00:00:03.540 - 00:00:34.190

There's nothing Mhm. Yeah, okay. I want to thank all of you for coming to the fourth annual Roast of Mote Marine Lab. We're really honored to have a very special person today. Be the object of a roast and tribute, interestingly, has already had a whole day off it here at the lab.

00:00:34.200 - 00:00:52.060

And he was telling me a little while ago that when we asked him to do his work there here, he never thought that we would have him tagging sharks. We always reserved it for the lawyers, but yeah, Bob, you had a very special treat there. Mhm.

00:00:53.040 - 00:01:16.580

I want to thank all of you for coming. And I'd like to at this time, recognize a, uh, several elected officials who have found time in between there many busy schedules to come and participate in this event. Congressman Dan Miller, if you'd recognize him, our own congressman and danced.

00:01:20.940 - 00:01:35.800

Dan is very special to us because he was also a trustee of the lab for the last six years and head off a research committee. So he knows everything about marine research. So if anybody in Congress wants to know what's what to do in Marine research.

00:01:35.810 - 00:02:01.350

Just ask him. We're also delighted to have Congressman Collin Peterson from Minnesota, and he even said that I asked him. It was very cold in Minnesota. He said, No, it's not too bad right now. It's sixties and so on. So we really appreciate it coming when it's not cold because he usually people come down here when it really gets cold up north.

00:02:02.240 - 00:02:36.220

Uh, we're also ah, pleased to introduce Senator Jim Bows are I don't know if he had made it at or Senator Bosa isn't that bad. Um, I know Commissioner Pat glasses here. Could you be our Manatee County commissioner? And that has been a tremendous asset for Sarasota Bay because she has really worked with the lab and and a lot of the local governments and doing a lot of things for Sarasota Bay.

00:02:36.220 - 00:03:14.010

And we we thank you, Pat. Representative Dave Thomas be here. I'm thinking has made it there. I know. Representative Julie McClure is here. Julie, thank you for everything you've done. Um, also Mayor Pillet. I know Mayor is here. We thank you for coming. No, no. And I don't know whether, uh, school board member Lee Byron has checked in yet.

00:03:14.020 - 00:03:42.160

I know she was going to come see there. I apologize if I've missed anybody else, but that's all the list. I got a very important group. A very important group that does a lot of things for the lab is our advisory council members, and I know many of them are here.

00:03:43.940 - 00:04:12.540

Oh, happened Shirley Brown. I'm sorry. Thank you, Charlie. She's been a great supporter of the lab, and we really appreciate everything you do. Our advisory council members is a group of local dedicated personnel that I'd like to recognize at this time. Jean Jones, Would you stand up as I just read?

00:04:12.540 - 00:04:34.920

Your names and Rick Lake are Art Hardy, Susan Morin, Dick Car Mode, Abe Shames, Katherine Harris and anybody else I missed. They deserve a big round of applause. They do a lot of things and I want to have a special thanks for Abe and Katherine Harris.

00:04:34.930 - 00:04:59.820

Abe and Catherine. Would you stand up for four years? They really work on this event, you know, this is Abe's brainchild that he started, and eight deserves very special credit for for getting this going. And I know Bob Johnson. Bob would you be recognized, please? Was the first one.

00:04:59.820 - 00:05:22.470

He? Yeah, and bothers our chairman America's. And he could say no to me and probably to Mr Mouth, but not to aim. So So that's how we started this program. And at this time, I'd like to bring best regards from Mr Mode to all of you.

00:05:22.480 - 00:05:52.360

Um, he regrets he couldn't be here. He's doing well, and, uh, he sends his best wishes to you. Also, I'd also like to recognize the steering committee. Harry. Adlai, if you just stand up and be recognized, Ralph De Vito was being from the very beginning. Jodi Gilman, Judy Jones, Mary come P, Lamar Matthews and Michael Suarez.

00:05:55.840 - 00:06:24.250

They did a great job. Thank you very much. This time I'd like to ask our chairman of the board, Mr Michel Martin, to come up and say a few words. Thank you, Kumar. I'm delighted to be here and welcome all of you on behalf of the Board of trustees of Marine Laboratory.

00:06:24.740 - 00:06:41.550

There are a number of board members here tonight, and I'd like to recognize them and ask them to stand as I acknowledge them and ask you all to hold your applause until I've introduced the last individuals spot long. Please stand Fred Er, I'll just hold your applause.

00:06:41.550 - 00:07:15.050

I know it's, uh, Miller, Andy Ireland past chairman Bob Johnson, and we've met before. Mel Levi, Charles Baumann, Jim Brown and Ron Skipper. Now let's hear. Is there anybody here we haven't introduced yet? It's one of those at the time we're through. We'll get everybody in.

00:07:15.840 - 00:07:36.350

You forgot about Well, that that I'd like to thank all of you for your support. It means an awful lot to us. I think our board is terrific and they do wonderful good work. But it's obviously a team effort here, and and we need all the collaboration we can get from the public and private sector and many of you.

00:07:36.360 - 00:07:52.450

You folks here are members of that constituency and we thank you all the beneficiary tonight of the receipts of this dinner will go to our endowment fund. And our endowment is absolutely critical to the laboratory because the income from endowment goes right to our bottom line.

00:07:53.040 - 00:08:15.320

And I'm happy to announce that we will probably net somewhere near $20,000. I think for endowment tonight, thanks to all of you and we appreciate it. And Senator Graham, you have been among our most faithful supporters over the years, and we thank you very much for being here for being a good sport.

