Bob Graham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bob Graham
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Official portrait, 2001
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| United States Senator from Florida |
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| In office January 3, 1987 – January 3, 2005 |
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| Preceded by | Paula Hawkins |
| Succeeded by | Mel Martínez |
| Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee | |
| In office June 6, 2001 – January 3, 2003 |
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| Preceded by | Richard Shelby |
| Succeeded by | Pat Roberts |
| 38th Governor of Florida | |
| In office January 2, 1979 – January 3, 1987 |
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| Lieutenant | Wayne Mixson |
| Preceded by | Reubin Askew |
| Succeeded by | Wayne Mixson |
| Member of the Florida Senate | |
| In office November 3, 1970 – November 7, 1978 |
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| Preceded by | Richard Stone |
| Succeeded by | John Hill |
| Constituency | 48th district (1970–1972) 33rd district (1972–1978) |
| Member of the Florida House of Representatives | |
| In office November 8, 1966 – November 3, 1970 |
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| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Sherman S. Winn |
| Constituency | Dade County Group 16 (1966–1967) 105th district (1967–1970) |
| 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 |
Adele Khoury
(m. 1959) |
| Children | 4, including Gwen |
| Relatives | Ernest Graham (father) Phil Graham (half-brother) Katharine Graham (sister-in-law) |
| Education | University of Florida (BA) Harvard University (JD) |
| Signature |  |
Daniel Robert Graham (November 9, 1936 – April 16, 2024) was an American lawyer, author, and politician. He was a member of the Democratic Party.
Bob Graham served as the 38th governor of Florida from 1979 to 1987. A governor is the leader of a state government. After that, he became a United States senator from Florida, serving from 1987 to 2005. A senator represents their state in the national government.
Graham was born in Coral Gables, Florida. He studied law at Harvard Law School. After finishing school, he was elected to the Florida Legislature. He served in both parts of the state legislature. Later, he became governor and then a U.S. Senator. He also led the Senate Intelligence Committee.
After leaving politics, Graham worked at the Bob Graham Center for Public Service at the University of Florida. He also wrote several books, including a children's book called Rhoda the Alligator.
Contents
About Bob Graham
Bob Graham was born in Coral Gables, Florida. His parents were Hilda Elizabeth, a teacher, and Ernest R. Graham. His father was also a Florida state senator and a farmer. Bob was the youngest of four children.
His older half-brother, Phil Graham, was the publisher of The Washington Post newspaper. In 1959, Bob married Adele Khoury. They had four daughters. One of their daughters, Gwen Graham, later became a U.S. Representative from Florida.
Bob Graham went to Miami Senior High School. He was the student body president in his final year. He then attended the University of Florida, where he studied political science. He earned his law degree from Harvard Law School in 1962.
Political Journey
Graham began his political career in the Florida House of Representatives in 1966. He then moved to the Florida Senate in 1970. He represented parts of Dade County and Broward County.
His "Workdays"
A special part of Graham's political life was his "workdays." This idea started in 1974. A teacher told him that politicians didn't always understand what everyday people did. So, Graham decided to work a full 8-hour day at different jobs.
He worked as a bellhop, a tomato picker, and even helped build roads. He did this to understand the lives of the people he represented. He completed over 400 workdays during his time in politics. This unique approach helped him connect with voters.
Serving as Governor of Florida
In 1978, Bob Graham was elected as the governor of Florida. He was very popular, and his supporters were sometimes called "Graham crackers."
As governor, he focused on improving education in Florida. He worked to make the state's public universities better. He also helped create many new jobs in Florida. During his time, the average income for Floridians grew.
Graham also cared a lot about the environment. He started a big program to protect Florida's natural lands. He helped save thousands of acres of important land. His most famous environmental project was the "Save the Everglades" program. This program aimed to restore the famous Everglades wetlands.
When he left the governor's office, he was very well-liked. Many people thought he was one of Florida's most popular politicians.
Serving as a U.S. Senator
In 1986, Graham was elected to the United States Senate. He won reelection twice and served until 2005. He spent 38 years serving in public office.
Graham was a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee for ten years. He led this committee during and after the September 11, 2001, attacks. He also led the investigation into those attacks.
As the head of the Intelligence Committee, Graham did not support the War in Iraq. He believed it would distract from fighting real enemies. He voted against using military force in Iraq. He later wrote a book about intelligence matters called Intelligence Matters.
Graham had a unique habit: he kept detailed notebooks of his daily activities. He would write down everything, even small things like what he ate for lunch. These notebooks are now kept at the University of Florida library.
Presidential Ambitions
Bob Graham was considered as a possible candidate for Vice President several times. He also ran for President in 2004. However, he withdrew from the race before the main elections began.
After Politics
After retiring from the Senate in 2005, Graham spent time at Harvard University. He taught students about how to be good citizens. This experience inspired him to write a book called America, The Owner's Manual. This book teaches people how to get involved in democracy.
Graham then focused on creating a center at the University of Florida. This center, called the Bob Graham Center for Public Service, helps train future leaders. It also allows students to meet with important policy makers.
Bob Graham's health declined after a stroke in 2020. He passed away on April 16, 2024, at the age of 87.
Honors and Recognition
In 2006, the University of Florida gave Bob Graham an honorary doctorate degree. This was to recognize his public service.
In 2005, the Florida Legislature renamed the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in his honor. This bridge was rebuilt when Graham was governor. It is now called the Bob Graham Sunshine Skyway Bridge.
See also
In Spanish: Bob Graham para niños
