE NOT GOING TO CHANGE BY 5 PERCENT THE OUT COME OF THIS ELECTION AFTER SPENDING EIGHT, NINE OR 15 MILLION BETWEEN THE TWO OF US.

I NEVER SPOKE OUT FOR A BAD ENVIRONMENT.

>>: BUT GOVERNOR MANY OF THESE POLLUTERS ARE GETTING THAT TAX.

>>: I GOT NATIONAL CRITICISM BECAUSE I SAID SOMETHING THAT WAS HONEST ONE DAY WE ALLOW INDUSTRY TO COME TO LOUISIANA FOR 40 YEARS WITHOUT BEGIN AS CARETLE AS WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN I DID THAT DOVENER BEFORE ME DID THAT INDUSTRY DID IT MUNICIPALITY DID IT WE ALL DID IT BUT IT WAS THE TRUTH.

NOW WE NOW IN RETRO SPECIFIC SEE THE ERROR OF OUR WAY WHAT WE NEAD DO TO STOP IT AND MAKE CERTAIN INDUSTRY COME IN HERE PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT.

IF THEY CAN NOT DO THAT SHOULDN'T BE LOWED TO COME.

>>: POLES ALSO ENDUEICATE BOTH OF YOU VERY WELL KNOWN HAS HAVE PRETTY BAD NEGATIVE.

EDWARDS PEOPLE BELIEVE YOU DO NOT TELL THE TRUTH.

MR. TRENE PEOPLE SHOW YOU ARE INEPT.

WHAT DO YOU EACH OF YOU HAVE TO SAY TO ADDRESS THESE NEGATIVES OF YOUR OWN.

>>: I WOULD RATHER BE IN ETHTHAN DIST HONEST.

NOT SAYING I AGREE WITH YOUR CHARACTERIZATION BUT YOU THROUGH OUT TWO ADJECTIVES.

>>: I WOULD RATHER BE INDEPTH THAN DISHONEST ALSO BUT SINCE I AM NEITHER I HAVE A HARD TIME COMMENTING ON THE QUESTION.

>>: BUT IT IS A PROBLEM THAT I HAVE.

A PROBLEM THAT HAUNTS ME.

I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT.

I WISH I COULD.

I WISH EVERYBODY IN THE STATE COULD READ MY HEART AND READ MY MIND AND LISTEN TO MY PHONE CONVERSATION EVERY WORD I UTTERED OFFICIALLY SINCE I HAVE BEEN GOVERNOR.

I REALLY TRY.

BUT WHEN YOU'VE BEEN IN PUBLIC LIFE FOR 28 YEARS THE INTENTS SCRUTINY I HAVE BEEN UNDER IT IS DIFFICULT TO ESSCAPE THAT COMPLETELY BECAUSE CHARGES COME OUT INVESTIGATIONS ARE MADE ALLEGATIONS ARE MADE FREE SPEECH IN THIS COUNTRY I CAN SHOW YOU BLAZING HEAD LINES ACUSING ME OF ALL KIND OF THAT ENDED UP WITH AN APPALLING BUT NEVER THE LESS IT WAS JUST LIKE THROWING A PIECE OF DRY DIRT AT A WHILE WALL IT DOESN'T STICK BUT IT LEAVES MARK.

>>: EXAMPLE OF A MUCH BETTER ANSWER THAT GOVERNOR EDWARDS GAVE THAN HIS APOEMANT.

>>: A FOR SHOTTINGING IF YOU WILL A LOT OF ALL THE ISSUE OIL AND GASH AND ENVIRONMENT AS A CHALLENGE BUT ALSO SAY THAT WHOLE THING ABOUT EPIEPITH DISHONEST DAVE TRENE WAS ALWAYS SUPPOSABLY MICRO MANAGING GOVERNMENT.

AND WE THOUGHT I REMEMBER A CLIP WE COULDN'T FIND.

>>: WELL YEAH THE FAMOUS CLIP WHERE EDWIN EDWARDS SAID IT TOOK DAVE VENE 90 MINUTES TO WATCH 60 MINUTES TELEVISION.

EDWARDS HAD A WONDER WAY OF SAYING THINGS LIKE THAT AND THEY STUCK.

AND THAT HAUNTED TRENE THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE ELECTION AND EVEN TO TODAY PEOPLE REMEMBER THAT CLIP ABOUT HIMMISM WAS IT TRUE I DON'T THINK SO BUT HE EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED IN HIS ADMINISTRATION JUST KIND ORPHFIT INTO THAT BECAUSE HE LIKED TO STUDY THING.

BUT CERTAIN ABOUT THINGS HE LIKED TO TAKE HIS TIME.

>>: GOING TO THIRD TERM NOW A TRIP TO PARISH THAT TAKE PLACE TO PAY OFF SOME DEBIT.

>>: WE BOTH WENT ON THAT TRIP.

WE DID NOT PAY 10,000-DOLLARS.

>>: WHAT DID THE FRENCH THINK.

>>: THE FRENCH HAVE ALWAYS HAD A FASITATION OF LOUISIANIAN AN ORGANIZATION AT THE TIME STARTED BY FRENCHMAN NAMED MUCHEL CALLED THE FRENCH ASSOCIATION AND SHE ACTUALLY ENGINEERED LOT OF THE THINGS THEY DID JUST BETH AND I HAD DONE A JOINT PRODUCTION THE YEAR BEFORE WHERE WE WENT TO FRANCE AND DID ALUTE THESE THINGS SO PARAIAN PICKED OUR BRAINS DID YOU DO THIS DID YOU DO THAT.

SO ANYWAY WE WENT AND IT WAS A SPECIFICICAL AND IT WAS SUCCESSFUL IT DID RETIRE HIS CAMPAIGN DEBIT.

>>: I WAS SHOCKED WHEN I GOT ON THE PLANE AND SAW BENT JOHNSON AND HIS FAMILY.

FRIENDS FAMILY POLITICAL OPENTANTS IT WAS JUSTRICABLE REREMARKABLE TRIP IN THE SENSE OF THEY DID HAVE A FASCINATION WITH LOUISIANA AND THE MAYOR OF PARISH HAD LIVED IN NEW ORLEANS FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.

AT THE TIME.

>>: OO A STUDENT OF ARCHITECTURE AT TULANE UNIVERSITY AND HE WAS A FRIEND OF LOUISIANA.

HE HE HAD A MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENT OF FRANCE IT WAS A BIG SPECIFICICAL AND ALL THE FRENCH PRESS WAS THERE AND BOY WE THOUGHT WE WERE BAD.