00:08:15.320 - 00:08:30.650

And, of course, our way of thanking you is to subject you to the worst kind of personal humiliation you'll ever hear in public, all good naturedly. And again, Thank you for being here for your support over the years and to all of you again, our thanks and please enjoy the evening.

00:08:32.940 - 00:08:54.240

Fine. At this time, I'd like to ask Katherine Harris to say a few words, and we promised, Then you can start eating your salad. After that, I don't think there's anything else I can say. Everyone has said everything, but I do want to help you again to the fourth annual Congressional Roast.

00:08:54.840 - 00:09:11.090

We are especially honored to have Senator Graham with us tonight, who's been a friend of the lab for years, and also we have a lively roster of Rusty's. It's going to be a lot of fun and you know, it's Lamar Matthews. There will never be a dull moment, and I want to thank the committee.

00:09:11.100 - 00:09:37.020

But I also want to thank the dedicated staff at memory. And you have no idea how hard they worked as well, Putting this together for you this evening. And I hope you enjoy. Thank you. Mhm. Good evening. You are. That's the Brooklyn boy. Give you that you all language.

00:09:37.030 - 00:10:13.760

You know, I was particularly honored that four years ago. Very dear friend Bob Johnson. I accepted the fact that the roast for Mote Marine would be one of the functions in which we could have some money coming in for the endowment front. And Bob Johnson was gracious enough to be roasted.

00:10:15.740 - 00:10:46.560

And it's been uphill ever since. That's just, uh, that's just to make sure that the positive motive of me never loses this effect. Really? You people are to be complimented the visit with us here at Mote Marine and to enjoy the festivities of a roast. We feel that a roast, you'll have some humor.

00:10:47.040 - 00:11:10.750

So what? And you may go away feeling a little better than when you came. So with the roasters, we're going to put the show on for you. Would you be good enough to just ease yourself up from your chairs and come up here so I can then introduce our master of ceremonies with the roasters.

00:11:10.760 - 00:11:49.950

Please come up here having Yeah. Oh, and don't forget our Senator Graham. Did he come up here Where? Senator Grant. Yeah, Yeah, yeah. I believe Senator Brain could come in. Okay, let's put him right here Once you sit by. Okay. Yeah. Nice day for something. Good Lord.

00:11:51.240 - 00:12:16.160

Yes, Senator Bob. Senator Bob Brand. Let's get on the forest. Maybe he'll come up with faster immediately. Didn't tell you the Bob brand. That's better. You can see that. He's a town with flaws. This wonderful. No, he doesn't. Yeah, as long as I Carlos glasses one more time.

00:12:16.160 - 00:12:33.950

Just make sure they work. Uh, make sure these things work. I have to stand up. Hello. The state pleasure. Why did you remove your belongs while I'm doing a little cocky here. So the globe, you'll have the opportunity to see all of the ghosts is roasting.

00:12:34.640 - 00:13:04.340

I don't know. You have to work at 8. 28. I got a little partner. Okay. I want to be able to set the stage right. Mm. Mhm. What are they doing? This. Okay, let's sell down now. in the West Coast. You know, I have two distinct on her album, Western of introducing, Uh, he was worried.

00:13:04.340 - 00:13:40.350

A Floridian lawyer speech. And since I have known him for over the years, he's the most enlightened the human being I have ever met. I mean, none other than the famous we articulate but the great Floridian lawyer, Lamar Matthews. Let's come up again. Mhm. Okay, boys and girls, are we ready to roll from?

00:13:41.240 - 00:14:08.320

I want to thank Abe for that overwhelming introduction, Um, as we know, but I'm not sure some of our platform guests know. And Senator Graham knows that anything good happens in Sarasota. Abe is likely to be around it. And in the middle of it, I can also direct uh, initially an announcement that all criticism about tonight from poor taste to critical emissions should be directed to eight shames and stand up again.

00:14:08.320 - 00:14:28.220

A New York. All right, I appreciate it. It seems a long time ago, but there was an invocation, and I appreciated Mayor pellets. Invocation. Besides being a Republican who's not afraid to support Senator Graham, Jeanne also sends me an occasional joke from Catholic Digest. Uh, they're real good they are.

00:14:28.220 - 00:14:45.030

I don't need one tonight, however, because I've got a true one from Miami to start us off. It's a joke. A true story about Lou Holtz at the Orange Bowl Time. In fact, Senator, he was down. There are Parks. McCabe is a witness of this and some reporter from The Miami Herald or some wacko newspaper.

00:14:45.030 - 00:15:02.650

You know how they are in South Florida. Ask Lou Holtz of Notre Dame if he believed the Lord intervened in athletic events and could account for Notre Dame's phenomenal victories and holds, Of course, said no. Of course I don't I don't believe the Lord intervenes, but I think his mother does mhm.

00:15:04.240 - 00:15:31.260

So anyway, we're here tonight as Senator Bob Graham exhibits what is probably the greatest act of political courage in his storied career. He's the honoree at a Mote Marine roast, which means he's on the cover of Mote Marine magazine, which means if history is any judge, he will likely politically disappear within the next 24 months.

00:15:32.840 - 00:16:01.460

Okay, we have replaced Time magazine as the cover hex of the decade item. Mhm Senator Bob Johnson, the former Bob Johnson, unbeatable even with his shy and unassuming manner shot down by the first Democrat since Ed Price in the fifties to represent Sarasota in the Florida Senate.

