[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 106 (Thursday, June 28, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1444-E1445]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HAPPY BIRTHDAY GOVERNOR EDWARDS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOE WILSON

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 28, 2007

  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, Sunday marked the 80th 
birthday of James Burroughs Edwards of Mount Pleasant, SC, who was 
instrumental in the Reagan Revolution which transformed the political 
system of South Carolina.
  I learned firsthand his competence and integrity when I served as his 
assistant to organize the Charleston County Republican Party in 1964, 
when he selected me for the State Development Board in 1975, when he 
appointed me Congressional District chair for Gov. Ronald Reagan for 
President in 1976, and when he asked me to serve as Deputy General 
Counsel of the U.S. Department of Energy in 1981.
  I will always be grateful for the positive impact he has had for me, 
my family, and our region. This appreciation is evidenced by a birthday 
tribute by Ron Brinson published June 24 in the Post and Courier, of 
Charleston, SC.

               [From the Post and Courier, June 24, 2007]

      Former Governor Should Write a Book That Defines His Legacy

                            (By Ron Brinson)

       So I'm biased, but the facts speak for themselves. Jim 
     Edwards was a darn good governor and is a genuine public 
     leader with a knack for aligning principles and intellect to 
     the congeniality of a very nice man.
       Edwards celebrates his 80th birthday today, and, Governor, 
     I have a suggestion, sort of a reverse birthday gift--write 
     us a book. Your career and personal life include notable 
     public achievements. It's a story that offers life-lesson 
     insights about political patriotism and the values of 
     civility. Your memoirs could provide inspiration and 
     encouragement to others who might consider the path you took 
     to public service. It would define your legacy and serve to 
     control the rascals of revisionism in future generations. And 
     if you write it in your usual communicative style, it will be 
     an entertaining read about important stuff with many humorous 
     anecdotes. Please don't leave out the stories about the rock 
     barges and bootleggers.
       Jim Edwards could write several interesting books that 
     would link his Depression-era childhood, his World War II 
     service as a merchant seaman, his high-achieving college and 
     medical school days, a thriving oral surgery practice, and 
     then a public service career that included some unusual stops 
     and challenges. And, as he would quickly point out, along the 
     way he ``married well,'' and he and Ann Darlington Edwards 
     built a home, restored another and nurtured a comfortable 
     family life with their two children.
       Edwards assumed personal risks and economic sacrifices when 
     he answered the call of the political stage, and failure at 
     any point would have squandered his sacrifice. In practice, 
     his affability and humanism bracketed a huge intellect and 
     driving determination to accomplish the right objectives the 
     right ways. In political life, Jim Edwards didn't always win, 
     but folks who disagreed with him often walked away wondering 
     why.
       In the late sixties, he carved time from his busy 
     Charleston practice for leadership roles in the resurging 
     South Carolina Republican Party. He was elected to the state 
     Senate, then in a quirky stream of political drama in 1974, 
     he became South Carolina's first Republican governor since 
     Reconstruction. In 1981, he became U.S. Secretary of Energy 
     and did some heavy lifting--and took some political body 
     blows from The Washington Post--directing President Reagan's 
     ill-fated idea to eliminate the Department of Energy. In 
     1982, he returned to Charleston and began a 17-year tenure as 
     president of the Medical University of South Carolina.
       An important chapter in the Edwards book would be his 
     answer to the question, what motivates a highly successful 
     surgeon approaching middle age and with a growing family 
     toward the political arena? Political scientists would be 
     interested and future generations would find his motivations 
     relevant and inspirational.
       Think about just a few of the possible chapter topics in 
     the Edwards political career.
       An oral surgeon and raw rookie state senator, he defeated 
     Gen. William Westmoreland in 1974 for the Republican 
     gubernatorial nomination. The drama was only beginning. State 
     Democrats figured Edwards was simply the next token general 
     election candidate. Only 35,000 South Carolinians had voted 
     in the 1974 GOP primary; 341,000 cast ballots in the 
     Democratic primary runoff that nominated Charles ``Pug'' 
     Ravenel.
       After residency challenges eliminated Ravenel, Dr. Edwards 
     polled 266,100 votes and defeated Rep. William Jennings Bryan 
     Dorn by three percentage points. In a swirl of political 
     theater, Dr. Edwards suddenly became Gov. Edwards. Would Jim 
     Edwards have defeated Ravenel? It's hard to say, but Dr. 
     Edwards polled 79,000 more votes in the general election than 
     Ravenel did when he defeated Dorn in the Democratic runoff.
       As governor, Edwards and the small handful of Republicans 
     serving in the General Assembly got along well with the 
     Democrats who controlled the legislative process. Maybe they 
     had no choice, but there was a nurtured mutual respect and 
     civility even when their many disagreements were aired. In 
     contrast, these days, it seems, Republicans who control just 
     about every part of state government often have trouble 
     getting along with themselves.
       In 1975, Gov. Edwards vetoed appropriations for 1,600 new 
     state jobs. Many agencies through their heads and their 
     boards lobbied strongly. The veto was overridden. The nice-
     man governor struck back and with the support of Democratic 
     Sens. Marion Gressette and Rembert Dennis, and the Budget and 
     Control Board, Edwards pushed legislation that would prohibit 
     state employees to lobby the legislature.
       Edwards' marketing performance as governor has been grossly 
     under-appreciated. There were many successes, including 
     attracting the Bosch and Michelin operations to South 
     Carolina. Many believe these two industrial giants provided 
     the threshold for the BMW plant in Greer.
       In 1980, Edwards supported Texan John Connelly for 
     president, then ended up in President Reagan's Cabinet. It 
     seems like the citizen politician had turned master 
     politician. How did that happen? And was Reagan serious about 
     abolishing the Energy Department, and was Budget Director 
     David Stockman really as officious and bull-headed as many 
     working in Washington back then thought?
       At MUSC from 1982-1999, Edwards presided over dramatic 
     growth. The school's budget increased from $148.3 million to 
     $845.6 million. Dr. Edwards emphasized the school's 
     enterprise operations and the state subsidy dropped from 45 
     percent in 1982 to 15 percent in 1999. The school's image 
     soared and grant support increased nine-fold. The MUSC Health 
     Services Foundation assets grew from $6.8 million to $152 
     million. That's impressive management in the dynamic universe 
     of health care.
       These days Jim Edwards promotes Mitt Romney's presidential 
     campaign and tends to a variety of civic activities. 
     Occasionally, he works from a MUSC office area shared with 
     former Sen. Fritz Hollings. Imagine the fly-on-the-wall 
     entertainment when the governor and senator share their 
     experiences.
       All that and more would make an excellent book, Governor, 
     and maybe even a good movie. Too bad John Wayne is not 
     available as leading man. But you should be sure to include a 
     mini-chapter about the night you and Mrs. Edwards dined with 
     the Duke. Remember? He didn't eat his asparagus.

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