THOSE GUYS WERE OBNOCTIOUS.

IT WAS QUITE A TIME.

A FASCINATING EVENT AND ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE KIND OF THINGS THAT EDWARDS MANAGED TO PULL OFF AND PULL OFF SUCCESSFULLY.

>>: A BIG BIG DEAL.

>>: JUST LAST MONTH THE CULTURE HISTORICAL AND BUSINESS CONNECTIONS BETWEEN FRANCE AND LOUISIANA FORMED A FOUNDATION FOR AN USUAL AND PROFITABLE POLITICAL EVENT AN EVENT THAT GAINED NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION.

>>: HOW TO RIDE THE SUBWAY IN PARIS MUSIC PLAYING.

GOVERNOR EDWIN EDWARDS ELECTION VICTORY LAST OCTOBER NEARLY 5 MILLION-DOLLAR IN DEBIT LEFT NEW ORLEANS NATIONAL AIRPORT WITH MORE THAN 600 FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS FOR A TRIP CALLED RETURN TO OUR ROOTS.

MOST OF THE PARTICIPATION EXCEPT FOR ABOUT HUNDRED LEGISLATORS AND A LARGE CONTINIANT OF REPORTERS PAYING 10,000-DOLLAR EACH FOR A TICKET ON ONE OF THE TWO CHARTER JUMP BOW DISWHRETS TRIP OUT OF CAMPAIGN MANAGER FRENCH MASSIVE PUBLIC GIMMICK WHEN USE LOUISIANA PHREN ROOTS AS ITS DRAW AND ITS WORKED.

>>: WEAVE OVER 620 PEOPLE AND NO SHOWS AND EVERYBODY HAPPY AND HAVING A GOOD TIME.

I THINK WE'LL GET TO PARISH AND ENJOY OURSELVES AND ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO INSERIOUS THINGS.

>>: THE GROUP WASN'T ON FRENCH SOIL MORE THAN A COUPLE HOURS BEFORE LOUISIANA CAJUN GOVERNOR A SOLEMN CEREMONY.

WHERE HE LAID A WREATH PR CLAIMING ALL FRENCH AND LOUISIANA COUSINS.

>>: IN FRENCH LANGUAGE.

FROM YOUR LAND AND OURS I NOW LAY THIS WREATH AND PRAY FOREVER THE FRIENDSHIP THE BUTTER HOOD OF LOUISIANA OF BEAUTIFUL FRANCE.

THE ENTIRE TRIP WAS TO BE AN SOMBER REPROTECTION THE NEXT STOP OFFERED A STUNNING CONTRAST.

A LOUISIANA GROUP BROUGHT IN THEIR FIRST WITH DINNER AND A SHOW PARISSEN STYLE.

MOST OF THE ORGANIZATIONAL DETAILS FOR THE GOVERNOR ELECT VISIT WORK WORKED OUT BY THE FRANCELOUISIANA ASSOCIATION.

AT FOR THE GOVERNOR AND HIS AUNT >>: IT WAS HERE EDWARDS DID SOMETHING HE RARELY DOES.

DRINK.

OTHER STATE OFFICIAL INTO A FRENCH WHINE SOCIETY.

I SEE Y'ALL NEXT WEEK.

>>: ONE LOUISIANA CONNECTION AND THE GOVERNOR RETURN TO HIS ROOTS GOSPEL SPINNINGER WAS THE CENTER PIECE OF A SPECIAL MASS WHERE HE MIXED HIS LOUISIANA BAPTIST UP BRINGING WITH MORE TRUCESSIONINAL FRENCH MUSIC FOR AN INTERESTING CATHOLIC MASS.

EARLIER IN THE TRIP EDWARDS PROCLAIMED A CHILDHOOD DESIRE TO BECOME KING.

A TRIP WOULD BE A DREAM FULFILLED.

ONE OF THE ATTRACTIONS THATEDSWARDS TOOK TO FRANCE WAS THE PROXIMITY TO POWER.

THE NEXT MORNING THE GROUP SPLIT UP SOMETHING GOING TO BELGIAN BELGIAN.EDSWARDS MADE NO SECRET FOR HIS PENSION FOR GAMBLING.

A WOMEN TO THE TUNE OF 15,000-DOLLARS.

ON HIS RETURN TO PARIS MEETING WITH FRENCH PRESIDENT AND EXPRESSING HIS GRATITUDE FOR THE FRENCH INVOLVEMENT IN THE 1984 WORLDS FIRE BE HELD IN NEW ORLEANS.

>>: ABOUT 25 MINUTES TALKING WITH THE PRESIDENT HE WAS VERY CORDIAL EXTENDED TO HIM TO VISIT THE EXPO IN NEW ORLEANSISM WE THANK HIM FOR THE PARTICIPATION BY THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT.

THE PAY VILLAN THE FRENCH PEOPLE WILL HAVE THERE.

ALSO EXPRESSED APPRECIATION FOR THE SUPPORT AND THE FRENCH LANGUAGE IN LOUISIANA.

>>: CULTIVATING MORE INTEREST IN LOUISIANA AMONGST FRENCH CITIZENS A GREAT DEAL OF INTEREST ALREADY EXIST THAT WAS VIVIDLY DISPLAYED A NEW FRENCH MOVIE.

THE OPENING OF THE FILM TIMED TO COINCIDE WITH THE TRIP FILLED IN BATON ROUGE THE MOVIE STARS MAR GO KIDDER HISTORICAL DRAMA IN THE VEIN OF GONE WITH THE WIND.

THAT PARTY MANY IN THE GROUP CONFESS THEY COULDN'T UNDERSTAND THE DIALOGUE BUT ENJOYED THE MUSIC BY BATON ROUGE COMPOSER.

ON THE FINAL DAY OF THE VISIT A COURTESY CALL TO MAYOR OF PARIS AND EXCHANGE OF GIFTS PROMPTED SPEECHES IN FRENCH AND ENGLISH.

THE PROGRESS OF EACH DAYS EVENT DUALLY RECORTED BY THE PRESSISM BOTH FROM LOUISIANA ON THE TRIP THE NETWORK 12 CREW IN PARIS AND RORRERS.

THE FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE OF THE TRIP THE RESIDENCY OF THE AMERICAN AMBASEDER EDWARDS NEW FACTORY TO BE BUILT IN LOUISIANA WERE STILL UP IN THE AIR.

