Filed under: News, Lynnette Khalfani-Cox
In recent years, Elizabeth not only battled cancer and became a high-profile advocate for health care reform in America -- she also braved a sex scandal and separation from her husband after John Edwards, a former Democratic Senator and presidential contender, admitted having an affair.
Consequently, Elizabeth's legacy will likely be seen in three distinct ways: politically, socially, and in terms of gender roles.
On the political front, those who know her say that Elizabeth was a powerful political operative in her own right and a keen strategist when it came to steering her husband's political career over more than two decades. Indeed, even after John Edwards lost his Vice Presidential bid and later sought the presidency in the 2008 presidential race, it was Elizabeth who reportedly urged him to aspire to the nation's top office despite a diagnosis from doctors that her cancer had spread.
Socially, Elizabeth Edwards was a strong proponent for health care in the U.S. and she often spoke out on the difficulties and economic challenges endured by people of less financial means than herself. She didn't just advocate for better access to health care for all Americans. She also spoke out about poverty in the U.S. in general. Elizabeth Edwards also talked a great deal about handling loss at so many levels. In her book, 'Resilience,' Elizabeth Edwards wrote of overcoming her first bout with breast cancer and surviving the death of her son, Wade, who had been killed in a car accident.
Despite all these personal tragedies, what will perhaps most remain etched in many people's minds was how Elizabeth Edwards, as a woman and a politician's spouse, dealt with her husband's affair. Rightly or wrongly, the spouses of politicians are often judged by the public and these individuals (mainly women) are remembered for how they contend with their spouse's successes and shortcomings. And in a world of supermarket tabloids, 24-hour news/cable shows and reality TV -- not to mention the instant impact of social network sites like Twitter and Facebook -- each and every decision by a politician's spouse is often considered fair game for scrutiny.
That was the case for Hillary Clinton when she and Bill Clinton went through the Monica Lewinsky saga. And it was certainly the case for Jenny Sanford, who famously left her husband, Governor Mark Sanford of South Carolina, after he admitted to having an extra-marital affair with journalist Maria Belen Chapur. So Elizabeth Edwards' legacy will no doubt also be analyzed at least in part based on her decision to part ways from John Edwards, even as she battled cancer. Such scrutiny is likely if only for what her convictions, beliefs and choices say about the roles of women and political spouses.
Initially, John and Elizabeth Edwards looked like they were overcoming the scandal, as John Edwards initially vehemently denied allegations he'd slept with a campaign videographer, Rielle Hunter. After denial upon denial, however, Edwards finally acknowledged not only the affair, but fathering a child by Hunter. Apparently, that was the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back for Elizabeth Edwards, and the couple separated in January 2010. In an interview on Oprah, Elizabeth Edwards said that by the time John Edwards finally came clean about his infidelity, she didn't just throw a fit. She said she also got physically ill. "I threw up," she told Oprah. "That was a really tough night."
Recently, Elizabeth Edwards had more tough nights. After taking a turn for the worst, doctors recently told her that medical treatment could no longer help her. It was only on Monday that Elizabeth made her last public statement -- on Facebook no less. She alluded to her days being numbered, but showed tremendous courage and faith. In her Facebook post, she said: "The days of our lives, for all of us, are numbered. We know that. And yes, there are certainly times when we aren't able to muster as much strength and patience as we would like. It's called being human. But I have found that in the simple act of living with hope, and in the daily effort to have a positive impact in the world, the days I do have are made all the more meaningful and precious. And for that I am grateful."
Elizabeth Edwards was at her Chapel Hill, North Carolina home upon her passing. In recent days, she was surrounded by family and friends, including John Edwards. Her family issued a statement shortly after her death saying: "Today we have lost the comfort of Elizabeth's presence, but she remains the heart of this family." The statement added: "We love her and will never know anyone more inspiring or full of life. On behalf of Elizabeth we want to express our gratitude to the thousands of kindred spirits who moved and inspired her along the way. Your support and prayers touched our entire family."
It is known that Elizabeth Edwards had a will and specified that her minor children would live with John Edwards in the event of her death, according to ABCNews.com.
Ironically, because of the timing of her death, Elizabeth Edwards's family will keep more of her wealth than it might otherwise have maintained had she died in 2011. There is no estate tax for 2010, so Elizabeth Edwards joins the ranks of several other well-known mulit-millionaires and billionaires (such as New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner), who passed away in 2010 and avoided estate taxes. In 2011, estate taxes are set to come back.
What are your thoughts about Elizabeth Edwards and what will you most remember her for?
Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, an award-winning financial news journalist and former Wall Street Journal reporter for CNBC, has been featured in the Washington Post, USA Today, and the New York Times, as well as magazines ranging from Essence and Redbook to Black Enterprise and Smart Money. Check out her New York Times best seller 'Zero Debt: The Ultimate Guide to Financial Freedom.'