|  | John Edwards
A look at the life and political career of the Democratic presidential candidate from North Carolina:
(Photo: CBS)
|
|
| |
John Edwards is born in Seneca, S.C. His father, Wallace, works in textile mills and his mother, Bobbie, runs a small furniture shop and later works as a postal employee. |
|
| |
Edwards is graduated from North Carolina State University with an honors degree in textiles. He is the first person in his family to go to college.
|
|
| |
Edwards earns a law degree at University of North Carolina. According to newsaper reports, he wrote in a school paper at age 11 that "Probably the most important reason I want to be a lawyer is to help protect innocent people from blind justice the best I can."
|
|
| |
Edwards marries Elizabeth Anania who is three years his
senior. She keeps her maiden name until her son dies, at which time she legally changes it to Edwards. |
|
| |
Edward's 16-year-old son, Wade, dies in a car accident on his way to the family’s beach house in North Carolina. |
|
| |
Edwards is elected to the U.S. Senate, defeating D.G. Martin in the primary and incumbent Republican Sen. Lauch Faircloth in the general election, 52 percent to 47 percent. |
|
| |
In his first Senate vote, Edwards sides with Democrats in a failed effort to dismiss the case for President Clinton’s impeachment. He says he does not condone Mr. Clinton’s actions, but that House managers did not prove the case. |
|
| |
Republican Sen. Gordon Smith from Oregon compliments Edwards’s closing remarks during the Clinton impeachment debates. The trial is a boost for Edwards’ profile.
|
|
| |
Edwards fights for the Patients’ Bill of Rights, but is disappointed when the bill is adopted without a key amendment that would have given patients the right to sue HMOs and insurance companies for their mistakes. |
|
| |
Elizabeth gives birth to John Atticus Edwards, whom they call Jack. Atticus refers to the Atticus of ancient Rome, not Atticus Finch in "To Kill a Mockingbird."
|
|
| |
Edwards is on the short list of running mates for presidential candidate Al Gore. |
|
| |
Edwards is named People magazineEdwards is named People magazine’s "Sexiest Politician" in the annual Sexiest Man Alive issue.
|
|
| |
Edwards heads to Des Moines to speak at a Drake University Law School dinner, fueling the already loud rumors that he is considering a presidential run.
|
|
| |
Edwards pays the Iowa Democratic Party $65,000 for its database on voters in the state. The move is called a clear signal that Edwards is seriously seeking the presidential nomination.
|
|
| |
Edwards calls for the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, saying Iraq defied the UN and represents a grave threat to the U.S.
|
|
| |
The Washington Post publishes his op-ed piece, urging military authorization for Iraq. "The resolution should be strong and unambiguous. It would not be a blank check for the administration, but neither should it try to micromanage a war from Capitol Hill," he writes.
|
|
| |
Edwards is one of 77 senators to vote to authorize President Bush to use military force in Iraq, if necessary.
|
|
| |
Edwards announces the formation of a committee to explore a bid for the Democratic presidential nomination. He says, "I believe I can be a champion for regular people."
|
|
| |
Edwards calls U.S. policy in Iraq "confused and chaotic" and says the U.S. should involve the UN and NATO, ensure that the Iraqi people govern, and make it clear that we are not going to exploit their oil reserves.
|
|
| |
In the first test of the presidential campaign season, Edwards comes in second in the Iowa caucuses, behind Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass. |
|
| |
Kerry wins nine of 10 primary races, effectively running Edwards out of the race for the nomination. Edwards confirms to Dan Rather that he’ll drop out, which he does the following day. |
|
| |
Kerry, the Democratic presidential candidate, selects Edwards to be his running mate, calling the rookie senator a man who showed "guts and determination and political skills" in his unsuccessful race against Kerry for the party's nomination. |
|
| |
President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney are re-elected. |
|
| |
The former senator and Democratic vice presidential candidate announces that he's running for president in 2008.
|
|
| |
Edwards proposes a plan for universal health care. |
|
| |
The Edwardses announce a recurrence of Elizabeth's breast cancer at a news conference and say their campaign will continue. Elizabeth Edwards, 57, was first diagnosed with cancer in the final weeks of the 2004 campaign. |
|
| |
In Iowa, Edwards finishes in second place behind Sen. Barack Obama. Sen. Hillary Clinton comes in third.
|
|
| |
Edwards finishes third in Nevada. |
|
| |
In the South Carolina primary, Edwards finishes a distant third. The S.C. native won that primary in 2004. |
|
| |
Edwards bows out of the race for the White House, saying it was time to step aside "so that history can blaze its path" in a campaign now left to Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama. |
|
| |
Edwards admits to an extramarital affair while his wife was battling cancer. He denies fathering the daughter of the woman involved. Edwards told ABC News that he lied repeatedly about the affair with 42-year-old Rielle Hunter but said that he didn't love her.
 TimeLine: Learn more |
|
| |
Credits:
CBS |
|
|