Through nearly four decades of public service and at every level of government, Daniel Robert “Bob” Graham became one of the most accomplished and popular figures in Florida’s history. When he left the governorship, he measured an 83% approval rating and remained beloved by Floridians regardless of political party. Through these photo galleries, follow the journey that endeared him to the people of Florida, the U.S. and the world. For additions or changes, we invite you to email Dorothy Zimmerman at dozimmer@ufl.edu.
Then-Sen. Joe Biden (left) and newly elected Sen. Bob Graham at an anti-drug hearing in Miami, May 4, 1987. —Source: University of Florida Libraries
L-R: Sens. Joe Biden, Jon Corzine, Carl Levin, Debbie Stabenow, and Bob Graham speak at the U.S. Capitol on the importance of not sacrificing Medicare in tax cuts. May 9, 2001. —Source: Michael Kleinfeld/UPI
Graham stands beside President Barack Obama as he speaks about the BP Oil Spill commission, June 1, 2010. —Source: Associated Press/Charles Dharapak
President Barack Obama with Bob and Adele Graham. —Source: Graham Family
Campaign rally in Miami, Florida on Oct. 21, 2008. L-R: Michelle Obama, Bob Graham, Barack Obama, Sen. Bill Nelson. —Source: Bob Graham Center
President George W. Bush signs the Patriot Act while Sen. Bob Graham (right) and others look on. October 26, 2001. —Source: National Archives
President George W. Bush stands for the playing of the national anthem with (L-R) Sen. Bob Graham, Sen. Bill Nelson, Gov. Jeb Bush and his wife Columba Bush during a Cuban Independence Day event at the James L. Knight Center May 20, 2002 in Miami, FL. —Source: Joe Raedle/Getty Images
In 1992, Senator Graham and then-presidential candidate Bill Clinton sit in Temple Beth Israel in Sunrise, Florida. —Source: University of Florida Libraries
President Bill Clinton with Adele and Bob Graham at a Library of Congress event, Sep. 24, 1999. —Source: Graham Family
President Bill Clinton shakes hands with Sen. Bob Graham after greeting Katharine Graham, Bob’s sister-in-law and former president/publisher/CEO of The Washington Post. —Source: Graham Family
Bob Graham (left) is sworn in as U.S. Senator by Vice President George H. W. Bush on Jan. 6, 1987, joined by Adele Graham and daughters. —Source: UPI
Gov. Jeb Bush inauguration ceremony, Jan. 5, 1990. Center L-R: Sen. Bob Graham, Adele Graham, former President George H.W. Bush, Lieutenant Governor Frank T. Brogan (red tie). —Source: Wikimedia Commons
President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan meet Bob and Adele Graham, circa 1987. —Source: Florida Memory
President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan host the Grahams at a White House event; picture sent and signed by the Reagans. —Source: Graham Family
In 1978, then-gubernatorial candidate Bob Graham waves with President Jimmy Carter at a political fundraising rally in Miami Beach. —Source: Bob Graham Center
President Jimmy Carter and Gov. Bob Graham hold a meeting in the White House Cabinet Room with the Caribbean Central American Action Group in 1980. Others in attendance include David Rockefeller (chairman, Chase Bank) and Frank Borman (commander of Apollo 8). —Source: Official White House Photo
The Carters and Grahams enjoy dinner together at the Georgia farm. —Source: Graham Family
Sen. Bob Graham, Adele Graham and grandchildren with Vice President Al Gore. —Source: Florida Memory
Bob Graham at the White Houese with Al Gore. —Source: Graham Family
Former Vice President Walter Mondale, Richard C. McFarlain and Gov. Bob Graham in Tallahassee during Mondale’s presidential campaign. Jan. 6, 1984. —Source: Florida Memory
Bob Graham with Michelle Obama at Miami-Dade College, circa 2012. —Source: Graham Family
Sens. Bob Graham and Hillary Clinton introduce legislation to force electronic voting machines to create paper records of the votes on March 10, 2004, on Capitol Hill. —Source: Roger L. Wollenberg/UPI
Rosalynn Carter speaks at a political rally for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bob Graham (far right), his running mate Wayne Mixson, and Adele Graham. 1978. —Source: Florida Memory