00:16:02.140 - 00:16:40.340

Items representative Jim Lombard, the former gym Lombard Republican minority leader, dropped from the scene like that shark actually got him item honors when Porter Goss he's thus far escaped. But he moved his district 100 miles south. And as for his emcee on that evening, the former Andy Ireland Orel Andy now lives on Anna Maria Island, receiving comfort and support from his Children and and he just introduced people.

00:16:41.140 - 00:17:08.450

So, Senator, we commend your political courage. Some say reckless, abandoned. Which brings you here tonight. Just ignorance. How about ignorance that always counts? Democrats rely heavily on ignorance. They always have. Now your attention, please. I work for a long time. This is a roast. If you are easily offended, have a thin skin feel particularly self important This evening you're invited to stand up and leave.

00:17:08.450 - 00:17:34.270

Now the alternate event is Johnson versus Bazaar, on the edge of the shark tank, right out that door, and the sharks look nervous. Target tonight is D. Robert Graham, Florida Gator distinguished governor, Senator for life the roasters very talented and unabashed from several parts of our great state.

00:17:34.740 - 00:17:55.850

It's not hard to know where to begin. But Yogi Berra said in his great statement, When you come to a fork in the road, you take it. So here we go. Our first poster is Gary Larson. You will see a common thread here tonight. Manatee County High School graduates molders of some of the world's best minds.

00:17:56.340 - 00:18:30.310

Gary Larson, David Lawrence will be introduced later. Congressman Dan Miller, Kerry Kershner. They remind us of those halcyon days of the fifties and sixties at Manatee High, where for birth control these guys relied on their personality. Okay, sorry. I'm great here. He is a leading trial lawyer, and I know representative Dave Thomas will disagree when I tell you, I have a lawyer here tonight for fairness.

00:18:30.320 - 00:18:45.160

But it is true to make sure. And you gotta watch this with a senior senator that we don't just have a bunch of old former employees sucking up to the old boss to make him look good. Gary Larson doesn't know Bob Graham from a lump of coal.

00:18:45.840 - 00:19:03.180

He's never met the man, but he's a lawyer and he's fares. I often ask Gary. I often asked Gary to just tell me what's fair, and he's gonna do that right now. He's gonna set the stage for the rest of us. Gary Larson, outstanding trial lawyer from Sarasota, Florida As podium is yours, sir.

00:19:03.190 - 00:19:33.160

Thank you. Mm. That's the fairest introduction I've ever received from Lamar. So I will proceed. You know, I am a Manatee County native, an attorney and a Republican. So I asked myself, I said, why would they want me here tonight? And then I realized, Isn't that just like a democratic function reaching out to bring in the unpopular, disadvantaged minorities?

00:19:33.840 - 00:19:52.670

Yeah. In fact, it feels so good. I think I'm going to demand something on the way out the door. Stop a parade. I can't decide. But, you know, I wish I could tell you that everyone loves Mote Marine as much as we all do. But quite frankly, in Bradenton, it doesn't enjoy that greater reputation.

00:19:53.040 - 00:20:08.200

I hate to say it, but I know I was on my way up here tonight. One of my neighbors came over. He said, Gary, you're going to demo Marina. I wouldn't waste the damn time. Mhm. I ain't got no fuel that can't launch your boat. No beer, no soda, no ice.

00:20:08.640 - 00:20:34.060

And you won't believe this. They got sharks in the tank. And now you know, you figure even a fool from Sarasota can figure out what's happening to a shining, you know. Yeah, of course. You don't see what these people think about Save our manatees. They're still waiting for a check, you know, But as an attorney, as an attorney, I have a special relationship with Mote Marine, as we all do.

00:20:34.520 - 00:20:52.950

I'm sure you're aware that Moat specializes in shark research. And given the overcrowded nature of my profession these days, we've talked about some joint research ventures. As you know, some of the technicians are reluctant to mutilate a shark. But on the local county bar level, they have extended swim privileges to our members.

00:20:52.950 - 00:21:15.190

And so far, there's been no sharks that have been injured. So that's good. But I think that mode serves another greater purpose. And this is far beyond. Just preserving our natural environment mode is a great home for what we call born again environmentalist. Now, I'm sure you either know these people or might even be one of these people.

00:21:15.200 - 00:21:45.760

It's easy to identify. They probably sold their entire dealership or smelting plant New Jersey several years ago. Yeah, as he something out there, You throw me off your beach. Thank you. They moved down here and with that obscene profits, bought a private waterfront condominium or one of those private beachfront homes, you know, And it doesn't take more than about 70 to 48 hours and they wake up and, you know, they're sitting there going.

00:21:45.760 - 00:22:11.120

I just can't believe it, You know, he's had too many people on the road. It's just getting crowded, you know? I just think we should preserve and we just got to cut back. You know, honey, you sound like an environmentalist. You're right. Let's stop. And, of course, most loves that because we'll be glad to set up a charitable trust for you to make you feel a lot better about the money, possibly endow something as you're attempting to keep others from enjoying what you've enjoyed.

00:22:13.340 - 00:22:30.300

But I think you know it does help because you have to say, you know what does what does Florida have in the way of cultural diversity? in this area. Does it really matter whether you're from Ohio or Michigan, you know, or in Longboat Key? I guess a millionaire or a multi millionaire I mean, we need a little something to liven things up.

00:22:30.310 - 00:22:50.820

And I know the real estate people love mode Marine, because when they're showing those waterfront homes and there's red tide, you can often hear him say, Oh, that's just the most people doing. Some experiments will be gone. It doesn't really happen. Mhm, Yeah, but But tonight I asked myself, I said, My goodness roasting, Senator Graham, What?

