name of lawyer who ran for president and his wife died of cancer

by Ruby Metz 10 min read

John Edwards
Spouse(s)Elizabeth Anania ​ ​ ( m. 1977; sep. 2010)​ (died before possible divorce)
Domestic partnerRielle Hunter (2006–2015)
Children5, including Cate
EducationClemson University North Carolina State University (BA) University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (JD)
12 more rows

What happened to Franklin D Roosevelt’s wife?

Roosevelt was at work in the New York state legislature attempting to get a government reform bill passed when he was summoned home by his family. He returned home to find his mother, Mittie, had succumbed to typhoid fever. On the same day, his wife of four years, Alice Lee, died of Bright’s disease, a severe kidney ailment.

Who was the lawyer who called in the Bilott case?

In August 2000, Bilott called DuPont’s lawyer, Bernard Reilly, and explained that he knew what was going on. It was a brief conversation. The Tennants settled. The firm would receive its contingency fee. The whole business might have ended right there. But Bilott was not satisfied.

What happened to Teddy Roosevelt’s wife Alice Lee?

Only two days before her death, Alice Lee had given birth to the couple’s daughter, Alice. The double tragedy devastated Roosevelt. He ordered those around him not to mention his wife’s name.

What happened to Joe Biden's wife?

He was not convicted of a crime, but the revelation that he engaged in an extramarital affair and fathered a child while his wife, Elizabeth, was dying of cancer gravely damaged his public image and ended his career in politics.

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Is Elizabeth Edwards still alive?

December 7, 2010Elizabeth Edwards / Date of death

Is John Edwards married?

Elizabeth EdwardsJohn Edwards / Spouse (m. 1977–2010)Mary Elizabeth Anania Edwards was an American attorney, author, and health care activist. She was married to John Edwards, the former U.S. Senator from North Carolina who was the 2004 United States Democratic vice-presidential nominee. Wikipedia

Who was Elizabeth Edwards husband?

John EdwardsElizabeth Edwards / Husband (m. 1977–2010)

Who was John Kerry's running mate?

On the morning of July 6, 2004, Kerry announced the selection of John Edwards as his running mate.

Where's John Edwards now?

Edwards is now a personal injury lawyer in Pitt County, North Carolina.

Who is John Edwards daughter?

Frances Quinn HunterCate EdwardsEmma Claire EdwardsJohn Edwards/Daughters

Who is Jonathan Edwards wife?

Sarah EdwardsJonathan Edwards / Wife (m. 1727–1758)Sarah Edwards was an American missionary, and the wife of theologian Jonathan Edwards. Her husband was initially drawn to her spiritual openness, direct relationship with God, and periods of spiritual ecstasy. As a theological student at Yale, he had longed to have a personal relationship with God. Wikipedia

How old is Elizabeth Edwards?

61 years (1949–2010)Elizabeth Edwards / Age at death

Where is Elizabeth Edwards buried?

Oakwood Cemetery, Raleigh, NCElizabeth Edwards / Place of burialHistoric Oakwood Cemetery was founded in 1869 in North Carolina's capital, Raleigh, near the North Carolina State Capitol in the city's Historic Oakwood neighborhood. Wikipedia

Who ran for president in 2000?

The 2000 United States presidential election was the 54th quadrennial presidential election, held on Tuesday, November 7, 2000. Republican candidate George W. Bush, the governor of Texas and eldest son of the 41st president, George H. W. Bush, won the election, defeating incumbent Vice President Al Gore.

Why did Dick Cheney tell Edwards they had never met?

In the vice presidential debate, Dick Cheney told Edwards they had never met because of Edwards's frequent absences from the Senate, but that was later proven to be incorrect.

How many votes did Edwards get in 2008?

On January 8, Edwards placed a distant third in the New Hampshire Democratic primary with just under 17% (48,818 votes). On January 26, Edwards again placed third in the primary in South Carolina – his birth state – which he had carried in 2004, and he placed third in the non-binding January 29 vote in Florida.

What did Edwards do in 1984?

In 1984, Edwards was assigned to a medical malpractice lawsuit that had been perceived to be unwinnable; the firm had accepted it only as a favor to an attorney and state senator who did not want to keep it. Nevertheless, Edwards won a $3.7 million verdict on behalf of his client, who had suffered permanent brain and nerve damage after a doctor prescribed an overdose of the anti-alcoholism drug Antabuse during alcohol aversion therapy. In other cases, Edwards sued the American Red Cross three times, alleging transmission of AIDS through tainted blood products, resulting in a confidential settlement each time, and defended a North Carolina newspaper against a libel charge.