News clip of Princess Diana of Wales with Gov. Bob Graham. —Source: Graham Family
Oprah Winfrey with Bob Graham and family. —Source: Graham Family
Bob Graham with Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor at the Graham Center in 2011. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Bob Graham with Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor at the Graham Center in 2011. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Gov. Bob Graham with activist, minister and public servant Jesse Jackson on Sep. 18, 1984 during a voter registration drive. —Source: Florida Memory
Sen. Bob Graham with Rev. Jesse Jackson in 2004. —Source: University of Florida Libraries
News clip of Jimmy Buffett performing with Gov. Bob Graham as they wear each other’s iconic styles at the 1984 Press Corps Skits. —Source: University of Florida Libraries
Gov. Bob Graham and musician Jimmy Buffett both wear the Florida tie. —Source: University of Florida Libraries
Rockstar Jimmy Buffett and Gov. Bob Graham on stage together. —Source: Graham Family
Bob Graham shows Mother Theresa family photos. —Source: Graham Family
Brazilian President José Sarney and Gov. Bob Graham commence state visit at Palácio do Planalto, walking with Minister of Foreign Affairs Olavo Setúbal and Ambassador Diego Asencio. Aug. 29, 1985. —Source: Graham Family
L-R: Sen. Bob Graham, Sen. Chuck Robb, Colombian President Andrés Pastrana and Sen. Paul Coverdell on Sept. 24, 1998 during meetings on Capitol Hill. —Source: George Bridges/AFP via Getty Images
Bob and Adele Graham with First Lady Jehan Sadat of Egypt, human rights activist and widow of Egypt’s President Anwar Sadat. —Source: Graham Family
Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin smiles with Gov. Bob Graham during peace talks at Camp David. 1979. —Source: University of Florida Libraries
Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres greets Gov. Bob Graham. 1985. —Source: Graham Family
Adele and Bob Graham with Lebanese President Ilyas Harawi (second from left). —Source: Graham Family
Gov. Bob Graham (right) with Tunisian public official Abderrahim Zouari, then-Governor of Nabeul. —Source: Graham Family
From left, then-Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, Sen. Bob Graham, former astronaut and Sen. John Glenn, and Sen. Bill Nelson gaze up at a replica of the Mercury Atlas rocket that took Glenn into space, at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Center. July 26, 2004. —Source: Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel
Rep. John Lewis with Bob Graham at a Bob Graham Center event in 2015. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Bob Graham with Rep. John Lewis at a Bob Graham Center event in 2015. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Journalist, author, conservationist and women’s suffrage advocate Marjory Stoneman Douglas with Gov. Bob Graham in the Everglades. —Source: South Florida Water Management District
Event where Marjory Stoneman Douglas was honored with a proclamation. —Source: Florida Memory
Event where Marjory Stoneman Douglas was honored with a proclamation. —Source: Florida Memory
Bob Graham stands with Gov. Michael Dukakis, presidential candidate. —Source: Graham Family
Bob Graham with visionary Rep. Carrie Meek. —Source: Graham Family
Bob and Adele Graham at a rally with Rep. Kendrick Meek, son of Rep. Carrie Meek. —Source: Graham Family
Sen. Bob Graham with TV host Stephen Colbert, on whose show Graham was a frequent guest in the early 2000s. —Source: University of Florida Libraries
Sen. Bob Graham with musician Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees. —Source: Graham Family
Actor Burt Reynolds with Gov. Bob Graham in Ft. Lauderdale during a Graham Workday as a grip on the set of Reynolds’ film “Stick.” —Source: Florida Memory
Bob Graham with actress and University of Florida alum Faye Dunaway. —Source: Graham Family
Bob Graham with Joe DiMaggio. —Source: Graham Family
