Post by Webster on Apr 17, 2024 14:16:42 GMT -5
(The Guardian) Bob Graham, a veteran Democratic politician who served two terms as Florida governor, three terms in the US Senate, and ran for president in 2004, has died at the age of 87.
Known for his dislike of partisan politics, Graham enjoyed a career that spanned five decades. He was massively popular with Florida’s voters, and founded the concept of “workdays”, where he would join citizens in their daily life and talk to them about the issues that concerned them.
During 408 such days, Graham enjoyed stints as a housewife, boxing ring announcer, flight attendant and arson investigator.
He gained national prominence as chairman of the Senate intelligence committee in the aftermath of the September 2001 terrorist attacks, and as an early critic of the Iraq war that followed. He ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic party’s presidential nomination in 2004.
“We are deeply saddened to report the passing of a visionary leader, dedicated public servant, and even more importantly, a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather,” Graham’s family said in a statement.
Republicans Ron DeSantis, the current Florida governor, and Jeb Bush, governor from 1999 to 2007, were among those paying tribute on Wednesday.
Known for his dislike of partisan politics, Graham enjoyed a career that spanned five decades. He was massively popular with Florida’s voters, and founded the concept of “workdays”, where he would join citizens in their daily life and talk to them about the issues that concerned them.
During 408 such days, Graham enjoyed stints as a housewife, boxing ring announcer, flight attendant and arson investigator.
He gained national prominence as chairman of the Senate intelligence committee in the aftermath of the September 2001 terrorist attacks, and as an early critic of the Iraq war that followed. He ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic party’s presidential nomination in 2004.
“We are deeply saddened to report the passing of a visionary leader, dedicated public servant, and even more importantly, a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather,” Graham’s family said in a statement.
Republicans Ron DeSantis, the current Florida governor, and Jeb Bush, governor from 1999 to 2007, were among those paying tribute on Wednesday.