How much money did Edwards raise in 2003?

As Edwards had been building support essentially since his election to the Senate, he led the initial campaign fundraising, amassing over $7 million during the first quarter of 2003 – more than half of which came from individuals associated with the legal profession, particularly Edwards's fellow trial lawyers, their families, and employees.

What college did John Edwards go to?

A football star in high school, Edwards was the first person in his family to attend college. He attended Clemson University for one semester before transferring to North Carolina State University. He graduated from NCSU with high honors with a bachelor's degree in textile technology and a 3.8 GPA in 1974, and later earned his Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina School of Law (UNC) with honors.

How much did Edwards settle?

He filed at least twenty similar lawsuits in the years following, and achieved verdicts and settlements of more than $60 million for his clients. Similar lawsuits followed across the country. When asked about an increase in Caesarean deliveries nationwide, perhaps to avoid similar medical malpractice lawsuits, Edwards said, "The question is, would you rather have cases where that happens instead of having cases where you don't intervene and a child either becomes disabled for life or dies in utero?"

What was John Edwards's job?

He was also a consultant for Fortress Investment Group LLC. Following his 2008 campaign, Edwards was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 3, 2011, on six felony charges of violating multiple federal campaign contribution laws to cover up an extramarital affair to which he eventually admitted.

How many cows did Wilbur Tennant have?

Wilbur Tennant explained that he and his four siblings had run the cattle farm since their father abandoned them as children. They had seven cows then. Over the decades they steadily acquired land and cattle, until 200 cows roamed more than 600 hilly acres. The property would have been even larger had his brother Jim and Jim’s wife, Della, not sold 66 acres in the early ’80s to DuPont. The company wanted to use the plot for a landfill for waste from its factory near Parkersburg, called Washington Works, where Jim was employed as a laborer. Jim and Della did not want to sell, but Jim had been in poor health for years, mysterious ailments that doctors couldn’t diagnose, and they needed the money.

What did Dupont discover about PFOA?

By the ’90s, Bilott discovered, DuPont understood that PFOA caused cancerous testicular, pancreatic and liver tumors in lab animals. One laboratory study suggested possible DNA damage from PFOA exposure, and a study of workers linked exposure with prostate cancer.

What was the PFOA limit in 1991?

In 1991, DuPont scientists determined an internal safety limit for PFOA concentration in drinking water: one part per billion. The same year, DuPont found that water in one local district contained PFOA levels at three times that figure. Despite internal debate, it declined to make the information public.

What was the name of the substance that Dupont used in the landfill?

With the trial looming, Bilott stumbled upon a letter DuPont had sent to the E.P.A. that mentioned a substance at the landfill with a cryptic name: ‘‘PFOA.’’ In all his years working with chemical companies, Bilott had never heard of PFOA. It did not appear on any list of regulated materials, nor could he find it in Taft’s in-house library. The chemistry expert that he had retained for the case did, however, vaguely recall an article in a trade journal about a similar-sounding compound: PFOS, a soaplike agent used by the technology conglomerate 3M in the fabrication of Scotchgard.

Why was the dry run landfill named Dry Run Landfill?

DuPont rechristened the plot Dry Run Landfill, named after the creek that ran through it. The same creek flowed down to a pasture where the Tennants grazed their cows. Not long after the sale, Wilbur told Bilott, the cattle began to act deranged. They had always been like pets to the Tennants. At the sight of a Tennant they would amble over, nuzzle and let themselves be milked. No longer. Now when they saw the farmers, they charged.

What was the name of the chemical that was used in the PFOA?

Bilott hunted through his files for other references to PFOA, which he learned was short for perfluorooctanoic acid. But there was nothing. He asked DuPont to share all documentation related to the substance; DuPont refused. In the fall of 2000, Bilott requested a court order to force them. Against DuPont’s protests, the order was granted. Dozens of boxes containing thousands of unorganized documents began to arrive at Taft’s headquarters: private internal correspondence, medical and health reports and confidential studies conducted by DuPont scientists. There were more than 110,000 pages in all, some half a century old. Bilott spent the next few months on the floor of his office, poring over the documents and arranging them in chronological order. He stopped answering his office phone. When people called his secretary, she explained that he was in the office but had not been able to reach the phone in time, because he was trapped on all sides by boxes.

