Bob Graham

U.S. Senator, Governor of Florida
Born: Nov. 9, 1936
Birthplace: Coral Gables, Florida

Graham's father was a Florida state senator, mining engineer, and farmer. Graham received a B.A. in 1959 from the University of Florida and a law degree from Harvard in 1962. A Democrat, his political career began as a Florida State Representative (1966–1971) and a Florida State Senator (1970–1979). He then served as the Governor of Florida (1979–1987), and since 1987 as a U.S. Senator in Florida. He has never lost an election.

Graham is the former chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. He has supported major Democratic domestic issues and in recent years has spoken out against the soaring national deficit and President Bush's tax cuts, stating that the President had “no economic policy other than granting tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans.” He was also strongly opposed to the war in Iraq and has criticized President Bush for focusing his efforts on Iraq instead of international terrorism: “This administration has virtually ignored homeland security…by focusing all its energy on Iraq.” In 2003, he made a brief bid for the presidency. When he withdrew, he also announced that he would not seek reelection to the Senate.