Interview with Bob Graham by Brien Williams

Creator

Daniel 'Bob' Robert Graham

Date

2009-12-04

Contributor

Brien Williams, Interviewer

Description

Biographial Note

Daniel Robert “Bob” Graham was born November 9, 1936, in Florida. In 1959 he received a degree in political science from the University of Florida, and he earned a law degree from Harvard University in 1962. He was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 1966 and to the Florida State Senate in 1970. He served as governor of Florida from 1979-1987 and as U.S. senator from 1987-2005. While in the Senate, he served as chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee. In 2004, he ran unsuccessfully in the Democratic presidential primary race. Since 2005, he has taught at Harvard University, the University of Florida, and the University of Miami.

Summary

Interview includes discussion of: Mitchell’s participation in Florida as chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in 1986 when Graham was elected; commonalities among the senators who were elected in 1986; Mitchell as a colleague from 1987-1994; Mitchell’s election as majority leader; Mitchell and Graham on environmental issues; Exxon Valdez in 1989; the Clean Air Act; base closings in Florida and Maine; Mitchell’s leadership qualities; the importance of Democratic cohesion to Mitchell; Kennedy and Mitchell; Mitchell and Clinton’s health care plan; the Democratic Steering Committee versus the Democratic Policy Committee; Mitchell’s presidential potential in 1992; and Mitchell’s legacy.

Identifier

GMOH 177

Subject

Law and Politics

Oral History

Political History

United States History

Clean Air Act

Democratic Policy Committee

Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee

Democratic Steering Committee

Environment and Public Works Committee

Majority Leader

National Wildlife Refuge

Persian Gulf War

U.S. Senators

Access

Open access