THE ONLY THING FIRM THE COMPANY IT DEFINITELY COMMITTED TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF SOME WAY OR ANOTHER.

>>: THE ENTIRE TRIP MIXED BUSINESS WITH PLEASURE THE FOCUS WAS ON GOOD TIMES AND GOOD FOOD DINING OUT AT ONE OF THE FINEST RESTAURANTS IN PARIS EDWARDS PRONOUNCED THE TRIP SUCCESS.

>>: DID RAISE THE MONEY WE ANTICIPATED BUT ON THE OTHER HALF CONTINUING FOR THE WHOLE STATE BECAUSE MEETINGS WITH THE PRESIDENT OF FRANCE OTHER OFFICIAL CORPORATIONS AND GOOD WILL THAT WE HAVE LEFT HERE I THINK IS GOING TO SERVICE US WELL INCLUDING NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH IMMEDIATE BENEFITS SOME STIMULATED TOURISM WORDS EXPO IN NEW ORLEANS.

>>: COMING BACK FROM PARIS AT THAT TIME SO MUCH PROMISE BUT SO MUCH THAT DIDN'T MEERLALIZE AND THINGS TOOK A DOWN TURN.

WE GO FORWARD TO 1988 AND WITHEDSWARDS SO MUCH WAS BIG AND WITH THAT HE HAD HIS OWN SAY CAMP DAVID OF SORTS A RANCH IN TEXAS BUT YOU WENT THERE.

>>: YES WELL WHOLE TROOP OF RECORDERS DID EDWARDS WANTED US TO COME DEFUSE.

>>: RIGHT NEGATIVE PUBLISHTY ABOUT SELLING THE RANCH AND OPEN THE RANCHISM HE WAS BEING ASKED AND HE SAYS WHY DON'T Y'ALL ALL COME AND SEE WHAT IT S. OF COURSE WE DIDDISM WE ALL WENT TO THE RANCH AND HE BBQS FOR US.

>>: I FELT LIKE WE WERE ALWAYS SAYING GOOD BY TO HIM.

ANOTHER CHAPTER IN HIS LIFE.

AND THE RANCH I WAS SORT OF INTERESTED WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO GO TO THIS DRIED UP PLACE WHERE YOU SHOT VERY TINY DEAR.

TOLD ME THEY WERE CALLED SOMETHING ELSE.

I WAS NOT YOUR AUDIENCE.

>>: IT WAS HIS END OF THAT THIRD TERM AND HE WAS BOOK ENDING WHICH HE LIKED TO DO AND IT WAS ONCE AGAIN AN OPPORTUNITY FOR HIM TO SIT DOWP WITH MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA AND TALKED ABOUT ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS HE HAD DONE.

>>: GOOD MORNING.

SORRY I'M LATE.

THE WEATHER WAS BAD.

>>: THIS IS WHERE GOVERNOR EDWARDS GOES MUCH OF THE TIME WHEN HE'S OUT OF THE STATE AND UNAVAILABLE FOR COMMENT.

HE'S AT THE RANCH IN WEST TEXISH HILL COUNTRY ABOUT A HUNDRED 20-MILE THIS 1500-ACRE SPREAD 60 HEAD OF CATTLE AN ATTACKATIVE BUT MODEL RANCH HOUSE.

CURRENTLY ON THE MARKET 1.6 MILLION.

EZWARDS OWNED IT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER FOUR DIFFERENT RANCHES IN TEXAS THE TRACTION IS HUNTING SOMETHING HE ENJOYS DOING WITH FRIENDS AN OFFICIAL AID CURRENTLY UNDER FEDERAL INDICTMENT.EDSWARDS ALSO ENJOYS BEING AWAY FROM THE BURDEN GOVERNMENT AND ATTENTION FROM REPORTERS.

BUT ON THIS DAY EDWARDS ISSUES AN OPEN INVITATIONS FROM THE MEDIA TO VISIT TAKE PICTURE AND ENJOY SOME BBQ.

>>: CHICKP SAUSAGE AND BRISKET.

>>: WELL IT WAS DEFINITELY HOME ON THE RANGE WITH EDWIN EDWARDS AT HIS RANCH IN TEXAS AS HE WAS RELAXED AND TALKING WITH REPORTERS ABOUT THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF HIS POLITICAL CAREER.

CERTAIN ELWARDS EDWARS THE POLITICIAN IS NOT REQUIRING.

>>: I WAS BE PRACTICING LAW AND DOING SOME CONSUNTING AND I WILL BE WATCHING THE POLITICAL SCENE.

PART OF MY BLOOD AND MY LIFE.

WHY I DO NOT INTENT TO INTERFERE WHAT SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT BE DONE I WILL WATCH AND SEE.

AS I SAID EIGHT YEARS AGO WHEN I LEFT IF CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGE AND PEOPLE ARE HAPPY WITH THE GOVERNOR AND IT APPEARS HE HAS RETAINED HIS POPULARITY AND SERVED THE CITIZEN I WOULD APPLAUD AND SAY THANK GOODNESS IT HAPPENED.

ON THE OTHER HAND IF IT DOESN'T TAKE A LOOK AT THE SITUATION THREE YEARS FROM NOW.

>>: LATER IN THE DAY SERIES OF INTERVIEWS WITH REPORTERS HIS ROLE IN LOUISIANA HISTORY.

>>: PERSONAL FEELINGS OF REGET.

>>: CERTAINLY I LEAVE THAT WHEN I HAVE LOVED MOST TO DO IN LIFE AND THAT IS TO SERVE THE PUBLIC.

ON THE OTHER HAND I KNOW THAT ALL THINGS COME TO AN END WHETHER THEY'RE GOOD OR BAD AND ITS SOMETHING THAT I'M PERFECTLY WILLING TO ACCEPT AND UNDERSTAND.

>>: ARE YOU AFRAID THE FUTURE JENERATIONERIZE GOING TO GET A SKEWED VIEW OF EDWIN EDWARDS.

>>: I HAVEN'T BEEN AT YEAR I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO CORRECT THE RECORD AND SET MATTERS STRAIGHT MY PROBLEMS HAVE NOT BEEN WITH MOST OF THE WORKING PRESS WHO BY IN LARGE ARE HONORABLE PEOPLE AND DO THEIR JOB.

I HAVE NO CONCERN AT ALL ABOUT THE TRUTH AS LONG AS THE TRUTH IS SPOKEN OR WRITTEN THAT'S FINE WITH ME.

I'LL LIVE ASK & DIE WITH IT.

