Bob Graham, former Florida governor and U.S. senator with a common touch, dies at 87

"He was a rare collection of public accomplishments and personal traits that combined to make him unforgettable."

""For 87 years, Bob Graham was so much more than really good."

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"Although Graham couldn't veto the budget language, he worked with then-Education Commissioner Ralph Turlington to get it declared unconstitutional."

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"Graham calmly insisted that capital punishment was the law and the governor had to carry it out when a killer's appeals ran out."

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"And Graham voted against authorizing the invasion of Iraq."

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"Bob Graham became class president at Miami High in the 1950s and was named "best all-around teen-aged boy" by the Miami Herald."

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"Critics on both sides accused Graham of trying to look tough and offset the "Gov. Jello" tag hung on him by the editorial board of what was then called the St. Petersburg Times in an unrelated matter."

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""From the roof, you get a new horizon," Graham said after working construction at a high school in 2003."

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"Graham was easily reelected, beating former U.S. Rep. Bill Grant of Madison in 1992 and Republican Charlie Crist in 1998, who himself would later be elected governor in 2006."

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"Graham was easily reelected, beating former U.S. Rep. Bill Grant of Madison in 1992 and Republican Charlie Crist in 1998, who himself would later be elected governor in 2006."

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"Graham, then 39, ran for the state House and began an undefeated political career of four decades.nn"

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"Lt. Gov. Jim Williams of Ocala was another strong contender and Graham's name recognition was in single digits."

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"He could have been appointed to a Cabinet seat when Education Commissioner Floyd T. Christian resigned in 1974, but Graham asked Askew not to choose him and the job went to Turlington, then a state House member."

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"He resigned to take his U.S. Senate seat on Jan. 3, 1987, and Mixson served the three days remaining in Graham's term."

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"They have four daughters, including former Tallahassee congresswoman Gwen Graham."

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""Graham used the campaign for governor to radically change his persona from D. Robert Graham, button-downed Harvard lawyer and millionaire dairy farmer and land developer, to folksy, down-home 'Bob,' " history professor Steven G. Noll wrote in the University Press of Florida's authoritative book, "The Governors of Florida."

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""Graham used the campaign for governor to radically change his persona from D. Robert Graham, button-downed Harvard lawyer and millionaire dairy farmer and land developer, to folksy, down-home 'Bob,' " history professor Steven G. Noll wrote in the University Press of Florida's authoritative book, "The Governors of Florida."

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"In 18 years as a United States senator, Graham was best known for chairing the Senate Intelligence Committee."

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"When I'm really good, they call me Super Doodle,' he liked to say," Gwen Graham wrote."

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"During his term, Graham also dealt with hurricanes and later put in a "work day" sawing limbs when Hurricane Kate blew through Tallahassee in 1985."

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"Although his critics called the work days a gimmick, after completing about 400 of them Graham reflected that they played a significant role in his political career and personal development.nn"

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"His predecessor, Gov. Reubin Askew, was the first to make a cameo in the Capitol Press Corps skits, but Graham made it an annual tradition -- performing with "mystery guests" ranging from Jimmy Buffett to the FAMU Marching 100.nn"

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"He decided against running for a fourth term in the Senate, yielding the seat to Republican Mel Martinez.nn"

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""u25b6Do you have memories, moments or photos you want to share about the life of former Gov. Bob Graham?"

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"The pocket-sized notebook is a detail in Graham's official Capitol portrait.nn"

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"But Hawkins could not withstand the sixth-year jinx so many presidents run into -- especially not ruing against Graham."

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"But Hawkins could not withstand the sixth-year jinx so many presidents run into -- especially not ruing against Graham."

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"A champion of civics: 'We must work together'Regarding education, Graham was always concerned that young people don't know enough about how government works."

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"Instead, Graham had decided to run for governor in 1978."

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""nnFor nearly 40 years in public life, Graham staged monthly "work days," working jobs alongside everyday Floridians ranging from short-order cooks and baggage handlers to drug-enforcement agents and Capitol Press Corps reporters."

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"In more solemn matters, Graham presided over 16 executions, including the first of modern times."

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"He went on to beat drugstore magnate Jack Eckerd, the Republican nominee, that November.nnFour years later, Graham's reelection would set an all-time record for governors."

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"His daughter, Gwen Graham, who was also in Congress, shared a family statement that Graham's favorite title wasn't governor or senator.nn"

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""As a wealthy Harvard-educated lawyer from Miami Lakes whose legislator father lost a bid for governor that kindled his son's early political interest, Graham skillfully balanced his aristocratic pedigree with a quirky common touch."

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"Bob Graham, perhaps the most peculiar and popular politician of modern Florida history, died Tuesday."

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"She lost a bid for governor in 2018 and went on to become an assistant secretary in the U.S. Department of Education under President Joe Biden."

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"The elder Graham was elected to the state Senate six days before his famous son was born."

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""nnThe work day strategy and TV advertising got Graham 53 percent of the vote in the Democratic runoff."

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"""Graham will be close to the top if not at the top when you think of great Florida statesmen," said Richard Sher, a political science teacher at the University of Florida, said in a 2004 New York Times profile."

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"Bob Graham: Son of an engineer who became a developer then a governornnDaniel Robert Graham was born in Coral Gables on Nov. 9, 1936, and grew up in South Florida."

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"In Bob Graham's farewell speech to the U.S. Senate, he summed up his approach to the problems facing public servants in times of increasing partisanship - an approach that would guide his post-retirement push for civics education in the classroom.nn"

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"Such popularity propelled Graham into a U.S. Senate race in 1986 against Republican Sen. Paula Hawkins of Maitland."

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"Such popularity propelled Graham into a U.S. Senate race in 1986 against Republican Sen. Paula Hawkins of Maitland."

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"Graham even published a children's book, "Rhoda the Alligator.""

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"The son of one school teacher and husband of another, Graham gravitated toward education in Tallahassee."

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