Changes

|successor=[[Reubin Askew]]

|successor=[[Reubin Askew]]

|birth_date=January 7, 1926

|birth_date=January 7, 1926

|birth_place=San Bernardino,[[ California]].

|birth_place=San Bernardino,[[California]].

|death_date=September 28, 2011 (aged 85)

|death_date=September 28, 2011 (aged 85)

|death_place=West Palm Beach, Florida

|death_place=West Palm Beach, Florida

===As governor===

===As governor===

In 1966, Kirk scored a huge upset in the gubernatorial general election against the Democrat Robert King High (1924-1967), a [[Tennessee]] native who was then the[[liberal]] [[mayor]] of [[Miami]], 55 to 45 percent. High had unseated incumbent governor William Haydon Burns (1912-1987), a [[Conservative Democrat]], in the primary. , Kirk won majorities in 56 of the state's 67 counties.<ref>State of Florida, General election returns, November 8, 1966.</ref>Had High won the race, he would have served as governor for only eight months because he died less than a year after the election.

In 1966, Kirk scored a huge upset in the gubernatorial general election against the Democrat Robert King High (1924-1967), a [[Tennessee]] native who was then the[[liberal]] [[mayor]] of [[Miami]], 55 to 45 percent. High had unseated incumbent governor William Haydon Burns (1912-1987), a [[Conservative Democrat]], in the primary. , Kirk won majorities in 56 of the state's 67 counties.<ref>State of Florida, General election returns, November 8, 1966.</ref> Had High won the race, he would have served as governor for only eight months because he died less than a year after the election.

Kirk benefited from Burns' refusal to support High. Upon taking the oath of office on January 3, 1967, he became the state's first Republican governor since 1877. During his term, a new Florida Constitution went into effect in 1968. Kirk was frequently at loggerheads over issues of taxes with  both Democrat and Republican legislators. He earned the nickname ''Claudius Maximus'' because of his brash, acerbic style of leadership.<ref name=OBIT>David Bauerlein, David, "Former Florida governor Claude Kirk dies," ''Florida Times-Union," September 28, 2011.</ref> A significant event of his tenure was a controversial statewide teachers' strike in 1968.

Kirk benefited from Burns' refusal to support High. Upon taking the oath of office on January 3, 1967, he became the state's first Republican governor since 1877. During his term, a new Florida Constitution went into effect in 1968. Kirk was frequently at loggerheads over issues of taxes with  both Democrat and Republican legislators. He earned the nickname ''Claudius Maximus'' because of his brash, acerbic style of leadership.<ref name=OBIT>David Bauerlein, David, "Former Florida governor Claude Kirk dies," ''Florida Times-Union," September 28, 2011.</ref> A significant event of his tenure was a controversial statewide teachers' strike in 1968.

Kirk was a strong supporter of [[capital punishment]] in contrast to former Governors Thomas LeRoy Collins (1909-1991), Cecil Farris Bryant (1914-2002(, and Haydon Burns. If elected, Kirk said that executions would resume, but there were no executions under Kirk's tenure because of an informal nationwide moratorium on capital punishment. When he visited the Florida State Prison in Bradford County and shook hand with several inmates facing executions. If elected, Kirk told the inmates, "I may have to sign your death warrants."<ref>Michael Mello, ''Deathwork: Defending the Condemned'' ([[St. Paul (City)|St. Paul]]: the [[University of Minnesota]] Press, 2002), {{ISBN|0-8166-4088-2}}, {{ISBN|978-0-8166-4088-1}}</ref>

Kirk was a strong supporter of [[capital punishment]] in contrast to former Governors Thomas LeRoy Collins (1909-1991), Cecil Farris Bryant (1914-2002), and Haydon Burns. If elected, Kirk said that executions would resume, but there were no executions under Kirk's tenure because of an informal nationwide moratorium on capital punishment. When he visited the Florida State Prison in Bradford County and shook hand with several inmates facing executions. If elected, Kirk told the inmates, "I may have to sign your death warrants."<ref>Michael Mello, ''Deathwork: Defending the Condemned'' ([[St. Paul (City)|St. Paul]]: the [[University of Minnesota]] Press, 2002), {{ISBN|0-8166-4088-2}}, {{ISBN|978-0-8166-4088-1}}</ref>

In 1970, as he geared for a reelection bid, Kirk tried to thwart a [[Segregation|desegregation]] plan in Manatee County. He quipped that the judges of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, based in [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]] had been "drinking in the French Quarter and reading dirty books."<ref>''Miami Herald,'' September 5, 1970.</ref>