MY CEP HAS BEEN WITH THE PUBLIC AND EDITORS OF THE MAJOR NEWSPAPER WHO TRIED TO MOLD POLICY TO THEIR OWN THINKING WITHOUT A REAL CONCERN FOR THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.

HAVING SAID THAT, I CERTAINLY WOULD NOT WANT TO BE JUDGED TEN YEARS FROM NOW OR FIFTY YEARS FROM NOW BASED UPON WHAT PEOPLE READ IN THE NEWSPAPERS BECAUSE IT DOES NOT ACCURATE PROTRAY EDWIN EDWARDS AS A MAN OR AS A PUBLIC SERVANT BUTTED THIRD, I CONSORMYSELF WHEN I REALIZE THE PRESS WAS MORE ANTAGONISTIC TOWARDS YOU ALONG THE TIME HE WAS GOVERNOR THAN TO ME AS BAD AS THEY HAVE BEEN TO ME.

YET PEOPLE DO NOT REMEMBER HIM BECAUSE THEN AS NOW THEY WERE WRONGISM HE WAS RIGHT AND THEY WERE WRONG.

YOU KNOW I WAS CRITICIZED WHEN I WENT TO KEEP THE SAINTS IN NEW ORLEANS TURN OUT I WAS RIGHT.

CRITICIZE WHEN I WENT TO KEEP THE WORD FAIR OPEN I WAS RIGHT THERAPY WRONG.

CRITICIZE WHEN I WANTED TO BRING ANOTHER BRIDGE.

I WAS RIGHT AND THEY WERE WRONG.

CRITICIZE WHEN I WANTED TO CHANGE THE METHOD OF CLECKIC TAX ON OIL.

FOR THE SAME PEOPLE I WAS CRITICIZED WHEN I ADVOCATED AAILATARY TUBS OUT SOONER OR LATER UNFORTUNATELY WE DIDN'T HAVE WHEN WHEN I FIRST ADVOCATED IT.

FINALLY CERTAINLY WANT PEOPLE TO REREMEMBER ME A PERSON WHO CAME FROM A VERY HUMMABLE AND POOR BACKGROUND AND NEVER FORGOT HIS ORIGINS AND THEREFORE EMPHASIZE WITH AND UNDERSTOOD AND SYMPATHIZED WITH OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAVING A HARD TIME MAKING IT.

I'M TALKING ABOUT SINGLE MOTHERS AND SINGLE FATHERS WHO HAVE DEFENDANT TIME BRAINING THEIR CHILDREN UP AND THOSE AGE PEOPLE 25 TO 30,000 OF THEM IN NURSING HOME LONLY AND SCARED AND BY THEMSELVES AND HAVE NO ONE TO TURN TO EXCEPT THE STAFF AT THE NURSING HOME TO HELP THEM GET BY FROM DAY TO DAY AND TO KEEP THEM OUT OF PAIN AND TO PROVIDE SOME MEASURE OF HOPE AND JOY FOR THEM IN THE LAST YEARS OF THEIR LIFE.

>>: ON MARCH 14th WHEN YOU'RE NO LONGER GOVERNOR THE STATE WILL HAVE A BOND RATING 700 MILLION-DOLLARS IN DEBIT HAVE THE HIGHEST UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE COUNTRY.

WHAT DO YOU FEEL?

>>: VERY SAD.

I FEEL ESPECIALLY SAD BECAUSE IT WASN'T NECESSARY.

>>: EDWARDS SAYS HE HOPES BUDDY ROAMER SUCCEEDS ORE IF HE DOESN'T THE PEOPLE MIGHT GIVE HIM ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY.

IN ANY CASEEDSWARDS WILL NOT BE RIDING INTO THE SUN SET AS HIS POLITICAL DRAMA ENDS ON MARCH 14th.

>>: SOME PEOPLE MIGHT THINK A TRIP TO A TEX RANCH MIGHT BE FRIVOLOUS IN TERMS OF HISTORY WHAT ACTUALLY TOOK PLACE ITS VERY IMPORTANT.

>>: INDEED WHAT I ALWAYS THOUGHT WE HAD RESPONSIBILITY TO CAPTURE THE HIGHS AND THE LOWS OF WHAT WAS GOING ON.

I BELIEVED IN GOING TO THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS I'M OLD HISTORY TEACHER NOT SO OLD BUT AT THAT MOMENT.

BUT THEREFORE I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE A RECORD OF ALL THESE EVENTS.

>>: LPB BEGAN ITS ARCHIVE SYSTEM.

>>: ACTUALLY WE DID THIS AS A COLLABORATION BECAUSE BOB WAS FIRST ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE AND AS A COMMERCIAL BROADCASTER HE WAS SHOCKED THAT WE WEREN'T KEEPING WE KEPT FILM FOR A LONG TIME BUT THIS PAY THING MADE IT DIFFICULT RECOGNIZE.

>>: WE CREATED LOUISIANA FILM AND VIDEO ARCHIVES AND BECAME CLECKING THIS STUFF INTERESTING BECAUSE TV STEAGZ WOULD GIVE IT TO US BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY PLACE TO KEEP IT.

YEARS LATER A GRANT WAS FOUND ALL THESE THINGS HAVE BEEN RESERVED BECAUSE THE EFFORTS OF LPB TO KEEP A RECORD SO THAT WE CAN LOOK AT IT LATER.

>>: I FEEL SO PROUD THAT THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTERRIC GAVE US A GRANT TO BE ABLE TO DIGITIZE ALL THIS A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE STATE ARCHIVES THE ONLY ONE IN THE COUNTRY LIKE MY COLLEAGUE ON THE NATIONAL BOARD OF ALL THIS WITH THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS POKY ROBERTS AND ALL BOTH FROM LOUISIANA HELPING CREATE IT AND THIS IS A VERY VERY THING FOR US TO DO I THINK.

SO WE'VE BEEN VERY DILIGENT AT THAT.

GOOD PARTNERSHIP.

>>: CERTAINLY TEACHING PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT CERTAIN THINGS WHAT TOOK PLACE AND THEY CAN SEE IT VISUALLY.

>>: THIS TIME THE EDWARDS POLITICAL HIT A POT WHOLE WITH THE THREUSES BUTTY ROMAN.

BUT ROAMER WAS PLAYED OUT IN FOUR YEARS SOEDSWARDS STOOD READIY TO TAKE ON ANOTHER TERM.

THAT TOOK PLACE HERES IN THEZ LPB STUDIOS AND WHAT HAPPENED HERE KIND OF CHANGES THE POLITICAL CIIMATE IN THE STATE.

