Bob Graham, a former governor of Florida and U.S. Senator has passed away in Miami at the age of 87. He led the Intelligence Committee after the 9/11 attacks and spoke out against the war in Iraq.
Bob Graham Florida Governor, Dies at 87
His family said he passed away on Tuesday in a message Gwen Graham, his daughter, shared on X.
The Florida Democratic Party said this about Graham’s death:
Bob Graham was incredibly important to Florida. He was a big figure in politics there, and he showed all the other politicians how to do things right, no matter which party they belonged to. He led a remarkable life, always helping others and staying true to what’s right. Our thoughts are with his family as they remember him and his amazing life.
Every Florida Democrat follows Bob Graham’s example. Let’s remember him by loving and serving Florida just like he did, with a sparkle in our eyes and a curiosity for new things.
Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava shared on X that he motivated a lot of people.
Graham was a Senator for three terms. He tried to become the Democratic presidential candidate in 2004 but didn’t win. He focused on saying no to the war in Iraq.
In January 2003, he had to have heart surgery, which postponed his bid. He didn’t get enough support from voters to catch up, so he quit in October. He didn’t try to get re-elected in 2004, and a Republican named Mel Martinez took his place.
Graham had a quirky habit of trying out different jobs for a day, like cleaning horse stalls or pretending to be an FBI agent, all for politics. He wrote down every little detail in his diary – who he talked to, what he ate, the TV he watched, and even his golf scores.
He stopped sharing his notebooks with the press when he ran for president briefly.
Graham didn’t support the Iraq war from the start. He thought it took attention away from fighting terrorism in Afghanistan. He also thought President George W. Bush didn’t have a good plan for what to do after the war in Iraq ended in 2003.
Graham said Bush got the U.S. into the war by making the danger from Iraqi weapons sound worse than it really was. He said Bush twisted the facts, which was a bigger deal than the issues that got President Clinton in trouble back in the 1990s.
Graham decided to run for president for a short time.
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In 2003, Graham said that the mess in Iraq is a problem made by only the Bush administration, and nobody else.
Bob Graham was a standout politician. Despite being a wealthy Harvard-educated lawyer, Florida voters didn’t see him that way. His political journey stretched over fifty years, starting with his entry into the Florida House of Representatives in 1966.
He then moved up to the state Senate in 1970, became governor in 1978, and held onto that position until 1986. Following that, he served three terms in the U.S. Senate, winning the first by defeating incumbent Republican Paula Hawkins.
Graham remained a favorite among Florida voters, winning re-election comfortably in 1992 and 1998. He kept a close watch on the state’s affairs, even while in Washington.
For instance, when Governor Jeb Bush and the Republicans in charge of the Legislature did away with the Board of Regents in 2001, Graham saw it as an attempt to politicize the state university system.
He spearheaded a successful petition drive to establish the Board of Governors, replacing the regents.
Born on November 9, 1936, in Coral Gables, Bob Graham hailed from a family involved in dairy farming. Despite his elite education and family background, he wasn’t afraid of hard work, having spent his teenage years doing farm chores.
His half-brother, Phillip Graham, held prominent positions in media until his tragic suicide in 1963.
Entering politics in 1966, Graham focused on education and healthcare during his time in the Florida Legislature. Despite some initial difficulties as governor, where he was nicknamed “Gov. Jello,” Graham proved his leadership through handling various crises effectively. He was also active in environmental causes, establishing programs to protect Florida’s natural resources.
After retiring from public service in 2005, Graham dedicated himself to promoting civic education and public policy. He was appointed by President Obama to investigate the BP oil spill in 2010.
Throughout his career, Graham was known for his “workdays,” where he took on various jobs to better understand the needs of Floridians. Even in retirement, he continued his advocacy for education and public service.
His daughter Gwen Graham posted a statement on X, reflecting on his legacy and impact.
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