Four-term La governor Edwin Edwards brought riverboat gambling to the state

Edwin Edwards
Originally uploaded by Mark Donoghue's Autographs

In a move that resembles the economic development energy created by NY governore DeWitt Clinton's Erie Canal, La gov Edwin Edwards pushed riverboat gambling. I think that on balance it has done the state more good than harm.

Edwards lack of ethics as governor led to a 10-year term in prison for racketeering, says Wikipedia.

In a move that more closely resembles the Erie Canal development, US senator J Bennett Johnston promoted billions in spending on locks and dams for the Red River. The idea was to stabilize the river waters, promote barge traffic and the buidling of warehouses and factories alongside the Red. The spending has been called a boondoggle by Time magazine.