00:22:50.830 - 00:23:11.120

What do I know about this man? And I'll tell you all something that it's difficult for me. He is the only Democrat I ever voted for. Of course. Look at the choices I had at the time. You know, there's a man of real judgment, and I said to myself Now why did I vote for him thinking back beyond the lack of alternate choices?

00:23:11.740 - 00:23:26.850

And I think what what it is about Senator Graham that doesn't bother me is that he was always rich and never afraid to do never went. I like most Democrats who hide their wealth, he was just like, yeah, I'm rich. I'm rich. So what? Let's go.

00:23:27.640 - 00:23:50.260

Because, as you know, to be a Democrat, you've got to be real poor or real rich. No working person is going to take that position. Oh, sure. I also remember hearing something at the time about him making his money in the business of milking things which seems so appropriate for a politician, I I think that that helped.

00:23:51.840 - 00:24:09.310

But other than that, as far as I know, he and love are Matthews are the only only Democrats who ever held that name their entire lives and not changed at some career points. But we all recognize, at least I recognize as a layperson that Senator Graham is certainly one of the most powerful people that we have in this state.

00:24:09.580 - 00:24:34.050

I mean, look what he and Connie Mack did for bringing baseball in ST Petersburg. You know, it seems so minor, but it was so important to us, And it doesn't matter, since I'd rather watch a tractor pull any way over there. Yeah. Appreciate that. Yeah, but I wanted to know more about this man.

00:24:34.050 - 00:24:46.150

If you're going to stand up in front of people and talk about. Someone praised them as I am you want to know more about. And I was shocked by some of the things I learned. Impressed is a better word. You know. People can turn their lives around.

00:24:46.160 - 00:25:06.960

After an apparently disastrous undergraduate career choice that you have had, the senator realized he needed something to bolster his academic credentials. I noticed there was a mistake in the programme. I he apparently went to F S U Law School, but they call it Harvard, which is a common confusion, as you saw a lot of people make that mistake.

00:25:07.540 - 00:25:26.330

But as a politician, I thought the thing that struck out to me as being the mastermind, the masterstroke was this the concept of work days, you know, as a late person the thought of a politician working an entire day just to me, just so foreign to the reality of what they do that I was done by that.

00:25:26.330 - 00:25:41.170

I thought that was brilliant. Not that I believe it. I just thought it was great, but what really puzzled me, and what I wanted to know more about was this. We all heard the rumors about the vice presidential slot we all knew that he was that close to it.

00:25:41.840 - 00:25:51.950

And I said to myself, I wonder what it was that kept him out of the ticket. And I know a lot. He would call Lamar for the inside story. But I called a good friend of mine who I think is really middle of the road. And I said, Rush.

00:25:52.340 - 00:26:20.140

Okay. Did you say said today? Mhm. I said, Rush. I got to ask you, What was it? What kept him off the slot? He said to me, Gary, you won't believe it. Apparently, he had the position, but Hillary just wasn't convinced that one workday at Mote Marine made him the environmental candidate, you know, so that if I had been there, I'd have tried to help.

00:26:20.150 - 00:26:33.140

But I wasn't. And now, with those general comments, I'd like to let others who know him better slice and dice as only they can. But for my sake center, I appreciate what you've done for the state and hope you keep on doing it both for the state and the country.

00:26:33.150 - 00:27:09.150

Thank you. Mhm. Yeah. Thank you, Gary. We continue our trip down memory lane at Manatee County High School. with yet another honored graduate, David Lawrence Jr. One of nine Children of David and Nancy Lawrence, graduated from Manatee County High School in 1960. He then graduated from the University of Florida in Gainesville, Lynn, where he was named outstanding journalism graduate and then honored by his a lot.

00:27:09.150 - 00:27:52.850

His school is distinguished alumnus of the journalism school and again by the whole university. He advanced to the Advanced Management program at Harvard Business School, but it didn't do him any permanent harm that we can tell. He then entered the newspaper business and moved in rapid succession from a reporter at the ST Petersburg Times to the news editor at The Washington Post, to the managing editor of The Palm Beach Post, to the assistant to the editor and managing editor of the Philadelphia Daily News to The Charlotte Observer as executive editor and editor, Detroit Free Press executive editor, publisher and since 1989 is served as publisher and chairman of the anchor newspaper of the Knight Ridder, a group of newspapers, The Miami Herald.

00:27:53.440 - 00:28:14.060

He is married. He and his wife, Roberta, have five Children ages, something like 8 to 28 and he's just done a lot of wonderful things. Including receiving just 1992 the Silver Medallion award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews and as immediate past President, the American Society of Newspaper Editors.

00:28:14.640 - 00:28:32.730

I used to bash newspaper people when I introduced them using a line that Adlai Stevenson once you use that said, newspaper editors are in charge of separating the wheat and the shaft and then printing. The chap, however sadly, lost to Eisenhower and never ran for or served successfully in another elected post.

00:28:32.730 - 00:28:58.350

And so I quit doing that. But a friend of our senators, uh, we're honored to have him here from his publishing dust at the Miami Herald to return to his near manatee roots. Mister David Lawrence. David. Mhm. Yeah. Good job, man. I can't tell you what an extraordinary thrill it is.

00:29:01.240 - 00:29:36.950

Follow someone who has never met Bob Graham before tonight. Yeah. Oh, Oh, that's good talk about your basic up host. Personal kind of approach. Yeah. I really didn't want to do this, folks. Yeah, Your member of Congress, Dan Miller. F Dan Miller, F Daniel Miller. I read in the program tonight.