In 1970, as he geared for a reelection bid, Kirk tried to thwart a [[Segregation|desegregation]] plan in Manatee County. He quipped that the judges of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, based in [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]] had been "drinking in the French Quarter and reading dirty books."<ref>''Miami Herald,'' September 5, 1970.</ref>

===Feud with Cramer===

===Feud with Cramer===

The schism between Cramer and Kirk accelerated in 1966 to the point that in a 1988 interview, Kirk said that he could not recall Cramer having rendered him any assistance at all in either the 1964 or 1966 campaigns: "Cramer never helped me do anything. At all times he was a total combatant."<ref>"Cramer v. Kirk," p. 408.</ref>

The schism between Cramer and Kirk accelerated in 1966 to the point that in a 1988 interview, Kirk said that he could not recall Cramer having rendered him any assistance at all in either the 1964 or 1966 campaigns: "Cramer never helped me do anything. At all times he was a total combatant."<ref name="Cramer v. Kirk, p. 408">"Cramer v. Kirk," p. 408.</ref>

   

   

Kirk claimed that Cramer himself wanted the 1966 gubernatorial nomination after Burns, the primary loser, refused to endorse Mayor High. Kirk said that Cramer's legislative assistant, Jack P. Inscoe, later a [[real estate]] developer in [[Tampa]] could verify that Cramer had asked Kirk to bow out of the race with High. Kirk claimed that the three met "in a car... probably in Palm Beach County." Inscoe said: "This never happened. Kirk is not known for telling too much truth." Though Cramer said that he had no ambition to be governor, Kirk retorted, "How could I have brought this up if it didn't happen?"<ref>"Cramer v. Kirk," p. 408.</ref>

Kirk claimed that Cramer himself wanted the 1966 gubernatorial nomination after Burns, the primary loser, refused to endorse Mayor High. Kirk said that Cramer's legislative assistant, Jack P. Inscoe, later a [[real estate]] developer in [[Tampa]] could verify that Cramer had asked Kirk to bow out of the race with High. Kirk claimed that the three met "in a car... probably in Palm Beach County." Inscoe said: "This never happened. Kirk is not known for telling too much truth." Though Cramer said that he had no ambition to be governor, Kirk retorted, "How could I have brought this up if it didn't happen?"<ref name="Cramer v. Kirk, p. 408"/>

   

   

Cramer said that he subsequently urged Kirk to merge his own organization into the regular party structure in Cramer's home county of Pinellas, but  Kirk maintained a separate entity in the hope of maximizing crossover support from conservative Democrats unhappy with the nomination of Mayor High. Cramer recalled this disagreement over strategy as the "first indication that Kirk intended to do his own thing and attempt to form his own organization."<ref>"Cramer v. Kirk," p. 408.</ref>

Cramer said that he subsequently urged Kirk to merge his own organization into the regular party structure in Cramer's home county of Pinellas, but  Kirk maintained a separate entity in the hope of maximizing crossover support from conservative Democrats unhappy with the nomination of Mayor High. Cramer recalled this disagreement over strategy as the "first indication that Kirk intended to do his own thing and attempt to form his own organization."<ref name="Cramer v. Kirk, p. 408"/>

   

   

Kirk asked the representative and later Senator [[Edward Gurney]] of Winter Park to chair Kirk's gubernatorial inauguration though Gurney had not been involved in the Kirk campaign. By contrast, Cramer was not even asked to serve on the inaugural committee. In 1968, Governor Kirk dispatched his staff to the Republican state convention in [[Orlando]] to push for Cramer's ouster as the state's [[Republican National Committee]]man. Kirk justified his move against Cramer: "I wanted my own man. After all, I was the leader of the party. If Cramer had been the leader of the party, he would have wanted his own man too."<ref>"Cramer v. Kirk," p. 409.</ref> Cramer said that Kirk was attempting to be "not only the governor but the king of the party, and I was about the only person at the time who stood in his way from taking total control."<ref>"Cramer v. Kirk," p. 409.</ref>

Kirk asked the representative and later Senator [[Edward Gurney]] of Winter Park to chair Kirk's gubernatorial inauguration though Gurney had not been involved in the Kirk campaign. By contrast, Cramer was not even asked to serve on the inaugural committee. In 1968, Governor Kirk dispatched his staff to the Republican state convention in [[Orlando]] to push for Cramer's ouster as the state's [[Republican National Committee]]man. Kirk justified his move against Cramer: "I wanted my own man. After all, I was the leader of the party. If Cramer had been the leader of the party, he would have wanted his own man too."<ref name="Cramer v. Kirk, p. 409">"Cramer v. Kirk," p. 409.</ref> Cramer said that Kirk was attempting to be "not only the governor but the king of the party, and I was about the only person at the time who stood in his way from taking total control."<ref name="Cramer v. Kirk, p. 409"/>