>>: I WILL JUST SAY THIS A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT THE THINK EDWARDS ENGINEERS THE RUN OFF.

I KNOW HE WAS THAT MASTFUL.

BUT THE PERFECT RUN OFF BECAUSE HE PROBABLY COULDN'T HAVE BEATEN ANYBODY ELSE.

HE DID ACTUALLY SHINE ONCE AGAIN IN CONTRAST TO DAVID DUKE.

BUT IT WAS A SCARY TIME TOO AND I REMEMBER THAT NIGHT OF THE DEBATE I WAS HERE.

>>: I ASKED YOU TO COMMENT.

>>: I WAS ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE BECAUSE I AM A LARGE GUY KIND OF BE IN THE FRONT LOBBY BECAUSE THERE A HUGE CROWD SHOWED UP.

IT WAS KIND OF SCARY.

>>: AS A NEW FOUND CHRISTIAN A BORN AGAIN ARE YOU HERE WILLING NOW TO APOLOGIZE TO THE PEOPLE MINORITIES OF THIS STATE WHOM YOU HAVE SO VASTLY INSULTED SIR.

>>: 30 SECONDS.

OF COURSE I APOLOGIZE FOR THINGS THAT I'VE SAID THAT HAVE BEEN INTOLERANT AND IMPROPER.

>>: DO YOU RUEPUDIATE THE CLAN.

>>: ANY OTHER RACIST ORGANIZATION OR INTOLERANT ORGANIZATION THAT EXIST IN THIS STATE OR THIS COUNTRY.

I HAPPENING WE'VE ALL GOT TO WORK TOGETHER.

BUT YOU DON'T MAKE UP FOR PAST DISCRIMINATION BY BUTTING NEW DISCRIMINATION WITH THESE ATICKERRATIVE ACTIONER PROGRAM AND POLICY.

NOT JUST THE WHITE COMMUNITY.

VIOLENCE IN THE STREETS DIRECTED TO WHITE PEOPLE AND THE OTHER WAY AROUND LOOK MR. ROBINSON I DON'T THINK COWER RR REALLY BEING FAIR WITH ME.

>>: I DON'T THINK YOU'RE REALLY BEING HONEST.

>>: WELL YOU'RE DOING THE DEBATE HERE.

YOU'RE NOT ASKING QUESTION.

YOU'RE HERE TO PUT ME DOWN.

>>: MR.EDSWARDS 30 SECONDS.

>>: IN TEXAS AND IN IYEAH I THINK IT THE CLAN PEOPLE THERE ALREADY ANNOUNCED COMING DOWN TO HELP THEIR FRIEND MR. DUKE IF THEY COME I Y HOPE THEY DEBEHAVE THEMSELVES I MET WITH THE SHARE AND I TOLD THEM TO BE ON THE LOOK OUT IF THEY INDIMITATE OR GET IN THE WAY WITH THE ELECTION PROCESS THEY ARE GOING TO BE DEALT WITH HARSHLY.

LET ME SAY THIS MR. DUKE HAS GIVEN US 20IARIES OF HATE AND HURT.

IF HE'S NEWLY REFORMED LET HIM GO BACK TO THE COMMUNITY GIVE US 20 YEARS OF HEELING AND HELP.

THEN COME BACK.

THIS MAN HAS ATTACKED US FOR 20 YEARS.

NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN HE WANTS TO STOP THE ATTACKS.

HE WAS BURNING CROSS AND SCARING PEOPLE.

I WAS CREATING HOSPITALS.

I WAS IN A NATIONAL GUARD UNIFORM BRINGING RELIEF TO FLOOD AND HURRICANE VICTIMS.

WHEN HE WAS SELLING NATZY HATE LITTLETURE IN HIS LEGISLATIVE OFFICE I WAS PROVIDING FREE TEXT BOOKS FOR THE CHILDREN OF THIS STATE.

WHEN HE WAS WRITING PORNO BOOKS I WAS SIGNING ANTIPORN GRAPHIC LEGISLATION.

I HAVE BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS FOR A LONG TIME.

I HAVE A RECORD AND HE HAS A RECORD.

I SUGGEST TO YOU HE'S GIVEN US 20 YEARS OF HATE AND HURT AND I DON'T THINK HE'S EARNED THE RIGHT TO ASK YOU TO BE GOVERNOR.

LET HIM GO BACK TO OUR COMMUNITIES IF HE HAS A NEW FOUND RELIGION AND SPEND SOME TIME PROVIDING SOMEHEELING AND HEALTH TO OVER COME WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR ALL THESE YEARS GIVEN US THIS REPYEAHITATION TO THE NATION AND THE REST OF THE WORLDISM THEN AFTER AND SERVES MAN KIND WITH SOME HELP THEN LET HIM COME BACK 20 YEARS WHEN HE HAS MACURED AND SHONE US HE IS NEW PERSON.

MAY BE AT THAT TIME BE GOVERNOR OF OUR STATECH BUT UNTIL THEN DON'T LET THEM DIVIDE US.

SEPARATE US FROM THE REST OF NATION.

DON'T LET HIM MAKE A MOCKERY OF LOUISIANA.

THE PEOPLE OF THIS STATE NEED A GOVERNOR AS GOOD AS THE PEOPLE OF THIS STATE.

NOT SOMEONE WHO REPUTATION DESERVED OR NOT AROUND THE NATION IS ONE OF HATE AND DIVISION.

I DON'T WANT MY LOUISIANA TO FALL INTO THAT.

WE WENT DOWN THAT ROAD ONE TIME A LONG TIME AGO.

AND WE SUFFERED FOR IT FOR MANY DECADES.

WE ARE NOT LET DAVID DUKE TAKE US DOWN THAT SAME ROAD AGAIN.

NOT EVER.

>>: SO AS GOVERNOR FOUR TERMS NEVER ENDING INVESTIGATIONS AND FINALLY A CONVICTION AND OFF TO PRISON.

IT LOOKED LIKE THE END OF THE LINE FOR EDWIN EDWARDS.

BUT HE CAME OUT RENEWED AND WITH A NEW WIFE.

TREA SCOTT 51 YEARS HIS JUNIORIAN AND IN 2014 AT AN EDWARDS ROAST THE DRY HUMOR OF THE GOVERNOR WAS ON FULL DISPLAY AT MONROE TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE MUSEUM.

>>: THESE FELLOWS UP HERE ARE ALL MY FRIENDS.