00:29:38.840 - 00:30:14.270

Called me a few weeks ago and said, Yeah, as his close friend in high school. But I simply do this as a favor. No stress, no pressure. Be with a lot of other people who know this fellow intimately. Like our previous speaker. Yeah. Uh huh. I want you to know tonight that for Frederick, Daniel Miller was simply Dan Miller wacko when I was in high school.

00:30:18.640 - 00:30:50.040

But anybody tell me you can't buy a public office in America. Yeah. Whoa! Oh, Mhm Getting getting high. You all have professionals on this stage. True story. All of this will be true. This evening, I run into a Manatee County commissioner named Pat Class. I've never met her before.

00:30:50.050 - 00:31:13.270

She moved to Florida 1956 the same year that I moved. And just to give me a little boost, she wants me to know that Gary Larson. Oh, he's really good. Okay, What I'm going to do tonight is simply tell the truth. What more would you expect from a simple country newspaper, man?

00:31:13.940 - 00:31:59.330

That's I don't belong on this desk. Political figures, lawyers, developers, other people who suck up to the senator. Yeah, I went to the University of Florida. Oh, no better your bill. I went to the journalist school and I studied the very pursuit of truth. So I've done some interviewing you're going to find, like the previous speaker.

00:31:59.330 - 00:32:24.180

A lot of folks have gone to joke books and made up stuff. Mm. That's nice. Dan Miller gives me an assignment. I go work at it just like a newspaper, man. Sure. Bob Graham and I live in the same place. Miami. You probably don't know. True story.

00:32:24.180 - 00:32:47.260

All of this is going to be true. You probably don't know that he is actually from a day county community named Canseco. Correct. A community which true story Dis incorporated seven years ago rather than being known as the boyhood home of Bob Graham. Uh huh. Two story.

00:32:47.640 - 00:33:15.170

That's good. You need to go to the family when you're in pursuit of the truth. I clearly went to older brother Bill. Okay? Yeah. You know that Bob Graham grew up on a dairy farm, you know, his father, Ernest, a state senator, was a dairy farmer as a fellow who grew up on a farm between the ages of six and 14.

00:33:16.740 - 00:33:53.960

Any story dealing with farming is going to be important to me in terms of life experience. Bill Graham tells me this story, which I think is true Bill Graham goes into the farm one day. Know that Bill Graham is 12 or so years older than Bob Graham goes into the barn one day and discovered it was cabin time for an old family car named Bessie, one of the family's best built producers.

00:33:54.700 - 00:34:18.540

Nobody else is at home, nobody else to rely on. And at this point in pre birth, the calf is half hour. But Bessie is a very old cow, and she's having a lot of trouble giving birth. It is much too late to call the veterinarian, and no one else is at home except bills.

00:34:18.550 - 00:34:52.790

12 years younger. Brother Bob, the future senator Bill needs help, so he calls Bob. Come here, Bill said, Grab this cat's leg and pull true story, folks. So the two of them are pulling and they are pulling and they are pulling and they are pulling. And just a few minutes later, the Grand brothers are watching in amazement as this calf takes a few wobbly steps.

00:34:54.240 - 00:35:32.250

This is a quite extraordinary moment, and Bill 12 years older is, of course, wondering what young Bob is going to think about witnessing this extraordinary moment of birth. He wants him to say something. They go to the pump to wash up. Yeah. Finally, our future Senator Bob Graham looks up, and I is just incredibly wide and he says, How fast do you suppose that camp was going when he hit that cow?

00:35:32.740 - 00:36:16.750

Mhm. Uh huh. Think about it. Still, I'm in search of the truth. Remember, I go to Arbor Parks. McCain. Some of you know, her historian, Miami's best known historian, a longtime friend of Adele Graham. Now you need to know that talking to Bill Graham, I find that she just that he describes Bob as a would be athlete.

00:36:19.830 - 00:36:43.490

And so I need to find out. Is this So what's the real story here? And RV Parks wants me to know that about how determined Bob was determined to be a jock at the University of Florida. You today may not remember what an extraordinary athletic figure he was at the university.

00:36:44.630 - 00:37:11.450

Bob pledged Sigma Nu in my time at the University of Florida, the fraternity of jocks. This is a fraternity that played an annual game on Florida Field against the dreaded Fidel's. Now, if you are not exquisitely athletic, what do you do? You've become the kicker. Okay, this man's the kicker.

00:37:12.530 - 00:37:39.740

This is a guy who practices and practices and practices and kicks and kicks and kicks and kicked himself into a screened ankle right before the big game. This is a man who I am told literally at the end of the bench on the big day. True story smears mud on himself so that folks will think he is a major athlete.

00:37:42.530 - 00:38:17.520

Yeah, yeah, Checking further. Bobby smitten with Adele Corey, a beautiful young woman from Miami RV parks. McCabe was the maid of honor at their wedding. A person in the pursuit of truth herself in history. Who noticed is that Bob and Adele knelt. Bob shoes were so new, the price tag was still stuck to the sole.

00:38:18.000 - 00:38:44.850

These are two stories, folks. You are not going to get these from other speakers. Mhm. The price tag showed $4.99. Now some of you may come to the sense that Bob Graham is cheap. Mhm, but you make up your own minds. I talked with Aaron Potter is very well known Miami attorney.

