Lawton Chiles

Lawton Mainor Chiles, Jr. (April 3, 1930 – December 12, 1998) was an American politician from the U.S. state of Florida. In a career spanning four decades, Chiles, a Democrat who never lost an election, served in the Florida House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and as forty-first governor of Florida from 1991 until his death in office in the last month of his term. He was the first Democratic governor in state history to have a Republican-controlled legislature.

Governor of Florida

After the surgery, Chiles developed clinical depression, and was treated with Prozac, at the time a very controversial drug. He retired from the Senate in 1989 and intended to retire from politics entirely. However, several supporters convinced him to enter the 1990 Florida governor's race against Republican incumbent Governor Bob Martinez. During the Democratic Party primary, his opponent Bill Nelson attempted

Related Topics:
Clinical depression - Prozac - 1989 - 1990 - Republican - Bob Martinez - Bill Nelson

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to make an issue of Chiles' age and health, a strategy that backfired badly in a state with a large retiree population.

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Chiles ran a campaign to "reinvent" the state's government, and defeated the relatively unpopular Martinez to take office in 1991. During his first term as governor, Chiles managed to accomplish very little. Although he developed ambitious health-care and tax reform packages, neither passed in the hostile state legislature. The early years of his term were troubled by a national economic recession that severely damaged Florida's tourism-based economy, and by Hurricane Andrew, which struck near Homestead in August, 1992.

Related Topics:
1991 - Hurricane Andrew - Homestead - August - 1992

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Chiles ran for re-election in 1994 against Jeb Bush. A Republican tide swept the country in that year, and Bush ran ahead of Chiles for much of the campaign. Then, with only a few weeks left before the election, Chiles responded to a reporter's inquiry about his floundering campaign by saying that, "the old he-coon walks just before the light of day," an old Southern reference to the oldest and wisest racoon in a pack. The metaphor pointed up Bush's status as a political novice who was largely pre-scripted. Chiles came from behind to win a narrow victory in the election.

Related Topics:
1994 - Jeb Bush - Republican - Southern

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Chiles' second term as governor was notable, as he was the first Democratic governor in state history to have a legislature controlled by the Republican Party. However, he had some successes. Together with state Attorney General Bob Butterworth, Chiles sued the tobacco industry, winning an $11.3 billion settlement for the state. He also won approval for a $2.7 billion statewide school construction program.

Related Topics:
Attorney General - Bob Butterworth - Tobacco industry

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In 1995 Chiles sought treatment for a neurological problem, after he awoke with nausea, slurred speech, and loss of coordination. He recovered fully.

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In 1998, Chiles, who was term-limited, supported his Lieutenant Governor, Buddy MacKay, for governor in a campaign against Jeb Bush. Bush scored an easy victory over McKay, who ran what is generally considered a rather poor campaign.

Related Topics:
Term-limited - Lieutenant Governor - Buddy MacKay

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On December 12, 1998, less than a month shy of retirement, Chiles suffered a fatal heart attack while exercising. He was found next to an exercise bike in the gymnasium of the governor's mansion. Funeral services were held at Faith Presbyterian Church in Tallahassee, following a funeral procession that traced part of his walk from the 1970 Senate campaign, from the panhandle town of Century to Tallahassee. He was succeeded in office by McKay, who served until Jeb Bush's term began the next month.

Related Topics:
December 12 - 1998 - Heart attack - Gymnasium - Tallahassee - 1970 - Century

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