WELL SOME OF THEM.

ROBERT ADLY, HE IS ALSO A PART-TIME PREACHER AS YOU KNOW AND A GREAT MANNISM ONE TIME HE ASKED WHEN HE WAA KID ASKED GOD FOR A BIKE HE STOLE ONE AND ASKED FOR FORGIVENESS.

NOW YOU LOOK AT ROBERT AND YOU THINK HE'S UNGLY YOU SAID HAVE SEEN HIM WHEN HE WAS A BABY.

HIS MOTHER USED TO BARROW A BABY TO GO TO CHURCH.

I REMEMBER THE LETTER YOU SENT ME ROBERT WHEN I WAS IN PRISON AND I REMEMBER WHAT I WROTE BACK.

WISH YOU WERE HERE.

ROBERT.

VERY SMART MAN.

I ASKED HIM ONE TIME IF HE KNEW WHO JOHNNY CASH WAS YES TOILET.

ROBERT, IF I EVER AGREE WITH YOU WE'LL BOTH BE WRONG.

WELL, ROAMER, GOVERNOR ROAMER, YOU SAID I SEE YOU SITTING THERE LIKE YOU'RE SOMEBODY IMPORTANT.

AND I MIGHT BE A GREAT POLITICIAN BUT YOU'RE A HELL OF ACTOR.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME I REALLY APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.

TRENEA AND I HAVE BEEN AROUND THE STATE IN VARIOUS PLACES ABOUT FIFTY TIMES SINCE MY VACATION.

I MOVED INTO GOLFING COMMUNITY SO I CAN PLAY GOLF AND I PLAYED ONE TIME.

I'M SO BUZZY AND I REALLY MEAN THAT I SOMETIMES FEEL LIKE GOING BOOK PRISON SO I CAN REST.

>>: SO HE IS JOKING ABOUT GOING BACK TO PRISON PEOPLE LAUGH EMBRACE LOVE HIM BUT JUST WOULDN'T VOTE FOR HIM.

>>: THAT'S RIGHT.

HE WAS STILL LOVED AND BELOVED BY MANY PEOPLE AND STILL VERY ENTERTAINING AND ALWAYS TURN A PHRASE.

BUT HE WAS NO LONGER ELECTABLE AND THAT SHOWED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO RUN FOR CONGRESS.

HIS DAYS OF WINNING ELECTION WERE LONG OVER.

AND THE DAMAGE HAD BEEN DONE.

BUT HE WAS STILL EDWIN EDWARDS THE GUY THAT WE CAME TO KNOW AND LOVE IN THE BEGINNING I GUESS YOU WOULD SAY.

AND STILL INTERESTING STILL INTERESTING TO THE MEDIA.

>>: AND I GUESS ONE OF THE THINGS I KNOW ABOUT HIM IS YOU ALWAYS FELT LIKE HE WAS GENUINE WHEN SHE WAS TALKING TO YOUISM ALSO THOUGHT THIS MAN WHO IS SO SMART IF HE ONLY WOULD TAKE ALL OF THESE AT TRUBUTTES AND FOCUS THEM ON GOOD IMAGINE HOW WONDERFUL HE WOULD BE AS GUNNER I THINK HE COULD DO THAT FOUR TIMES.

AND BUT THEN HIS TIME WAS UP DOING THAT.

>>: HE DID TELL US IN AN INTERVIEW PRIOR TO HIS FOURTH TERM THIS WAS GOING TO BE TERM HE WAS GOING TO RIGHT ALL THE WRONGS AND JUST BE GOVERNOR.

AND OF COURSE THAT DIDN'T WORK OUT.

>>: THE LAST THING HE EVER SAID TO ME WAS I WAS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BOBBY FREEMANS FUNERAL ACROSS THE RIVER AND EDWIN WAS THERE AND HE WANTED ME TO MEET HIS LITTLE SON WHO WAS SICK SIXD AND HE SAID COME MEET MY SON HE WAS SO PROUD OF HIM.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS SO INTERESTING.

>>: WELL IN DECEMBER OF 2019 A REPORT THAT EDWIN EDWARDS WAS GRAVELY ILL.

TURNED OUT NOT TO BE TRUE.

BUT IT DID FOR US AT LPB TO REQUEST A SIT DOWN A HURRIED SIT DOWN INTERVIEW AND HE SAID YES.

SO AS WE SAT DOWN HE ASKED ME WHAT'S THE REASON FOR THIS AND I SAID WE FIGURED YOU'RE NOT GOING TO ALWAYS BE HERE AND WE WANTED TO HEAR FROM YOU BEFORE THAT WOULD HAPPEN.

SO ONE OF THE LAST IF NOT THE LAST SIT DOWN INTERVIEWS WITH EDWIN EDWARDS AS CANNED AS EVER ITS NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE.

>>: WHAT'S THE MOST PROUD MOMENT OF YOUR LIFE.

>>: WELL OF COURSE HAVING MY CHILDREN IS VERY IMPORTANT AND ESPECIALLY MY YOUNGEST ONE WHO IS NOT SIX YEARS OLD BUT I'VE HAD MANY MANY GREAT IN MY LIFE.

>>: NAME A FEW OF THE TOP.

>>: WELL, I FINISHED LAW SCHOOL WHEN I WAS 21 YEARS OLD IN 1949.

VERY PROUD OF THAT.

I GREW UP ON A FARM WITH MY FATHER WITH A THIRD GRAD EDUCATION AS A SHARE CROPPER MY MOTHER WAS A LADY WHO HAD A SEVENTH GRADE EDUCATION A SELF TAUGHT MIDWIFE WHO DELIVERED OVER 1800 CHILDREN IN HER LIFE.

VERY PROUD OF THAT.

OF COURSE THE FACT THAT I'M THE ONLY FOUR TERM GOVERNOR SOMETHING I APPRECIATE VERY MUCH.

>>: WERE YOU CLOSE TO YOUR PARENTS.

>>: VERY CLOSE.

I HAD A VERY CLOSE RELATIONSHIP.

>>: YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

>>: ALL DEAD.

>>: ALL DEAD.

>>: I HAD A SISTER AND THREE BROTHERS AND THEY'RE ALL GONE.

>>: OUT LIVED ALL OF THEM.

>>: VERY CLOSE.

VERY CLOSE FAMILY.

>>: WE ARE TOO.

>>: THE CAJUN TRADITION.

>>: YOU'RE DESCRIBED AS COLORFUL, POWERFUL LEDGEDDARY.

IS THAT ACCURATE.