00:38:44.850 - 00:39:10.740

Some of you may know him who told me there is nothing so painful as watching Bob Graham retrieve a ball. He is sliced into a lake when Bob Graham hits the ball into the lake. The only way that he gives up on that ball is when another member of the foursome offers the senator a new one.

00:39:13.520 - 00:39:46.650

Cheap. I checked with press Secretary Ken Klein. Bob Graham is so cheap. Can client told me that the Senators entire collection of Florida tied trademark Florida ties every single one of them is polyester. Not one of them cost more than $2.99. And he tells me about the time that Jimmy Buffett, armed with a pair of scissors, once walked up to Bob Graham while the senator was giving a speech and cut the floor to tie into What won't surprise you is that Bob Graham sent him the bill.

00:39:47.170 - 00:40:16.780

Yeah. Mm. Bob Graham is supposed to be a singer. One of the things I would love to see Bob Graham do tonight is to do what he did. Not that long ago on stage in Palm Beach County as a character in the local production of the Fantastic singing A number called Plant a Radish.

00:40:16.790 - 00:40:44.720

If Bob Graham tells you tonight that he doesn't remember the words to this, know that I have a song sheet with me tonight. Thank you very much. Yeah. Mhm. Well, mhm. Mhm. Yeah. Thank you very much. Okay, moving right on. This one didn't go to Manatee High, but he went to schools in Tampa that were regularly defeated by Manatee.

00:40:44.720 - 00:41:08.180

Hi, I'm sure next Ross joined the gym. Walter Corporation of all Have you been here long enough to remember the old Speaking of singing the Old Country song? Hello, everybody everywhere. Jim Walters Show is on our Well, we're about to see it now. In 1990 October, this young man assumed the position as president, Chief Executive Officer, Jim Walter Corporation.

00:41:08.190 - 00:41:24.250

Prior to that, he's had an extensive career in government and business. He was deputy chief of staff to an obscure governor named Graham in the early eighties. Director administration for the city of Tampa. Chief assistant county administrator for Hillsborough County. He's been on the Tampa Port Authority.

00:41:24.260 - 00:41:44.640

He's a Marine He's got a wonderful wife. He's been appointed by Governor Child's to a thing or two. And, uh, most importantly, tonight, to my knowledge, words have never failed him as long as I lent him my glasses, which he left in his room. Uh, Dennis Ross, please welcome to Mm.

00:41:50.010 - 00:42:19.000

No, David, I was impressed. A newsman. Excuse me like Mars classes a newsman like yourself steps up here and talks about the fact that you're not going to suck up to Bob Graham. And after that softball speech indoors, the last thing you do is suck up the I mean, somebody would think you'd work for Bob.

00:42:19.000 - 00:42:55.230

Sisters newspapers, huh? Yeah. Yeah. Like crap. Yeah. Can't be that bad. I mhm. You know, that great British statesman Senator Benjamin Disraeli made a famous comment which I believe will be the hallmark of my comments this evening about you and that is that I have all the attributes of a dog, except loyalty.

00:42:58.800 - 00:43:28.170

Isn't that something? Yeah. You know, many of the great figures in American life were born in a log cabin. Clearly, Bob Graham is one of the great figures in American life. But I haven't upon excellent information from the same brother This guy sucked up to Bob was actually born in a Seminole Indian chickie in the Everglades.

00:43:29.600 - 00:43:56.320

Governor, if you do us a favor, if you turn to the side slightly and with all due respect to Bob's distinguished father, Earnest Graham, you do kind of look like a Seminole Indian. That's wow. She's tough. Okay, Mhm. You know, some people say that Bob Graham was born in a silver with a silver spoon in his mouth.

00:43:57.780 - 00:44:17.660

Those of you who have been here long enough to remember the 1978 gubernatorial campaign will recall that Bob seven It was a lot uglier than Bob Graham. Something That's why Bob Graham won the election. And, of course, the election made the comment that Bob was indeed born with a silver spoon.

00:44:17.660 - 00:44:39.110

But he suggested that it had been put in a different Orpheus. Yeah, you know, some people maintain that Bob Graham is cheap, and I want you to know that at least three of my stories were also already stolen by this guy, and I never have, like, newspaper reporters anyway.

00:44:39.590 - 00:45:04.720

Yeah, I resent those allegations. Bob Graham is from fine Scottish and some say something all Indian heritage. It's preserving. Your assets are appropriate people. That background you know this thing about being cheap. Unbeknownst to many of you in the audience tonight, in recent years, Bob Graham has taken up scuba diving.

00:45:06.390 - 00:45:20.310

You know, I tried to think to myself now why, at this point in his life with Bob Graham take up scuba diving and all of a sudden it struck me. Why? All these years, Bagram has watched these wonderful nature programs on his black and white television.

00:45:20.890 - 00:45:39.860

And now he's society. Want to see the real thing in living color? Yeah, yeah, this wonderful, wonderful man this cheap. I'm telling you, this was a challenge. One more comment. And that's almost say about cheap because I don't believe it. I mean, this man paid me very well when I was employed.

00:45:40.580 - 00:46:02.200

Those were the taxpayers. Taxpayers made it over. Please. There's a wonderful What about you? Overpaid, Wonderful guy. Name was Sam Jones. Sam Jones was the first black policemen in the city of Tampa. He advanced. He became one of the really distinguished members of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

00:46:02.780 - 00:46:22.740

Unfortunately for him in the waning years of his career. He was assigned to be the security officer for Bob Graham's governor. And I asked him. I said, Sam, I'm going this evening to participate in an event honoring Governor Graeme. Share with me. The quality, the singular factor that makes you most proud of, Bob Graham said, Well, that's easy.