New York Yankee pitcher, Ron Guidry, left, and Gov. Bob Graham converse in Tallahassee before the Yankees played the Florida State University Seminoles. The game was called in rain delay after one inning with the score 9 to 0 in favor of the Yankees. —Source: Florida Memory
Bob Graham and George Steinbrenner (businessman and New York Yankees owner) take questions from Enterntainment Tonight at a Miami benefit and verbal “roast” event of Gov. Graham, which raised over $60,000 for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Greater Miami. —Source: Graham Family
Bob Graham serves Dyan Cannon and The Love Boat crew at a Miami benefit and “roast” of Gov. Graham, where he also served guests. —Source: Graham Family
Bob Graham waltzes with Dyan Cannon at the Miami benefit and roast of the governor. —Source: Graham Family
Bob Graham with Kal Penn, actor-turned-White-House-staffer, as part of the White House’s 100 Youth Roundtables during the Obama Administration. April 2011. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Bob Graham shakes hands with Ibram X. Kendi at his Nov. 21, 2019 Graham Center event, “How to be an Antiracist.” —Source: Bob Graham Center
Sen. Bob Graham with actress and writer Mariel Hemingway, granddaughter of Ernet Hemingway. —Source: Graham Family
Gov. Bob Graham with author Hilary Hemingway, niece of Ernet Hemingway, awarding her a plaque for her play, “A Light Within the Shadow,” one of the winners in the Governor’s Screenwriters Competition. May 1, 1985. —Source: Florida Memory
Rev. Billy Graham speaks at the annual Florida Leadership Prayer Breakfast in Tallahassee, Oct. 30, 1986. —Source: Florida Memory
Janet Reno and Sen. Bob Graham laugh during a confirmation hearing, 1993. Graham was tasked by President Clinton with overseeing her confirmation. —Source: Public Press
Marjorie Harris Carr (founder, Florida Defenders of the Environment) with Gov. Bob Graham. Feb. 6, 1985. —Source: Bob Graham Center
After touring the Rodman Reservoir, Sen. Bob Graham visited Marjorie Harris Carr in her Gainesville home. —Source: Florida Defenders of the Environment
Bob Graham smiles with Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi at a Graham Center event in 2014. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Gov. Bob Graham with Jean Childs Young, educator and advocate for equal access to education. —Source: University of Florida Libraries
Meet the Press taping. L-R: Pat Buchanan, Sen. Bob Graham, anchor Tim Russert. —Source: University of Florida Libraries
Former Gov. LeRoy Collins conversing with Gov. Bob Graham during dedication of the Miami-Dade Community College North Campus Leroy Collins Campus Center. Jan. 15, 1980. —Source: Florida Memory
Former FL Sens. Bob Graham and Mel Martinez with their books at the Miami Book Fair. —Source: Graham Family
Bob Graham speaks with Desmond Meade (Executive Director, Florida Rights Restoration Coalition) at the annual Graham Gathering in 2019. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Legendary Miami-area educator and doctor of philosophy, Gilbert Porter, with Gov. Bob Graham. —Source: University of Florida Libraries
Gov. Bob Graham and drugstore magnate Jack Eckerd at a press conference, Jan. 24, 1986. —Source: Florida Memory
Gov. Bob Graham presents Richard Petty with the Governor’s Cup trophy for his unprecedented 7th Daytona 500 victory, Feb. 15, 1981. —Source: ISC Archives/CQ Roll Call Group via Getty Images
Young Bob Graham as an intern for Rep. Dante Fascell. —Source: Florida Memory
Bob Graham with Rep. Dante Fascell, circa 1960. —Source: Graham Family
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist shakes hand with Sen. Bob Graham and wrote a note. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Sen. Bob Graham stands with friend and eventual Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink on 1994 Election Day. —Source: Florida Memory
Bob Graham with Nathaniel Reed, environmentalist and advocate. —Source: Bob Graham Center
Bob Graham (left) shakes hands with then-Gov. Rick Scott (right) while Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater smiles before Scott’s 2013 State of the State address. —Source: Florida Times-Union
