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 | Ray C. Osborn 1st FL Lt. Governor |
| 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 | Anglican/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.
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 founded the American Heritage Life Insurance Company in Jacksonville, Florida. 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. 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[1]) "A Day With Florida Governors".[2]
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 National Guard confrontation with students in May 1970, then-Governor Kirk publicly labeled Vecchio a dissident Communist.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Wayne Mixson, other former Governor, serving briefly in 1987, wasn't present
- ^ YouTube - A Day With the Florida Governors
[edit] External links
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by W. Haydon Burns |
Governor of Florida 1967–1971 |
Succeeded by Reubin O'Donovan Askew |
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