Mickey Edwards facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mickey Edwards
Chair of the House Republican Policy Committee
In office January 3, 1989 – January 3, 1993
Leader	Bob Michel
Preceded by	Jerry Lewis
Succeeded by	Henry Hyde
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma's 5th district
In office January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1993
Preceded by	John Jarman
Succeeded by	Ernest Istook
Personal details
Born	Marvin Henry Yanowsky (1937-07-12) July 12, 1937 (age 88) Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Political party	Independent (2021–present)
Other political affiliations	Republican (1958–2021)
Spouses	Sue Lindley Lisa Reagan Elizabeth Sherman 2 others
Education	University of Oklahoma (BA) Oklahoma City University (JD)

Marvin Henry "Mickey" Edwards (born July 12, 1937) is an American politician. For 16 years, he was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Oklahoma's 5th district from 1977 to 1993.

Edwards was one of the founders of The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. He also taught at famous schools like Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Law School. For many years, he was a regular commentator on NPR.

Later in his life, Edwards became a critic of the Republican Party. He felt the party had changed too much. In 2021, he left the party and has since supported Democratic candidates for president.

Early Life and Education

Mickey Edwards was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on July 12, 1937. He grew up mostly in Oklahoma City. When he was 19, he was seriously injured during a robbery but recovered after a few days in the hospital.

He earned a degree in Journalism from the University of Oklahoma in 1958. He later went to law school at Oklahoma City University and became a lawyer in 1970.

Before entering politics, Edwards worked as a reporter and editor for the Oklahoma City Times. He also worked in advertising and as a magazine editor.

Political Career

Getting Started in Politics

When Edwards was in college, he joined the Young Republicans. At that time, the Republican Party was very small in Oklahoma. Most voters and politicians were Democrats. When he first registered to vote as a Republican, officials tried to convince him not to, but he insisted.

Edwards became very active in building the Republican Party. He held leadership roles in the Young Republicans at the local, state, and national levels. His political work became so important to him that he left his job in journalism to focus on it.

Running for Congress

In 1974, Edwards ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. He challenged John Jarman, a Democrat who had been in office for 24 years. Edwards didn't have much money for his campaign, but he still received a lot of votes.

Two years later, in 1976, Jarman (who had switched to the Republican party) decided not to run again. Edwards ran for the open seat and won a close election. He became the first Republican to represent his district in more than 50 years. After that, he won his elections more easily as his district became more Republican.

Time in Congress

Edwards served 16 years in Congress. He was a member of important committees, including the Budget Committee and the Appropriations Committee. The Appropriations Committee decides how the government spends money.

He also became a leader in the Republican Party in the House, serving as the chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee. This was the fourth-highest leadership job for Republicans in the House at the time.

In 1992, Edwards lost his re-election bid in the Republican primary election. This was partly due to his involvement in the House banking scandal, a controversy about how members of Congress handled their bank accounts.

Changing Political Views

After leaving Congress, Edwards's political views began to change. He became worried about the direction of the Republican Party.

In 2008, he voted for Barack Obama, a Democrat, for president. He also supported Democrat Joe Biden in 2020. In 2021, after the attack on the U.S. Capitol, Edwards officially left the Republican Party. He said it had become "a cult" focused on Donald Trump. In 2024, he endorsed Kamala Harris for president.

Life After Congress

Teaching and Writing

Edwards on A Conversation With... in 2013

After his political career, Edwards became a teacher. He taught at Harvard University for 11 years. His classes were about Congress, politics, and the U.S. Constitution. He was even chosen by students as an outstanding teacher. He also taught at Princeton University and other universities.

Edwards is also a writer. He has written columns for newspapers like the Chicago Tribune and the Los Angeles Times. He has also written several books about politics and government, including:

• Hazardous to Your Health: A New Look at the Health Care Crisis in America (1972)
• Reclaiming Conservatism (2008)
• The Parties Vs. the People: How to Turn Republicans and Democrats into Americans (2012)

He is a contributor to The Bulwark, a news and opinion website that is often critical of Donald Trump.

Personal Life

Edwards is currently married to Elizabeth A. Sherman, a professor at American University. He has been married before. He has three children and four grandchildren. Edwards is Jewish.

See also

• List of Jewish members of the United States Congress