>>: WELL, I CERTAINLY WOULDN'T ARGUE WITH THAT.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>>: AS GOVERNOR THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT YOU DID WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?

>>: PROBABLY WRITING THE NEW CONSTITUTION IN THE 1970S.

THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT AND STILL SERVING US WELL TODAY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS.

FROM THE STAND POINTED OF FINANCING CHANGING THE METHOD BY WHICH WE COLLECT TAXES ON OIL AND GAS IS VERY IMPORTANT.

WHEN I BECAME GOVERNOR WE WERE GETTING 25 CENTS A BARREL.

I CHANGED THAT TO PERCENTAGE OF VALUE JUST LIKE THE NATURAL GAS WENT.

THAT BROUGHT BILLION OF DOLLARS INTO THE STATE.

65 PERCENT OF WHICH WAS PAID BY OTHER STATES USING OUR NATURAL RESOURCES.

OF COURSE THE SUPERDOOM IS A MUNIAMENT OF PHYSICAL ASPECT.

>>: EARLIER IN YOUR CAREER YOU THOUGHT YOU MIGHT BE PREACHER.

>>: I WANTED TO BE A COUNTRY AND WESTERN SINGER.

ONLY MY MOTHER THOUGHT I COULD SING.

AND THEN FOR A LITTLE WHILE WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER I WAS A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH AND A YOUTH MINISTER.

BUT I GAVE THAT UP AND DECIDED TO TRY SOMETHING ELSE.

I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO GO INTO BUSINESS WHEN I GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

SO I WENT TO COLLEGE WANTED TO GET AN EDUCATION SO I CAN FIND SOMETHING TO DO WITHOUT HAVING A BIG INVESTMENT.

AND THAT'S WHY I WENT TO LSU AND I WENT TO THE NAVY WHEN I WAS 17 YEARS OLD AND SERVED THERE A A PILOT.

BUT I DIDN'T HAVE TO FIGHT BECAUSE THE WAR ENDED BEFORE THAT HAPPENED.

BUT THEN I CAME BACK AND WENT TO LAW SCHOOL AND FINISHED WHEN I WAS 21 YEARS OLD 1949.

>>: YOUNG.

>>: AND I STARTED PRACTICING LAW IN COWLLY AND I RAN COUNCIL TWO TERMS CAUSE I DECIDED TO RUN FOR STATE SENATE.

WON THAT AND THEN I WENT TO CONGRESS FOR FOUR TERMS THEN GOVERNOR FOR FOUR TERMS.

>>: PREACHER VERSES POLITICIAN WHAT IT IS ABOUT POLITICS THAT WAS REALLY YOUR THING?

>>: IN MY OPINION THE ABILITY TO SERVE PEOPLE AND TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.

WHICH IS WHAT I LIKE.

>>: AND YOU DID.

>>: YEAH.

>>: WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WERE GOVERNOR NOW.

IF YOU LOOK AROUND THE STATE.

>>: CRY A LOT.

>>: IF YOU WERE GOVERNOR YOU WERE CRY A LOT.

>>: HARD TO DEAL WITH THE LEGISLATOR NOW.

I DON'T LIKE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WASHTEN OR HERE TOO MUCH ACROMONY BETWEEN PARTIES.

NOT A QUESTION OF DEM CRAFT OR REPUBLICLONG WHAT'S GOING FOR THE PEOPLISM TOO MANY TIMES THAT DOZEN COME UP FIRST.

>>: ALL YOU GET IS DEM GRAT OR REPUBLICAN AND THE GULF IS WIDE.

>>: AND ONE GROUP WANTS THE OTHER GROUP DOESN'T WANT AUTOMATICALLY.

SAD.

>>: HOW WOULD YOU DEAL WITH THAT?

IF YOU WERE IN THAT POSITION AGAIN.

>>: WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER TO THAT IS.

ONE THING IS, TWO THINGS.

ONE REDISTRICTING IS BAD BECAUSE NOW THE LEGISLATORS HAVE MADE DISTRICT THEY SERVE ONE SECTION AND LEAVE EVERYBODY OUT AND ITS BETTER IF YOU HAVE A DISTRICT WHERE THE LEGISLATOR REPRESENTS BLACK AND WHITE BECAUSE THEN HE HAS TO ADDRESS EVERYTHING.

BUT NOW SOME LEGISLATORS HAVE NOTHING BUT REPUBLICAN, CONSERVATIVES SOME HAVE ONLY LIBEERAL AND THEY DON'T SEEM TO CARE ABOUT THE REST.

THAT'S NOT GOOD.

>>: WAS GOVERNOR YOUR FAVORITE POLITICAL ROLE.

>>: YES.

GAVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THINGS.

AND I LIKE THAT.

>>: RIGHT.

>>: I WAS IN CONGRESS AND STATE LEGISLATOR BUT THINGS MOVE TOO SLOW.

>>: HOW DO YOU RATE SOME OF THE GOVERNORS OF THE PAST.

WHICH ONES DO YOU REMEMBER THE ONES WHO DID THE PEOPLE VERSES MAY BE WE'RE NOT EFFECTIVE.

>>: EVERY ONE OF THEM HAS CHALLENGES TO MEET.

THE TWO THAT DID THE WORST WERE JINDAL AND ROAMER.

BUT THEY DID WHAT THEY COULD ADD THE TIME.

I'M NOT GOING TO CRITICIZE THEM BECAUSE I WAS IN PRISON MOST OF THE TIME WHEN THEY WERE GOVERNOR.

I DON'T THINK WHAT THE PROBLEMS WERE.

BUT JINDAL I THINK WAS A HORRIBLE GOVERNOR AND SPENT ALL HIS TIME RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.

>>: WHAT ELSE DID YOU DO.

>>: I HAD A LOT OF CAR SPONDENCE AND HAD TO WRITE HIM BACK.

I ALSO DID A LOT OF EXSIZING AND TRY KEEP HEALTHY.

BUT I SPENT A LOT OF TIME THE CHIEF LIBE RAYIAN.

SPENT A LOT OF TIME HELPING SOME OTHER INMATES WHO DIDN'T HAVE AN EDUCATION GET A GED.

>>: HOADO YOU LOOK BOOK ALT THOSE DAY.

>>: THE ONLY REAL UNFAIR THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME.

THE WHOLE THING WAS A DISASTER.

ILL CONCEIVED AN EFFORT BY THE PART OF OVER ZEALOUS PROSECUTORS AND A BIAS JUDGE.

