Claude R. Kirk, Jr.
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Claude R. Kirk, Jr.
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36th Governor of Florida
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| In office January 3, 1967 – January 5, 1971 |
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| Lieutenant | None (1967-1969) Ray C. Osborn (1969-1971) |
| Preceded by | W. Haydon Burns |
| Succeeded by | Reubin O'Donovan Askew |
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| Born | January 7, 1926 San Bernardino, California |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Sarah Stokes Erika Mattfeld |
| Children | Sarah, Katherine, William, Frank, Claudia, Erik |
| Religion | Episcopalian |
Claude Roy Kirk, Jr. (born January 7, 1926) was the thirty-sixth governor of the U.S. state of Florida. He was the first Republican to hold the office of governor since 1877.
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[edit] Early life
Claude Kirk was born in San Bernardino, California. He lived in Chicago, Illinois, and Montgomery, Alabama, where he attended high school. After graduating at age seventeen, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and rose to the rank of lieutenant. Kirk served in both World War II and the Korean War. Following his service he attended the University of Alabama School of Law. In 1956, he co-founded (with W. Ashley Verlander) the American Heritage Life Insurance Company in Jacksonville, Florida.
[edit] Political career
In 1960, he switched his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican, heading the "Floridians for Nixon" campaign. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in 1964 and then ran for governor in 1966. Upon taking the oath of office on January 3, 1967, he became the state's first Republican governor in 90 years. During his term in office a new Florida constitution went into effect in 1968. The governor was often at odds with both Democrats and his Republican colleagues in the legislature on issues such as growth and taxes. A statewide teachers' strike in 1968 was a significant event during his term.
One of the major theme of Kirk campaign was his strong, in contrast to Collins, Bryant and Burns opposition, support for death penalty (similarly to Ronald Reagan, during his bid in California the same year), as he promised to resume executions (the last took place in 1964). But no executions took place under his administration, mostly due to informal nationwide moratorium. Kirk made a headlines, when he during campaign visited Florida State Prison and, after shaking hands with several death row inmates, said: If I'm elected, I may have to sign your death warrants[1]. '
Kirk style while in office was often described flamboyant and confrontional[2]. He especially opposed court-ordered mandatory busing[3]. Although he had a Democratic-controlled legislature (Republicans did not win a control until mid 1990s), Democrats had no veto-proof when he takes office[4].
Although he was a supporter of New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller during 1968 Republican presidential primaries [5], he was later considered a potential nominee for Vice President of the United States under eventual winner Richard Nixon, but Maryland Governor Spiro Agnew was chosen instead[6][7].
He left office on January 5, 1971, after losing his re-election bid to Democrat Reubin O'Donovan Askew. After his term in office, Kirk returned to his business pursuits, though he has campaigned several times for governor, U.S. senator, and Florida commissioner of education.
Currently, Kirk is the earliest serving Governor of Florida who is still alive. He is also the oldest Governor of Florida who is still alive who was elected to the position – Wayne Mixson, who served for three days after the resignation of Bob Graham, is older by nearly four years but was never elected to the office. In 2007 81-year old Kirk participated in symposium organized by Lou Frey Institute and University of Central Florida along with then-Governor Jeb Bush and fellow surviving Governors (Reubin Askew, Bob Graham, Bob Martinez and Buddy MacKay[8]) "A Day With Florida Governors".[9]
Kirk is the father-in-law of Ander Crenshaw of Florida's Fourth Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives.
After the publication of John Filo's famous photograph showing Florida resident Mary Ann Vecchio kneeling over the body of Jeffrey Miller at the Kent State University shootings in May 1970, then-Governor Kirk publicly labeled Vecchio a dissident Communist.
[edit] Personal life
A divorce when took office, Kirk, then 41, married German-born Erika Mattfeld, then 33, on February 18, 1967[10]. He was previously married with two daughters, Sarah and Kitty, and twin sons Frank and Will. From his second marriage he has a daughter and a son[11].
Kirk is the father-in-law of Ander Crenshaw (who is married to daughter Kitty) of Florida's Fourth Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives.
[edit] Quotes
I'm a tree-shakin' son of a bitch[12].
[edit] Electoral history
United States Senate election in Florida, 1964[13]:
- Spessard L. Holland (D) (inc.) - 997,585 (63.93%)
- Claude R. Kirk, Jr. (R) - 562,212 (36.03%)
- Write-in - 540 (0.04%)
Florida gubernatorial election, 1966[14]:
- Claude R. Kirk, Jr. (R) - 821,190 (55.13%)
- Robert High King (D) - 668,233 (44.86%)
- Write-in - 238 (0.02%)
1968 New Hampshire Republican Vice Presidential primary[15]:
- Austin Burton - 10,987 (29.80%)
- Lawrence C. Smith - 9,291 (25.20%)
- John A. Volpe - 5,611 (15.22%)
- Claude R. Kirk, Jr. - 4,842 (13.13%)
- Ronald Reagan - 4,108 (11.14%)
- George W. Romney - 1,035 (2.81%)
- Paul C. Fisher - 998 (2.71%)
Florida gubernatorial election, 1970[16]:
- Reubin Askew/Thomas Burton Adams, Jr. (D) - 984,305 (56.88%)
- Claude R. Kirk, Jr./Ray C. Osborn (R) (inc.) - 746,243 (43.12%)
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Michael Mello, Deathwork: Defending the Condemned, University of Minnesota Press, 2002, ISBN 0816640882, 9780816640881
- ^ http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,944015,00.html
- ^ http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,909120,00.html
- ^ http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,843510,00.html
- ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=14538
- ^ http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/article934267.ece
- ^ http://www.palmbeachpost.com/accent/content/accent/epaper/2008/12/12/a1d_kirk_1212.html
- ^ Wayne Mixson, other former Governor, serving briefly in 1987, wasn't present
- ^ YouTube - A Day With the Florida Governors
- ^ http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,837578,00.html
- ^ http://www.nndb.com/people/611/000122245/
- ^ http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,837578,00.html
- ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=29560
- ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=96893
- ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=393640
- ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=96891
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Claude R. Kirk, Jr. |
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by W. Haydon Burns |
Governor of Florida 1967–1971 |
Succeeded by Reubin Askew |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by Leland Hyzer |
Republican nominee for United States Senator from Florida (Class 1) 1964 |
Succeeded by William C. Cramer |
| Preceded by Charles R. Holley |
Republican nominee for Governor of Florida 1966, 1970 |
Succeeded by Jerry Thomas |
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