Did Dupont provide clean water to the communities named in the suit?

Not only had Taft recouped its losses, but DuPont was providing clean water to the communities named in the suit. Bilott had every reason to walk away.

Did Edwards have an affair with Rielle Hunter?

But it was during that presidential campaign that all of the drama, scandal and controversy would start: Edwards had an extra-marital affair with a woman named Rielle Hunter, eventually fathering a daughter named Quinn with her, while his wife, Elizabeth, was stricken with terminal breast cancer. She ultimately separated Edwards before she died, though not immediately — she stood by him after he admitted the affair, but when he confessed to fathering the child, she started divorce proceedings.

Who defended Edwards in court?

As the Los Angeles Times detailed at the time, attorney Allison Van Laningham defended Edwards in court as having "committed sins but no crimes," arguing that it was "humiliation he was trying to avoid all along.".

Did John Edwards cheat on his wife?

With his political career already in shambles, and considered a pop-cultural punchline and a cruel pariah for cheating on his gravely ill wife, Edwards then faced down criminal allegations that he misused campaign funds to try to cover up the affair with Hunter. He was indicted by a North Carolina grand jury, and faced six felony charges in 2012, as CNN detailed: conspiracy, four counts of illegal campaign contributions, and giving false statements.

Was Edwards's defense successful?

His defense team was successful in the end, however — they successfully argued that Edwards' actions might have been immoral, but not criminal. As the Los Angeles Times detailed at the time, attorney Allison Van Laningham defended Edwards in court as having "committed sins but no crimes," arguing that it was "humiliation he was trying to avoid all along." He was ultimately cleared on one count, received a mistrial on the other five, and was home free when federal prosecutors dropped the case weeks later.

How many children did John Edwards have?

The wronged wife of former presidential candidate John Edwards, who died last month after a courageous battle with breast cancer, left everything in her sole possession to their three children. (AP)

How long was John Edwards married?

Edwards was married for 33 years to former North Carolina Democratic Sen. John Edwards, who twice ran for President and cheated on her even after she was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

When did John Edwards run again?

The cancer retreated after surgery and chemotherapy and John Edwards decided to run again in 2008.

Was John Edwards mentioned in a will?

John Edwards was not mentioned even once in will - though his work as a trial lawyer generated the family's fortune.

What did John Edwards say when he was questioned?

When Edwards was questioned at a New Orleans event on July 23, he stated, "I have no idea what you're asking about. I've responded, consistently, to these tabloid allegations by saying I don't respond to these lies and you know that ... and I stand by that." On the same day, Hunter appeared on the television program Extra, describing the Enquirer story as "completely unfounded and ridiculous".

Why did Mickey Kaus not cover Elizabeth Edwards?

Mickey Kaus, a journalist at Slate, speculated that the lack of mainstream coverage was motivated by a desire not to harm Elizabeth Edwards, who was fighting cancer at the time. Kaus also considered the possibility of news organizations taking a "wait-and-see" attitude, pending the results of the 2008 Iowa caucuses.

Why was Elizabeth Edwards not covered?

Several prominent sites criticized the omission of information about the allegations, most notably Gawker.com. For instance, as of August 6, CNN had not mentioned the story and MSNBC had mentioned it only once. Several pundits stated that Edwards was "fair game" for reporting on the allegations because he had been recently identified as a potential candidate for vice president or attorney general for Barack Obama, and that Edward s himself had made his marital fidelity an issue in his campaign.

How long was John Edwards in jail?

On June 3, 2011, Edwards was indicted by a North Carolina grand jury on six felony charges. He faced a maximum sentence of thirty years in prison and a $ 1.5 million fine, or a USD250,000 fine and/or five years imprisonment per charge. The indictment came after the failure of intensive negotiations for a plea bargain. The agreement would have meant that Edwards would have been required to plead guilty to three misdemeanor campaign finance law violations, in addition to a six-month prison sentence, but would have allowed Edwards to keep his law license.

What happened to Edwards' wife after he admitted to the affair?

After Edwards's admission, his wife Elizabeth announced a separation from her husband, with an intention to file for divorce. When Edwards first admitted to the affair, he stated that Elizabeth was in remission from breast cancer.

