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John Edwards Wanted To Reinvent Himself In New York City
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Jul 13, 2011
Modified Jul 13, 2011
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By
Christopher Robbins
Published Jul 13, 2011
Modified Jul 13, 2011
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Give me your tired, your poor / your huddled masses yearning to be free. Give us your $400 haircuts / your sexy videographer / your adulterous, toothy grin.
Before he was indicted on federal conspiracy and illegal campaign contribution charges last month, John Edwards was reportedly headed to New York City to restart his life and remake his image. The Observer spoke to his would-be partner, attorney Arthur Schwartz, who said the two were planning on starting a public-interest law firm in the city, and that they had planned to hire City Councilwoman Letitia James. "We had bank loans lined up," Schwartz says, "He could never do meetings in New York before 11 o'clock, because he couldn't get on a flight before 9, because he had to take his kids to school at 8."
Edwards's reputation as a trial lawyer in North Carolina was impeccable, as he won million dollar verdicts in cases that were previously thought to be unwinnable. Naturally, New York would have been an excellent proving ground for his legal skills, and an ideal market to resuscitate his image. "Having the "vice president, er, Senator Edwards brought cachet" to the nascent firm Jones says, "Just having his name associated…would provide gravitas."
Ahhh, what could have been. Schwartz has continued without Edwards, whom he last spoke to in February, and his public-interest firm attempted to prevent one-time School Chancellor Cathie Black from receiving a waiver to assume her job. Would that 'ole Carolina Smile have gotten the job done?
Tagged
$400 haircuts
Democrats
john edwards
lawyers
PR damage control
statute of liberty
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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