   

   

Despite Kirk's opposition, Cramer attributed his retention in 1968 as national committeeman to the loyalty of organizational Republicans: "I had proved myself an effective congressman. I was on the House leadership as vice chairman of the Republican Conference and was ranking member on the House Public Works Committee."<ref>"Cramer v. Kirk," p. 409.</ref>

Despite Kirk's opposition, Cramer attributed his retention in 1968 as national committeeman to the loyalty of organizational Republicans: "I had proved myself an effective congressman. I was on the House leadership as vice chairman of the Republican Conference and was ranking member on the House Public Works Committee."<ref name="Cramer v. Kirk, p. 409"/>

   

   

In 1988, Cramer recalled a visit twenty-one years earlier to Kirk's office when a former state legislator was denied an appointment with the governor even though the man was a stalwart Republican. According to Cramer, "Kirk made it very clear that he got a great deal of joy in making sure that this guy didn't get an appointment.... He just loved to kick people in the teeth to show how much power he had."<ref>"Cramer v. Kirk, p. 409.</ref> Despite observing this incident, Cramer said that party unity led him to avoid public criticism of Kirk. Cramer viewed Kirk as "his own worst enemy."<ref>"Cramer v. Kirk," p. 409.</ref> Kirk even claimed that he had never had a "serious discussion" on any topic with Cramer.<ref>"Cramer v. Kirk," p. 409.</ref> Walter Wurfel (c. 1937-2018), a Floridian who was later the deputy press secretary for U.S. President [[Jimmy Carter]], termed Kirk's election  "the worst thing that could have happened to the Republicans. He wasn't interested in the Republican Party; party was a matter of convenience for him."<ref>Alexander P. Lamis, ''The Two-Party South'' (New York, 1984), p. 292.</ref>

In 1988, Cramer recalled a visit twenty-one years earlier to Kirk's office when a former state legislator was denied an appointment with the governor even though the man was a stalwart Republican. According to Cramer, "Kirk made it very clear that he got a great deal of joy in making sure that this guy didn't get an appointment.... He just loved to kick people in the teeth to show how much power he had."<ref>"Cramer v. Kirk, p. 409.</ref> Despite observing this incident, Cramer said that party unity led him to avoid public criticism of Kirk. Cramer viewed Kirk as "his own worst enemy."<ref name="Cramer v. Kirk, p. 409"/> Kirk even claimed that he had never had a "serious discussion" on any topic with Cramer.<ref name="Cramer v. Kirk, p. 409"/> Walter Wurfel (c. 1937–2018), a Floridian who was later the deputy press secretary for U.S. President [[Jimmy Carter]], termed Kirk's election  "the worst thing that could have happened to the Republicans. He wasn't interested in the Republican Party; party was a matter of convenience for him."<ref>Alexander P. Lamis, ''The Two-Party South'' (New York, 1984), p. 292.</ref>

   

   

Cramer said he believed that Kirk may have well become vice president or even president had he tended to his gubernatorial duties rather than openly seeking the second position. Eyeing the vice presidency in 1968, Kirk stood alone in the Florida delegation at the [[Republican National Convention]] in Miami Beach  by supporting Governor [[Nelson Rockefeller]] of [[New York]], rather than the clear frontrunner, Richard Nixon, for whom Kirk had campaigned in 1960. Cramer said that Nixon may have selected Kirk, rather than [[Spiro Agnew]] of [[Maryland]] for the second slot had Kirk been a more serious governor. Kirk claimed that it "had been agreed" that he would run with either Rockefeller or Nixon, but Nixon chose Agnew in the hope of enhancing campaign contributions from [[Greece|Greek]]- American businessmen.<ref>"Cramer v. Kirk," pp. 409-410.</ref>

Cramer said he believed that Kirk may have well become vice president or even president had he tended to his gubernatorial duties rather than openly seeking the second position. Eyeing the vice presidency in 1968, Kirk stood alone in the Florida delegation at the [[Republican National Convention]] in Miami Beach  by supporting Governor [[Nelson Rockefeller]] of [[New York]], rather than the clear frontrunner, Richard Nixon, for whom Kirk had campaigned in 1960. Cramer said that Nixon may have selected Kirk, rather than [[Spiro Agnew]] of [[Maryland]] for the second slot had Kirk been a more serious governor. Kirk claimed that it "had been agreed" that he would run with either Rockefeller or Nixon, but Nixon chose Agnew in the hope of enhancing campaign contributions from [[Greece|Greek]]- American businessmen.<ref>"Cramer v. Kirk," pp. 409-410.</ref>

===Defeat in 1970===

===Defeat in 1970===