Meet the 2025 FHPLA Student Ambassadors

Paige Murrill is a second-year graduate student in the Master of Public Health Epidemiology department. She graduated in 2023 with a B.S. in Microbiology and Cell Science from UF. She hopes […]

After Public Office (2005- present)

2005 – Florida Legislature names the rebuilt Sunshine Skyway Bridge the Bob Graham Sunshine Skyway Bridge

2005 – serves as Senior Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School of Government

2006 – establishes the Bob Graham Center for Public Service at the University of Florida

May 2008 – appointed by Congress as chair of commission to prevent weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and terrorism

December 2008 – issues WMD report “World At Risk” urging comprehensive national security enhancements

2009 – appointed by Congress as commissioner of the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission to investigate the causes of the economic and financial crisis of 2007-2010

2009 – publishes America, The Owner’s Manual: Making Government Work for You

2010 – appointed by President Barack Obama to chair commission investigating Gulf of Mexico oil spill and offshore drilling

January 26, 2011 – delivers oil spill commission results to senators, stating, “I believe this is the chance that we may not have again in the foreseeable future to make a significant movement toward restoring this critical part of our Nation”

2011 – in response to direction of 2011 Florida legislature, teams up with Nate Reed, Eric Draper and other key individuals to launch the Florida Conservation Coalition and unite the state’s conservation community

February 2012 – Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission concludes “the crisis was avoidable” and systemic changes must be made

2012 – calls for the reopening of the September 11 investigation, pushing for release of classified documents

January 2014 – visits Cuba with group sponsored by Council on Foreign Relations to investigate plans for offshore drilling

November 2014 – campaigns for passage of Florida Water and Land Conservation Initiative (Amendment 1); voters approve amendment by staggering 75% margin.

2016 – continues pursuit of complete transparency from U.S. government and international governments related to September 11 attacks

December 2020 – received 2021 Marjorie Harris Carr Award for Environmental Advocacy by Florida Defenders of the Environment

May 2021 – presented Michael V. Gannon Lifetime Achievement Award by the Florida Historical Society

2023 – received Outstanding Floridian Award presented with gratitude for exemplary service by The Florida Council of 100

April 16, 2024 – Daniel Robert “Bob” Graham dies of natural causes in Gainesville, Florida.

U.S. Senator (1987-2004)

1986 – elected to the U.S. Senate, defeating incumbent Sen. Paula Hawkins (R), 55% to 45%

1992 – reelected to the Senate over Bill Grant (R), 66%–34%

1994 – Florida Legislature passes the Everglades Forever Act, the outline for restoring the Everglades by improving water quality and hydrology of the Everglades from its headwaters near Kissimmee all the way south to Florida Bay; initiative became the largest intergovernmental landscape-level restoration project ever

1998 – reelected to the Senate over Charlie Crist (R), 63%–37%

June 2000 – introduces Restoring the Everglades, an American Legacy Act as part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan

October 2000 – U.S. Senate approves a new Water Resources Development Act that provides the first federal payment for a planned $7.8-billion Everglades restoration spanning more than three decades

June 2001 – appointed Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee

2001 – chairs the joint congressional investigation into the September 11, 2001 attacks

2001 – initiates a political action committee to propose Amendment 11 to the Florida Constitution, re-establishing a central board of oversight for the state university system; Amendment 11 passed with 61% support in 2002

October 2002 – voted against the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq, one of his proudest moments in the Senate

2002 – announced candidacy for President of the United States in the 2004 election

January 31, 2003 – underwent open-heart surgery

October 7, 2003 – withdrew his presidential candidacy

November 3, 2003 – announced he would not seek another term in the U.S. Senate

2004 – at request of fellow senators, publishes Intelligence Matters: The CIA, the FBI, Saudi Arabia and the Failure of America’s War on Terror

January 3, 2005 – retires from the U.S. Senate following 38 consecutive years in public office

Governor of Florida (1978-1986)

1978 – elected 38th Governor of Florida, defeating Jack Eckerd (R), 55.59% to 44.41%

1980 – delivers the nominating speech for the reelection of President Jimmy Carter at the Democratic National Convention in Madison Square Garden

1981 – Florida Legislature passes Save Our Rivers initiative, a $300 million program to buy up environmentally sensitive lands in key watersheds around the state

1982 – Florida Legislature passes Save Our Coasts initiative, a $200 million program to acquire Florida’s undeveloped coastal properties by the state park system

1982 – reelected Governor with 65% of vote, defeating U.S. Rep. Louis A. ‘Skip’ Bafalis (R)

1983 – Florida Legislature passes Save Our Everglades act, a restoration initiative championed by Graham; “What the Mississippi River was to Tom Sawyer, the Everglades were to my childhood”

1985 – impels the Florida Legislature to pass the state’s Growth Management law, requiring every county to implement a master comprehensive plan

1986 – left the governorship with an 83% approval rating

Early Life (1936-1965)

1952 – named Dade County “Best All-Around Boy” by Miami Herald

1955 – graduated from Miami Senior High School after serving as student body president

1959 – graduated Phi Beta Kappa from University of Florida

1962 – graduated from Harvard Law School

1962 – prior to entering public office, practiced law and served as an executive with the Sengra Corporation (family-owned construction firm) and the Graham Companies

Early Political Career (1966-1977)

1966 – elected to the Florida House of Representatives representing Miami-Dade County; reelected in 1967 and 1968

1970 – elected to the Florida Senate representing Miami-Dade County

1972 – reelected to Senate representing a redistricted area including portions of northern Dade County and southern Broward County

1972 – chairs the Senate Health and Rehabilitative Services Committee

1974 – chairs the Senate Education Committee

1974 – conceives of “Workdays” after spending a semester teaching a civics class at Carol City High School in Miami Gardens

1976 – reelected to Florida Senate

Bob Graham Center for Public Service

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