Claude R. Kirk, Jr.

Claude R. Kirk, Jr.
36th Governor of Florida
In office January 3, 1967 – January 5, 1971
Lieutenant	None (1967-1969) Ray C. Osborn (1969-1971)
Preceded by	W. Haydon Burns
Succeeded by	Reubin O'Donovan Askew
Personal details
Born	January 7, 1926(1926-01-07) San Bernardino, California
Died	September 28, 2011(2011-09-28) (aged 85) West Palm Beach, Florida
Political party	Republican (1961-1984)
Other political affiliations	Democrat (prior to 1960); (1985 on)
Spouse(s)	Sarah Stokes (1947-1950 & 1951-1966) 4 children Erika Mattfeld (1967-2011; his death) 2 children
Children	Sarah, Katherine, William, Frank, Adriana, Claudia, Erik
Alma mater	Duke University University of Alabama
Profession	Businessman
Religion	Episcopalian
Military service
Service/branch	United States Marine Corps
Rank	Lieutenant
Battles/wars	World War II and Korean War

Claude Roy Kirk, Jr. (January 7, 1926 – September 28, 2011) was the 36th Governor of the U.S. state of Florida (1967-1971). He was the first Republican Governor of Florida since Reconstruction.^[1]

Early life

Claude Kirk was born in San Bernardino, California. He lived in Chicago, Illinois, and Montgomery, Alabama, where he attended Sidney Lanier High School. After graduating at age seventeen, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps reserve and rose to the rank of second lieutenant, serving in World War II stateside. He briefly attended Emory University before transferring to Duke University, where he earned a bachelor of science degree. Kirk was accepted at the University of Alabama School of Law, and graduated in 1949. He was recalled to the Marines for the Korean War and was initially assigned to the 1st Marine Division. He later served aboard the battleship USS New Jersey and was discharged as a first lieutenant in 1952.^[2]

Business

Kirk worked as an insurance salesman and sold building supplies before partnering with W. Ashley Verlander in 1956 to start the American Heritage Life Insurance Company in Jacksonville, Florida. He had no money of his own, so he recruited investors and his brother-in-law to bankroll the venture. The firm catered to the wealthy and quickly became one of the most successful in the industry, earning Kirk a fortune. Six years later, he left American Heritage Life and purchased a partnership in the New York securities firm, Hayden Stone, selling investments to Floridians.^[3] Between 1965 and 1966, Kirk traveled to Brazil for an unsuccessful business venture, but met Erika Mattfeld, a beautiful model and actress.^[3]

Political career

Governor Kirk official painting

In 1960, Kirk switched his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican, heading the "Floridians for Nixon" campaign. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in 1964 against incumbent Democrat Spessard Holland and then ran for governor in 1966. The incumbent governor, W. Haydon Burns, who represented the conservative wing of the Democratic Party in Florida, was defeated in the Democratic primary by the more liberal Mayor of Miami Robert King High. Burns did not endorse High after his defeat and the division among Florida Democrats was a major factor in Kirk's decisive victory over High. 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. He earned the nickname Claudius Maximus due to his brash style of leadership and opinionated, colorful personality.^[1] A statewide teachers' strike in 1968 was a significant event during his single term.

One of the major themes of Kirk's campaign was his strong support for the death penalty, in contrast to Collins', Bryant's and Burns' opposition. Kirk promised to resume executions (the last had taken place in 1964), but no executions took place under his administration, mostly because of an informal nationwide moratorium. Kirk made headlines when, during the campaign, he visited Florida State Prison and, after shaking hands with several death row inmates, said, "If I'm elected, I may have to sign your death warrants".^[4]

Kirk's style while in office was often described as flamboyant and confrontational.^[5] He especially opposed court-ordered mandatory busing.^[6] Although he had a Democratic-controlled legislature, Democrats did not have a veto-proof majority during Kirk's term of office.^[7]

Although he was a supporter of New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller during 1968 Republican presidential primaries,^[8] he was later considered a potential nominee for Vice President of the United States under eventual winner Richard Nixon, but Maryland Governor Spiro Agnew was chosen instead.^[9][10]

He left office on January 5, 1971, after losing his re-election bid to Democrat Reubin 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.