Why was Hunter's web documentaries removed from the internet?

Representatives from the Edwards campaign stated that the material could not be used due to campaign finance law. Several days later, The Huffington Post reported that the videos had been reposted to YouTube by an anonymous user.

When did the Enquirer meet Edwards?

The team of Enquirer reporters encountered Edwards on the hotel premises sometime after 2 a.m. on the morning of July 22. According to Perel, Edwards, who was not a registered guest of the hotel, retreated from the reporters to a washroom, where he remained until being escorted from the premises by hotel security.

What did Pat Nixon do to help the Peruvian people?

After hearing about the Great Peruvian earthquake of 1970, which caused an avalanche and additional destruction, Pat initiated a "volunteer American relief drive" and flew to the country, where she aided in taking relief supplies to earthquake victims. She toured damaged regions and embraced homeless townspeople; they trailed her as she climbed up hills of rubble and under fallen beams. Her trip was heralded in newspapers around the world for her acts of compassion and disregard for her personal safety or comfort, and her presence was a direct boost to political relations. One Peruvian official commented: "Her coming here meant more than anything else President Nixon could have done," and an editorial in Peru's Lima Prensa said that Peruvians could never forget Pat Nixon. Fran Lewine of the Associated Press wrote that no First Lady had ever undertaken a "mercy mission" resulting in such "diplomatic side effects". On the trip, the Peruvian government presented her with the Grand Cross of the Order of the Sun, the highest Peruvian distinction and the oldest such honor in the Americas.

How many times was Pat Nixon on the top ten?

Pat Nixon was listed on the Gallup Organization 's top-ten list of the most admired women fourteen times, from 1959 to 1962 and 1968 to 1979. She was ranked third in 1969, second in 1970 and 1971, and first in 1972. She remained on the top-ten list until 1979, five years after her husband left office.

How did Pat Nixon help the White House?

Pat Nixon developed and led a coordinated effort to improve the authenticity of the White House as an historic residence and museum. She added more than 600 paintings, antiques and furnishings to the Executive Mansion and its collections, the largest number of acquisitions by any administration; this greatly, and dramatically, expanded upon Jacqueline Kennedy 's more publicized efforts. She created the Map Room and renovated the China room, and refurbished nine other rooms, including the Red Room, Blue Room and Green Room. She worked with engineers to develop an exterior lighting system for the entire White House, making it glow a soft white. She ordered the American flag atop the White House flown day and night, even when the president was not in residence.

What did Pat Nixon do as a first lady?

As First Lady, Pat Nixon promoted a number of charitable causes, including volunteerism.

What degree did Pat Ryan get?

In 1937, Pat Ryan graduated cum laude from USC with a Bachelor of Science degree in merchandising, together with a certificate to teach at the high school level, which USC deemed equivalent to a master's degree. Pat accepted a position as a high school teacher in Whittier, California.

What was the First Lady's goal as a volunteer?

One of her major initiatives as First Lady was the promotion of volunteerism, in which she encouraged Americans to address social problems at the local level through volunteering at hospitals, civic organizations, and rehabilitation centers. She stated, "Our success as a nation depends on our willingness to give generously of ourselves for the welfare and enrichment of the lives of others." She undertook a "Vest Pockets for Volunteerism" trip, where she visited ten different volunteer programs. Susan Porter, in charge of the First Lady's scheduling, noted that Pat "saw volunteers as unsung heroes who hadn't been encouraged or given credit for their sacrifices and who needed to be". Her second volunteerism tour—she traveled 4,130 miles (6,647 km) within the United States—helped to boost the notion that not all students were protesting the Vietnam War. She herself belonged to several volunteer groups, including Women in Community Services and Urban Services League, and was an advocate of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, a bill that encouraged volunteerism by providing benefits to a number of volunteer organizations. Some reporters viewed her choice of volunteerism as safe and dull compared to the initiatives undertaken by Lady Bird Johnson and Jacqueline Kennedy.

When did Pat Nixon see pandas?

Pat Nixon viewing pandas in a Chinese zoo in 1972.

What Is John Edwards Doing Now?

Michael Cohen’s recent admission brings back memories of Edwards’ indictment. So now, everyone wants to know where John Edwards is today.

Why was Edwards charged with campaign funds?