THEY TRIED ME FOUR TIMES AND WHEN I HAD A FAIR JUDGE THEY COULDN'T GET ANY VOTES.

BUT THIS JUDGE WAS SO BENT ON GETTING ME CONVICTED THAT WHEN YOU FOUND OUT PEOPLE ON THE JURY TRYING TO ACQUIT HE HE IDENTIFIED ONE OF THEM AND QUICKED HIM OFF THE JURY AND ALLOWED 11 PEOPLE OUT OF THE JURY POOL TO CONVICT ME.

THE ONLY TIME IN AMERICA HISTORY IN THE NATIONAL IN THE FEDERAL SYSTEM THAT A PERSON WAS CONVICTED OF A MAJOR CRIME WITH LESS THAN A 12 PERSON VOTE.

BUT IT WAS DONE AND I HAD TO LIVE WITH IT.

AND I DID.

I SURVIVED.

>>: YOU SURVIVED.

>>: YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING HAS, IF IT WERE NOT TO THE FACT IS THEY SENT ME TO PRISON I WOULD NEVER MET TRENE SPA I WOULDN'T HAVE A BABY WHO IS MY PRIDE AND JOY.

BY THE WAY, THE JUDGE IS DEAD AND THE PROSECUTORS ALL HAD TO RESIGN IN EMBARRASSMENT FOR THINGS THEY DID AFTER THEY CONVICTED ME.

>>: WHAT IS SOMETHING ABOUT EDWIN EDWARDS THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT?

>>: I DON'T KNOW, BUT.

>>: MOST PEOPLE WILL SAY THEY KNOW YOU BUT NO ONE EVER KNOWS.

>>: I'M A VERY COMPLEX PERSON.

I HAVE MULTIPLE PHASES OF MY LIFE.

BUT I LIKE TO TELL ME HONESTLY THAT I LIVED TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE.

AND I FEEL A GREAT DEAL OF SATISFACTION HELPING SOMEBODY.

THIS MORNING I WENT TO GIVE BLOOD AND THE NURSE WHOSE ABOUT FIFTY YEARS OLD TOLD ME YOU KNOW I DON'T REMEMBER WHEN I WAS 14 YEARS OLD I WORKED FOR A PERSON THAT WAS SELLING FIRE WORKS.

AND WE OPEN BEFORE THE SEASON AND WE WERE TOLD NOT TO OPEN THE DOORS AND SHE MADE ME OPEN THEM ANYHOW AND A DEPUTY SHARE ARRESTED ME AND HAND CUFFED ME AND SAID YOU WERE GOVERNOR AT THE TIME AND SOME REASON YOU CAME INTO THE LOT AND SAW WHAT WAS HAPPENING YOU TALKED TO THE OFFICER AND HE LET ME GO.

I'LL NEVER FORGET THAT.

NOW 40 YEARS AGO.

EVERY DAY I MEET SOMEBODY THAT I HELPED THAT I DON'T REMEMBER ANYTHING ABOUT BUT I'M GLAD I DID.

CAN YOU IMAGINE 14 YEARS OLD BEING PUT IN HAND CUFFS.

>>: 14 YEAH.

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR FAITH.

>>: I'VE GONE THROUGH MORTSIS I GUESS I WAS A YOUTH MINISTER VERY INVOLVED IN THAT BORN AND REARED A CATHOLIC BUT WE LIVED WAY OUT IN THE COUNTRY POOR PEOPLE WHO COULDN'T GO TO CHURCH SO I NEVER GOT VERY MUCH INTO THE CATHOLIC RELIGION.

WHEN I MARRIED ELAINE I REESTABLISHED MY CATHOLICISM BUT THEN AFTER A WHILE WE GOT AWAY FROM IT.

RIGHT NOW I REALLY DON'T GET MUCH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT MY FAITH IS.

I'M NOT QUITE SURE ABOUT ANYTHING AND SO I TRY NOT TO TELL PEOPLE WHAT TO DO.

>>: WHAT DO YOU TELL YOURSELF TO DO?

>>: I'M VERY COMFORTABLE WITH MY LIFE.

I NEVER CHEATED ANYBODY.

IN MY WHOLE LIFE.

NEVER HAD A FIST FIGHT.

NEVER HIT ANYBODY.

AND NEVER DIBERATELY HURT ANYBODY AND I FEEL VERY GOOD ABOUT THAT.

I TELL MYSELF JUST BEHAVE YOURSELF TAKE CARE OF OTHER PEOPLE AND DO WHAT YOU CAN AND MAKE LIFE BETTER FOR OTHER PEOPLE AND THAT'S WHAT I DO.

>>: HOW DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO REMEMBER YOU.

>>: AS SOMEONE WHO CARED.

>>: SIMPLE AS THAT.

>>: SIMPLE AS THAT.

I CARED AND YOU KNOW I NEVER FORGOT WHERE I CAME FROM.

I KNOW WHAT ITS LIKE TO BE POOR AND WORRYING ABOUT THE FUTURE AND I TRY TO HELP PEOPLE TO MAKE THEIR LIFE MORE PRESENT.

I'M VERY LUCKY I'M 92 AND HALF YEARS OLD I HAVE ALL MY TEETH I CAN READ AND WRITE AND DRIVE WITHOUT GLASSES I SLEEP WELL AT NIGHT EAT WHAT I WANT I'M VERY BLESSED.

>>: BLESS TODAY BE TILE TALK TO YOU.

>>: THANK YOU.

>>: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>: GOOD.

>>: APPRECIATE IT.

>>: TO SEE MORE OF MY FULL INTERVIEW GO TO LA DIGITAL ME YALD .ORG YOU WILL FIND THE VIDEO PLUS FULL LENGTH CLIPS AND MORE WE DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO BRING YOU.

A VIRTUAL TREASURE-TROVE OF LOUISIANA HISTORY AND BOB AND BETH THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR UNIQUE INSIGHT IN BEING THERE.

>>: IT WAS GREAT TO BE HERE AND I WOULD SUM EVERYTHING UP ABOUT EDWIN EVIDENCE FROM A PERSONAL VIEW POINT HE WAS PROBABLY OR IS THE MOST CHARACTER MASTIC CONFUSING AND SOMETIMES CONFOUNDING PEOPLE THAT I EVER COVERED AS A JOURNALIST.

>>: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

SURE APPRECIATE IT.

AND THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH.

I'M MORROW LPB STUDIO IN BATON ROUGE.

GOOD NIGHT AND STAY SAFE.