00:46:22.750 - 00:46:41.300

I'm so glad that the day came. He was no longer governor, so I would no longer have to buy him lunch. Oh, yeah, so much for the Sigma Nu on the football field parts here. You know, Bob Graham was a Bob Graham was a wonderful governor.

00:46:41.770 - 00:47:11.860

I had the pleasure of serving him as one of his lonely staff. No, that's it. You agree with that up? You know Bob Graham's word? Was his bond a rare quality in public life? In fact, I recall a story that you may recall yourself, Governor. A fine, distinguished journalists from from the town of Jacksonville.

00:47:11.870 - 00:47:37.080

Jerry More was Bob Graham's first candidate, and one morning after having spent an evening the evening before Cabinet meeting with Bob Graham at the mansion, Jerry came into the governor's office to myself and our chief of staff, Gary Smith is that the governor is very disturbed over an issue he thinks has tremendous mirror dealing with mining and Manatee County, which he feels should be passed by the Cabinet.

00:47:37.090 - 00:48:00.400

He believes that his the other members of the cabin don't share his views, so please go out and convince them with the merits of this proposition. So Gary Smith and myself and Jerry Moral Whitford and we met with the Cabinet officers and were able to persuade them unanimously to support this position About noon time as the Cabinet meeting was normally over.

00:48:00.770 - 00:48:20.490

All of a sudden, poor Jerry more breaks into the office of the governor, tears in his eyes and says, Gary, tennis, we won 6 to 1. We said, What's wrong with that? He said, Bob Graham voted against it. He said, What do you mean? He said, Well, he listened to the argument, was persuaded by the reasoning of the management in front of him and voted against it.

00:48:21.270 - 00:48:40.500

Man of your word. And you know, Bob Graham was always well ahead of his time in terms of fashions, I recall vividly. Charlie, you remember this. I'm sure that the wet head look which is so popular today. You see even men's magazines. Bob, you were truly a Trailblazer in that call.

00:48:40.870 - 00:48:55.780

I recall that you often times an early morning would come into meetings with your hair nice and slick down. All right. Nice and wet. It was really a leading edge event. I was just trying to follow. Charlie reads, you know, mentioning Charlie reminds me of something.

00:48:56.610 - 00:49:12.930

As we're standing here. I said to myself, Something's changes, some things. Some things stay the same Bob you have now instead of deep black hair. As we work together, your hair is not quite as black as he used to be. My hair is not quite as brown as he used to be.

00:49:12.930 - 00:49:54.290

But you know what? Lamar is still as short as it ever was, Always as bald as he Everyone wake up about short. Yeah, you know, Bob Graham is beloved to the people of Florida and beloved of the institutions that he's been able to serve. So it was very distressing to him when when he spent his work day here at both Marine Laboratories and completed today and felt a real sense of accomplishment, having actually, as politicians work for a living for an entire day to have been informed that the person that he replaced had been eaten by a shark.

00:49:54.870 - 00:50:15.690

Mm, Yeah. I've only seen program at work. A loss for words on a couple of occasions. The first time is whenever you ask him for a favor of assistance of legislation, really, does he ask for a dollar? The second time you asked him to pick up the check.

00:50:17.060 - 00:50:37.170

The third time. A great story when government. Graham was first elected. He was tremendously enthusiastic about his opportunity, having been a dog house Democrat in the Senate and really not having had any effect at all on state. But now he was the guy with the power, so he was going to make sure that he didn't miss an opportunity.

00:50:37.170 - 00:50:51.090

So he had staff meetings every morning at the mansion at 7 a.m. Right and early. Of course, he had drivers, cooks, maids. His every need was taken care of us. Poor working stiffs had to get up in the middle of the night to get to imagine.

00:50:51.090 - 00:51:06.500

By seven o'clock we had a guy who was our environmental lady's name was Ken Woodward. You'd been governor. Asked his environmental aid. We're saying there one morning about the fourth or fifth time he looks at the government. Says, Governor, you know, you have all these advantages.

00:51:06.620 - 00:51:29.270

This is your home. You know, Governor, to me, early morning hours are very important. In fact, a natural phenomenon. It is important to all of us that involves the smooth muscle contractions in the intestines just being interfered with by these early morning meetings. And Bob Graham didn't have a damn thing to say.

00:51:30.760 - 00:51:50.890

And from that point forward, the meetings already at 7. 30. We appreciate it. We appreciate what Ken was able to do for us. Yeah. You know, one of the great qualities okay of this man and of any great sportsmen he is sportsmanship and honor on the field.

00:51:52.660 - 00:52:08.030

Have any of you had the pleasure of playing tennis with Bob Graham? Well, if you have, you will know that this man will stew any length whatsoever. Charlie, you you're familiar with this to win a tennis game? One of his favorite activities is just at the moment, the pinnacle.

00:52:08.040 - 00:52:28.160

When you're ready with your serve, he'll yell something. Watch out. Look for the bird. It's true, isn't it? Okay, fess up to it. Yeah. You know, we've all heard about Bob Graham's notebooks. I just happened to have one of our brands notebooks right here in my in my pocket.

00:52:28.160 - 00:52:51.270

This was actually one which I, which I stole from Bob Graham one day when he had really pissed off one of the major members of the Senate in Florida by taking notes when the guy was talking to you. Now people often times feel as though this is a man who is diligent, who is gonna take down every word of mine to make sure that I'm followed up on appropriately.

