Former Florida senator and governor Bob Graham, who rose to national prominence as chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee after the 2001 terrorist attacks and as an early critic of the Iraq War, died Tuesday at age 87, confirmed the family.
“We are deeply saddened to report the passing of a visionary leader, a dedicated public servant and, most importantly, a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather,” reads a statement posted on X by his daughter, the former Democratic congresswoman Gwen Graham.
Graham was a Democratic senator for three terms. He did not run for re-election in 2004 and was replaced by Republican Mel Martínez.
He ran unsuccessfully in the 2004 Democratic presidential election, with an agenda based on his opposition to the invasion of Iraq.
However, his candidacy was delayed by heart surgery in January 2003, and he was never able to gain enough support from voters, so he withdrew in October of that year.
President Joe Biden stated in a statement published by the White House following news of the death that Graham was a colleague, friend and devoted Floridian who dedicated nearly 50 years of service to his beloved home state and the country.
“Bob chose a life of service, rising from state legislator to governor, senator and presidential candidate. He and I served together in the US Senate, as respective chairmen of the Intelligence and Foreign Relations committees after 9/11 , working to heal a broken nation and to protect America in a changing world. Bob opposed the Iraq war on principle,” Biden said.
She recalled that the politician co-sponsored his “historic Violence Against Women Act, which transformed the way our nation responds to domestic abuse and sexual assault. He was committed to education and the environment, continuing the work he had started as governor to support public schools and universities, and to protect the water supply, wetlands and wildlife of the iconic Florida Everglades. He was full of humor and humanity, and I am grateful for the support he gave me. over the years,” the ruler emphasized.
Former President Barack Obama also wrote on his X account that “Bob Graham was a friend and a consummate public servant. As governor, senator and legislator, he spent decades fighting for the people of Florida.”
“He was also an environmental advocate, which is why, after the BP oil spill, I asked Bob to co-chair a commission charged with preventing a disaster of that magnitude from happening again. Michelle and I are thinking today about Bob’s family and everyone who knew and loved him,” Obama said.
The current governor of the Sunshine State, Ron DeSantis, stated for his part that “Florida today mourns the loss of former governor and US senator Bob Graham.”
“He was a devoted public servant who, among other important tasks, achieved enormous achievements in the conservation of Florida’s natural resources. We are grateful for his service to our state and nation. May he rest in peace,” he stressed.
