Bob Graham

Daniel Robert "Bob" Graham (November 9, 1936 – April 16, 2024) was an American politician. He was a well known member of the Democratic Party.

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 (1936-11-09)November 9, 1936 Coral Gables, Florida, U.S.
Died	April 16, 2024(2024-04-16) (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

Graham has never lost an election. His career started with being a state legislator (Representative 1966-1969, and Senator 1971-1979).

Career

Early career

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). In 1981, he pushed the Florida Legislature to eliminate motor vehicle inspections, after years of complaints from citizens stuck in their cars for hours in hot summer weather while they waited in line at poorly run State MV inspection stations.

Later career

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

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

Graham died on April 16, 2024 in a retirement community in Gainesville, Florida from problems caused by a stroke, aged 87.

Personal life

He was born in Dade County (now Miami-Dade County). He married Adele Khoury in 1959.

References

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