Mickey Edwards facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mickey Edwards
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| Chair of the House Republican Policy Committee | |
| In office January 3, 1989 – January 3, 1993 |
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| Leader | Bob Michel |
| Preceded by | Jerry Lewis |
| Succeeded by | Henry Hyde |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma's 5th district |
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| In office January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1993 |
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| Preceded by | John Jarman |
| Succeeded by | Ernest Istook |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Marvin Henry Yanowsky
July 12, 1937 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. He served as a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives. He represented Oklahoma's 5th congressional district from 1977 to 1993.
After leaving Congress, Edwards became a teacher at Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Law School. He also worked as a commentator for NPR. He was a founding trustee of The Heritage Foundation. He also led the American Conservative Union.
Over time, Edwards became a critic of the Republican Party. He left the party in 2021. Since then, he has supported Democratic presidential candidates.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Mickey Edwards was born on July 12, 1937, in Cleveland, Ohio. He studied journalism at the University of Oklahoma. He earned his bachelor's degree in 1958. Later, he earned a law degree from Oklahoma City University School of Law in 1969. He became a lawyer in Oklahoma in 1970.
Before becoming a politician, Edwards worked as a reporter. He was an editor at the Oklahoma City Times from 1958 to 1963. He also worked in advertising and public relations. From 1968 to 1973, he was a magazine editor. He also taught law and journalism.
Political Career
Edwards became interested in politics during college. He joined the Young Republicans at the University of Oklahoma. He was chairman of the Oklahoma City Young Republicans. Then he became chairman of the Oklahoma Young Republicans. He also served as national vice chairman of the Young Republicans.
In 1974, Edwards ran for the U.S. House of Representatives. He challenged the Democratic leader, John Jarman. Jarman had held the seat for 24 years. Edwards spent very little money on his campaign. Despite this, he came close to winning.
Jarman later switched to the Republican Party. He did not run for re-election in 1976. That year, Edwards won the Republican nomination. He then narrowly defeated the Democratic candidate, Tom Dunlap. Edwards became the first Republican to represent this district in over 50 years.
During his 16 years in Congress, Edwards served on important committees. These included the House Budget and Appropriations committees. He was also a leader in the Republican Party. He chaired the House Republican Policy Committee.
In 1992, Edwards lost his re-election bid in the Republican primary. This was largely due to issues with his bank account at the House of Representatives. He finished third, and Ernest Istook won the election.
Public Service and Views
Edwards helped start The Heritage Foundation. He also served as the national chairman of the American Conservative Union. He worked with other leaders to protect judicial independence. He also worked on limiting the use of constitutional amendments.
He was part of a group that advised Ronald Reagan's 1980 presidential campaign. Edwards has also worked with the Brookings Institution. This group studies public policy.
Over the years, Edwards's political views changed. In 2008, he voted for Barack Obama. In 2020, he supported Joe Biden for president. He left the Republican Party in 2021. He said the party had changed too much. He then supported Kamala Harris in 2024.
Academic Career
After leaving Congress, Edwards taught at Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Law School. He taught there for 11 years. He was the first John Quincy Adams Lecturer in Legislative Politics. He taught courses on Congress and political leadership.
Students at the Kennedy School chose him as the outstanding teacher in 1997. He also taught as a visiting professor at Georgetown University. Edwards was also a lecturer at Princeton University. He taught courses on elections and the Constitution.
As of 2009, Edwards teaches at The George Washington University. He teaches about national security and U.S. foreign policy.
Author and Commentator
Mickey Edwards is known for his political commentary. He was a regular voice on NPR's All Things Considered. His articles have appeared in major newspapers. These include the Chicago Tribune and Los Angeles Times. He has also written for The New York Times and The Washington Post.
He is also a well-known public speaker. He has given talks at many universities. These include Boston College, Tulane University, and Duke University.
Edwards has written several books. Some of his books include "The Modern Conservative Movement" (2006) and "Reclaiming Conservatism" (2008). His latest book is "The Parties Vs. the People: How to Turn Republicans and Democrats into Americans" (2012).
In 2009, Edwards criticized the Republican Party. He felt they were not paying enough attention to certain issues. He also writes for The Bulwark. This is a news and opinion website. In 2021, he wrote an article explaining why he left the Republican Party.
Personal Life
Mickey Edwards was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He spent his early years in Oklahoma City. His father managed a shoe store there.
Edwards has been married five times. He is currently married to Elizabeth A. Sherman. She is a professor of politics at American University. Edwards is Jewish. He has three children and four grandchildren.
See also
- List of Jewish members of the United States Congress