The former senator was charged with using campaign funds to conceal his relationship with his mistress from the public. The trial grabbed headlines in 2012. Edwards’ defense argued that most of the money was given as gifts by friends and was not entirely part of the campaign fund.

What was John Edwards accused of?

He was accused of using campaign funds to conceal his mistress. Edwards was indicted in 2011 and accused of covering up an affair he had while running a presidential campaign in 2008.

When did John Edwards run for president?

In his stellar career, Edwards was a vice-presidential nominee in the 2004 election and even ran a campaign for president in 2008.

Where did John Edwards start his law firm?

From these humble beginnings, Edwards worked in a law firm for several years before starting his own firm in 1993 in Raleigh, North Carolina.

When did John Edwards' wife die?

John Edwards’ wife passed away in December 2010. She legally separated from Edwards before her death.

Who was John Edwards' mistress?

John Edwards’ Mistress. John Edwards’ affair with Rielle Hunter reportedly took place while his wife, Elizabeth Edwards, was dying of cancer. Hunter gave birth to Edwards’ daughter in 2008. He initially denied that he was the baby’s father, but later admitted that he was, indeed the father of the child.

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Early Life and Education

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Edwards was born on June 10, 1953, to Wallace Reid Edwards and Catharine Juanita "Bobbie" Edwards (née Wade) in Seneca, South Carolina. The family moved several times during Edwards's childhood, eventually settling in Robbins, North Carolina, where his father worked as a textile mill floor worker and was eventually …
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Legal Career

  • After law school, Edwards clerked for federal judge Franklin Dupree in North Carolina, and in 1978 became an associate at the Nashville law firm of Dearborn & Ewing, doing primarily trial work, defending a Nashville bank and other corporate clients. Lamar Alexander, a Republican and future governor of and U.S. Senator from Tennessee, was among Edwards's co-workers. The Edwards f…
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Political Career

  • Policy positions
    Edwards promotes programs to eliminate poverty in the United States, including arguing in favor of creating one million housing vouchers over five years in order to place poor people in middle-class neighborhoods. Edwards has stated, "If we truly believe that we are all equal, then we shou…
  • Senate tenure
    Edwards won election to the U.S. Senate in 1998 as a Democrat running against incumbent Republican Senator Lauch Faircloth. Despite originally being the underdog, Edwards beat Faircloth by 51.2% to 47.0% — a margin of some 83,000 votes. During President Bill Clinton's 1999 impeac…
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Political Campaigns

  • Electoral history
    North Carolina United States Senate election, 1998 (Democratic primary) 1. John Edwards – 277,468 (51.39%) 2. D.G. Martin– 149,049 (27.59%) 3. Ella Butler Scarborough – 55,486 (10.28%) North Carolina United States Senate election, 1998 1. John Edwards (D) – 1,029,237 (51.15%) 2. …
  • 2004 presidential campaign
    In 2000, Edwards unofficially began his presidential campaign when he began to seek speaking engagements in Iowa, the site of the nation's first party caucuses. On January 2, 2003, Edwards began fundraising without officially campaigning by forming an exploratory committee. On Sept…
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Personal Life

  • Family
    While at UNC, he met Elizabeth Anania. They married in 1977 and had four children (Wade in 1979, Cate in 1982, Emma Claire in 1998, and Jack in 2000). Edwards also has a child out of wedlock, born in 2008, named Frances Quinn Hunter, conceived with his former mistress Rielle Hunter. Ed…
  • Residence
    In Washington. D.C. he lived in Embassy Row, 2215 30th Street. In 2004, he sold his house to the Hungarian Embassy to the United States.
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Return to Law Practice

  • Edwards returned to the practice of law after his political career ended. Together with attorneys David Kirby and William Bystrynski, he founded the law firm Edwards Kirby in Raleigh. His daughter Cate is the managing attorney of the San Diego office of the firm. Vidant Health and Pitt County, North Carolina, was the venue for Edwards's 2014 return to the malpractice arena.
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Bibliography

  1. Four Trials (with John Auchard) (New York: Simon and Schuster, 2003) ISBN 0-7432-4497-4
  2. Home: The Blueprints of Our Lives (New York: Collins, 2006) ISBN 0-06-088454-1
  3. Ending Poverty in America: How to Restore the American Dream, co-editor (New Press, 2007) ISBN 1-59558-176-6
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See Also

External Links