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Reubin Askew
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Reubin Askew
Reubin O'Donovan Askew (September 11, 1928 – March 13, 2014) was an American politician, who served as the 37th governor of Florida from 1971 to 1979. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 7th U.S. trade representative from 1979 to 1980 under President Jimmy Carter. He led on tax reform, civil rights, and financial transparency for public officials, maintaining an outstanding reputation for personal integrity.
Born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, Askew served as a military intelligence officer in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. He established a legal practice in Pensacola, Florida, after graduating from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 1955. Askew won election to the Florida House of Representatives in 1958 and to the Florida Senate in 1962. He defeated incumbent Republican governor Claude R. Kirk Jr. in the 1970 gubernatorial election and won re-election in 1974.
As governor, Askew presided over the imposition of the state's first corporate tax. He was one of the first of the "New South" governors and supported school desegregation. Askew is widely thought to have been one of the state's best governors; the Harvard Kennedy School at Harvard University rated him one of the country's top ten governors of the 20th century. Askew was the keynote speaker at the 1972 Democratic National Convention and declined an offer to serve as George McGovern's running mate in the 1972 presidential election.
Askew served as the United States trade representative from 1979 to 1981. He sought the Democratic nomination in the 1984 presidential election but withdrew early in the race. After leaving public office, Askew taught at the public universities of Florida.
Askew was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, the youngest of the six children of Leon G. Askew and Alberta (O'Donovan) Askew. His parents divorced when he was just two, primarily because of what Askew said was his father's "serious drinking problem." Two of his brothers later had similar problems. Askew chose to be a lifelong teetotaller and non-smoker after an unpleasant experience with a pipe as a teenager. After a final meeting under unpleasant circumstances when he was ten years old, Askew never saw his father again.
In 1937, his mother moved with Reubin to Pensacola, Florida. Askew's middle name, O'Donovan, was his mother's maiden name. His signature used the double initial (O'D.) in her honor. Reubin would sell magazines, shine shoes, bag groceries and sell his mother's homemade pies to help supplement her income. Reubin's mother was a waitress and a seamstress for the Works Progress Administration.
In 1944, Askew was initiated as a member of Escambia Chapter Order of DeMolay, the Masonic organization for young men. He graduated from Pensacola High School in 1946. Later that year, Askew entered the Army as a paratrooper, serving for two years in the 82nd Airborne; in 1948 he was discharged in the rank of sergeant.
Askew attended Florida State University, where he was a brother of Delta Tau Delta and Alpha Phi Omega. At Florida State, Askew was elected as student body president, beginning his long career in politics. He graduated from Florida State University in 1951 with a B.S. degree in public administration. He later completed law school at the University of Florida Levin College of Law.
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Reubin Askew
Reubin O'Donovan Askew (September 11, 1928 – March 13, 2014) was an American politician, who served as the 37th governor of Florida from 1971 to 1979. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 7th U.S. trade representative from 1979 to 1980 under President Jimmy Carter. He led on tax reform, civil rights, and financial transparency for public officials, maintaining an outstanding reputation for personal integrity.
Born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, Askew served as a military intelligence officer in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. He established a legal practice in Pensacola, Florida, after graduating from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 1955. Askew won election to the Florida House of Representatives in 1958 and to the Florida Senate in 1962. He defeated incumbent Republican governor Claude R. Kirk Jr. in the 1970 gubernatorial election and won re-election in 1974.
As governor, Askew presided over the imposition of the state's first corporate tax. He was one of the first of the "New South" governors and supported school desegregation. Askew is widely thought to have been one of the state's best governors; the Harvard Kennedy School at Harvard University rated him one of the country's top ten governors of the 20th century. Askew was the keynote speaker at the 1972 Democratic National Convention and declined an offer to serve as George McGovern's running mate in the 1972 presidential election.
Askew served as the United States trade representative from 1979 to 1981. He sought the Democratic nomination in the 1984 presidential election but withdrew early in the race. After leaving public office, Askew taught at the public universities of Florida.
Askew was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, the youngest of the six children of Leon G. Askew and Alberta (O'Donovan) Askew. His parents divorced when he was just two, primarily because of what Askew said was his father's "serious drinking problem." Two of his brothers later had similar problems. Askew chose to be a lifelong teetotaller and non-smoker after an unpleasant experience with a pipe as a teenager. After a final meeting under unpleasant circumstances when he was ten years old, Askew never saw his father again.
In 1937, his mother moved with Reubin to Pensacola, Florida. Askew's middle name, O'Donovan, was his mother's maiden name. His signature used the double initial (O'D.) in her honor. Reubin would sell magazines, shine shoes, bag groceries and sell his mother's homemade pies to help supplement her income. Reubin's mother was a waitress and a seamstress for the Works Progress Administration.
In 1944, Askew was initiated as a member of Escambia Chapter Order of DeMolay, the Masonic organization for young men. He graduated from Pensacola High School in 1946. Later that year, Askew entered the Army as a paratrooper, serving for two years in the 82nd Airborne; in 1948 he was discharged in the rank of sergeant.
Askew attended Florida State University, where he was a brother of Delta Tau Delta and Alpha Phi Omega. At Florida State, Askew was elected as student body president, beginning his long career in politics. He graduated from Florida State University in 1951 with a B.S. degree in public administration. He later completed law school at the University of Florida Levin College of Law.
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