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 shootings in May 1970, then Governor Kirk publicly labeled Vecchio a dissident Communist.^[11]

Personal life

Kirk met Sarah Stokes while he was in law school. Her family owned an automobile dealership, and the couple married in 1947. They were divorced in 1950, but remarried in 1951. The union produced four children: two daughters, Sarah and Kitty, and twin sons Frank and Will. They divorced for the final time in 1966.^[3] In a 1967 interview, Sarah Stokes commented that Kirk "drinks to excess quite often (and) has indiscreet public associations with other women".^[12]

A divorcee when he took office Kirk, then 41, married German-born Erika Mattfeld, 33, on February 18, 1967.^[13] From his final marriage he had two daughters and a son.^[14]

Kirk is the father-in-law of Ander Crenshaw (who is married to daughter Kitty) of Florida's Fourth Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives.^[1]

Kirk survived a mild heart attack in February 2011. He died on September 28, 2011 in his sleep.^[2]

Quotes

I'm a tree-shakin' son of a bitch.^[13]

Electoral history

United States Senate election in Florida, 1964^[15]:

• Spessard L. Holland (D) (inc.) - 997,585 (63.93%)
• Claude R. Kirk, Jr. (R) - 562,212 (36.03%)
• Write-in - 540 (0.04%)

Florida gubernatorial election, 1966^[16]:

• Claude R. Kirk, Jr. (R) - 821,190 (55.13%)
• Robert King High (D) - 668,233 (44.86%)
• Write-in - 238 (0.02%)

1968 New Hampshire Republican Vice Presidential primary^[17]:

• Austin Burton - 10,987 (29.80%)
• Lawrence C. Smith - 9,291 (25.20%)
• John A. Volpe - 5,611 (15.22%)
• Claude R. Kirk, Jr. - 4,842 (13.13%)
• Ronald Reagan - 4,108 (11.14%)
• George W. Romney - 1,035 (2.81%)
• Paul C. Fisher - 998 (2.71%)

Florida gubernatorial election, 1970^[18]:

• Reubin Askew/Thomas Burton Adams, Jr. (D) - 984,305 (56.88%)
• Claude R. Kirk, Jr./Ray C. Osborn (R) (inc.) - 746,243 (43.12%)

See also

	Biography portal
	World War II portal
	United States Marine Corps portal

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Bauerlein, David: "Former Florida governor Claude Kirk dies" Florida Times-Union, September 28, 2011
2. ^ ^{a b} Bousquet, Steve: "Former Florida Gov. Claude Kirk dies at age 85" St. Petersburg Times, September 28, 2011
3. ^ ^{a b c} Basse, Craig: "Former Gov. Claude Kirk dead" Lakeland Ledger, September 28, 2011
4. ^ Michael Mello, Deathwork: Defending the Condemned, University of Minnesota Press, 2002, ISBN 0816640882, 9780816640881
5. ^ http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,944015,00.html
6. ^ http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,909120,00.html
7. ^ http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,843510,00.html
8. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=14538
9. ^ http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/article934267.ece
10. ^ http://www.palmbeachpost.com/accent/content/accent/epaper/2008/12/12/a1d_kirk_1212.html
11. ^ Munzenrieder, Kyle: "Former Florida Gov. Claude Kirk, "a Tree-Shakin' Son of a Bitch," Dies at 85" Miami New Times, September 28, 2011
12. ^ Associated Press: "Former Florida. Gov. Claude Kirk Dies At 85" National Public Radio, September 28, 2011
13. ^ ^{a b} http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,837578,00.html
14. ^ "Claude R. Kirk, Jr." NNDB profile
15. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=29560
16. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=96893
17. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=393640
18. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=96891

External links

• Official Governor's portrait and biography from the State of Florida
• Claude R. Kirk, Jr. at Find a Grave

Political offices
Preceded by W. Haydon Burns	Governor of Florida 1967–1971	Succeeded by Reubin Askew
Party political offices
Preceded by Leland Hyzer	Republican nominee for United States Senator from Florida (Class 1) 1964	Succeeded by William C. Cramer
Preceded by Charles R. Holley	Republican nominee for Governor of Florida 1966, 1970	Succeeded by Jerry Thomas

Persondata
Name	Kirk, Claude R.
Alternative names	Claude Roy Kirk, Jr.
Short description
Date of birth	January 7, 1926
Place of birth	San Bernardino, California
Date of death	September 28, 2011
Place of death	West Palm Beach, Florida