Bob Graham, a former US senator and two-term Democratic governor of the state of Florida, passed away at the age of 87, as announced by his family on Tuesday.
Graham served in elected office for nearly forty years, starting as a Florida state representative in 1966 and concluding his career in the US Senate in 2005 after completing his third term.
The family statement, posted on Gwen Graham’s X account, highlights Graham’s lifelong dedication to improving the world around him.
There are reminders of that dedication all around us - from the Everglades and other precious natural wonders that he fought to protect… The global understanding he contributed to through his work with the intelligence community, and many others, is truly remarkable.
During his tenure as governor of Florida from 1979-1987, the southern US state witnessed a significant influx of immigrants from Cuba and Haiti.
Graham, as the chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee following the September 11, 2001 attacks, spearheaded a collaborative congressional inquiry into the failures of the US government that preceded those events.
He vehemently opposed then-president George W. Bush’s push to invade Iraq and topple Saddam Hussein, emphasizing that resources would be diverted from the fight against terrorism.
“I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Senator Bob Graham. He was a true patriot and a highly esteemed member of the United States Senate,” expressed former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi with utmost respect.
After leaving the Senate, Graham was chosen by former President Barack Obama to co-chair an investigation into the significant Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.