Bob Graham
Bob Graham | |
|---|---|
 | |
| United States Senator from Florida | |
| In office January 3, 1987 – January 3, 2005 | |
| Preceded by | Paula Hawkins |
| Succeeded by | Mel Martínez |
| Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee | |
| In office June 6, 2001 – January 3, 2003 | |
| Preceded by | Richard Shelby |
| Succeeded by | Pat Roberts |
| 38th Governor of Florida | |
| In office January 2, 1979 – January 3, 1987 | |
| Lieutenant | Wayne Mixson |
| Preceded by | Reubin Askew |
| Succeeded by | Wayne Mixson |
| Member of the Florida Senate from the 33rd district 48th (1970–1972) | |
| In office November 3, 1970 – November 7, 1978 | |
| Preceded by | Richard Stone |
| Succeeded by | John A. Hill |
| Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 105th district Dade County, Group 16 (1966–1967) | |
| In office November 8, 1966 – November 3, 1970 | |
| Preceded by | District established |
| Succeeded by | Sherman Winn |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Daniel Robert Graham November 9, 1936 Coral Gables, Florida, U.S. |
| Died | April 16, 2024 (aged 87) Gainesville, Florida, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Adele Khoury (m. 1959) |
| Children | 4, including Gwen |
| Education | University of Florida (BA) Harvard University (JD) |
| Signature |  |
Daniel Robert "Bob" Graham (November 9, 1936 – April 16, 2024) was an American politician. He was a well known member of the Democratic Party.
Graham has never lost an election. His career started with being a state legislator (Representative 1966-1969, and Senator 1971-1979).
Career[change | change source]
Early career[change | change source]
In 1978 he was elected Governor of Florida. His Lt. Governor was Wayne Mixson. Graham was reelected in 1982, when he won 65% over a Republican candidate, Skip Bafalis.
He was a popular Governor. He did much to protect the environment. He also oversaw restart of state executions (as first time since 1964), when 16 people were electrocuted. The first of them, John Spenkelink, was the first to die in the electric chair since 1966 in the United States. He was the second to be executed since 1967 (after Gary Gilmore in Utah in January 1977).
Later career[change | change source]
Graham was elected to the United States Senate in 1986, defeating sitting Senator Paula Hawkins. He served as Senator from 1985 to 2005, when he retired. He resigned from governorship on January 3, 1985, three days before the swearing-in of the governor-elect, Republican Robert Martinez. For this time Mixson assumed his duties, making him the shortest serving governor in Florida history.
From 2001 to 2003 Graham was a chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.
Graham voted in 2002 against intervention in Iraq.
Presidential campaign[change | change source]
In early 2003 he decided to run for President but, after poor results in an opinion polls, he resigned and later supported John Kerry, who won the Democratic nomination. He was regarded as possible Kerry Vice Presidential candidate, but Kerry chose John Edwards.
Death[change | change source]
Graham died on April 16, 2024 in a retirement community in Gainesville, Florida from problems caused by a stroke, aged 87.[1]
Personal life[change | change source]
He was born in Dade County (now Miami-Dade County). He married Adele Khoury in 1959.
References[change | change source]
- ↑ "Bob Graham, former Florida governor and U.S. senator with a common touch, dies at 87". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
| Came before: Reubin Askew |
Governor of Florida 1979-1987 |
Came after: Wayne Mixson |
| Came before: Paula Hawkins |
U.S. Senator from Florida 1987-2004 |
Came after: Mel Martinez |