00:52:52.550 - 00:53:14.370

In fact, you get a sense that perhaps you'll be a part of history when Bob Grant's memoirs are written and your very words are incorporated. In those memoirs, let me read you some of the entries from nobody. A date. March 17th, 1980. What a good looking gal.

00:53:15.850 - 00:53:45.880

I got her phone number. She said You'd be home tonight. Mhm March 18 4 PM Adele calls and wants me to pick up milk and eggs on the store on the way home tonight. Those are just some examples of the concept of government. You know Bob Graham when he was governor and used to practice a four year weight loss cycle that's emerged in recent years into a six year wait.

00:53:47.250 - 00:54:10.460

And you know, I don't personally having known him all these years and knowing what a good guy is, I really take offense and people who are behind his back call him things like chips or Dale or other chipmunk related names. Yeah, so in the face of that, I was so pleased when the governor, last year in advance of the Senate reelection, decided to have a Chico suction.

00:54:12.840 - 00:54:48.490

And the amazing thing was, after that Chico Suction Bob, you lost £20. It was, But you know, um, earlier mention was made of the of the fact that Miami has a baseball team. You know, baseball is okay, but I am proud for the first time. Publicly this evening can ask you that the other part of the deal was at ST Petersburg and Tampa Forever more will be the home every spring of the Bob Graham annual sing along contest.

00:54:48.500 - 00:55:20.560

We think governor that that's going to have a tremendous impact on on our community is economic well being, but I have a couple of things I want to share with you. You all know how intelligent Bob Graham is and how well he handles things. When he left the governor's mansion, some of my good friends in the governor's mansion were kind enough to send me some of the things memorabilia of his experience in the governor's mansion.

00:55:20.940 - 00:55:38.960

And I want you to know this is the very mirror. But each morning Bob Graham would shave in front of and Wally Shade, he would read the notes from Adele Graham, telling him which of her tried out sisters or their husbands or their Children to a 0.2 jobs or various important task and stay up.

00:55:39.440 - 00:56:16.460

That's very mirror. Now you're getting to the truth. And last but not least, this looks kind of knew. But the truth is, this is quite quite an old thing here. Each year, as part of the responsibility of reaching out to the citizens of our state Governor, Graham and his family would take a photo which was used in the upcoming year in state publications, and this is the very, very mhm device which the government used to stand next to the delta, Appear to be as tall as she.

00:56:19.900 - 00:56:41.840

Thank you. He's preaching. Yeah, well, you know, reference was made to Bob Graham's singing abilities, but I think it would be terrible of us this evening to leave here without the opportunity for you. Good people who have come here for such a terrible cause to be deprived of the opportunity of experiencing those singing abilities.

00:56:42.930 - 00:57:03.800

Is there anyone here who has a birthday this evening? How about yesterday? Tomorrow? You went out of her birthday recently. All right, There she is. I saw her. Would you please rise and sing? Happy birthday, this lady. Thank you very much. I can't imagine that he wouldn't sing.

00:57:03.800 - 00:57:29.430

Happy birthday. Well, I will do that. But it will create such a clamor for the rest of my repertoire that we may go on all night. How about slow boat to China? Every birthday to you Birthday to you Happy birthday. Happy birthday. Happy birthday. Oh, yeah, yeah.

00:57:30.630 - 00:58:10.870

Mhm Venice. I think you just proved it. Thank you very much. Our our next noted roaster. There is an anonymous one that will follow, but our next one is, uh Dr Charles Reid. If you watch the Mary Tyler Moore Show, this is not Mr Grant in the office.

00:58:10.870 - 00:58:25.840

It really is Charlie Reid. He's a chief executive officer for the Florida Board of Regents. Of whom one of its members was the lenses with us tonight, one of Sarasota's we're very proud of and the first one in a long time if anybody else ever did to serve on that.

00:58:26.320 - 00:58:49.850

Dr Reed's background is an educational finance and education. He served as chief of staff for former Governor Bob Graham. He served as deputy chief of staff, chief, legislative advisor, education policy coordinator offer than, uh, governor. Now Senator Graham. His experience includes a wide variety of service, including a member of the faculty George Western Washington University.

00:58:50.410 - 00:59:08.360

He's been awarded its Distinguished alumni citation. He's a native of Pennsylvania. Somewhere along the line, he met Steve Korshak at Monte Community College. I don't know if he's one to talk Steve and to playing baseball with a great Washington Senators instead of signing with a non existence franchise called the San Francisco 49 ers.

00:59:08.360 - 00:59:25.470

Those were his choices, but in any event, he's been here a long time I last heard Dr Reid speak at the commencement at Stetson University seven years ago. Our oldest daughter graduated. And you know Dr Reid is he's He's quite a guy, and he's got these education groupies follow him around when he speaks.

00:59:25.470 - 00:59:39.950

And one of them ran up to him afterwards and said, Oh, Dr Reid, Dr Reid, that was just wonderful. Each speech you give is better than the next. Well, we hope that's true tonight and this speech will be better than the next and fall on a minute.

00:59:47.920 - 01:00:09.240

Thank you, Lamar. Uh, actually, it was Mary Company who invited me here tonight. Mary called me up and she said, Chancellor, you still defend academic freedom? I said, Of course, Mary, She said, Do you still believe in free speech? I said, Of course, she says, How about giving one in Sarasota?

01:00:14.010 - 01:00:35.730

Actually, I needed to get one in Sarasota for free about this time last summer. Bob Johnson, after you've got $34 million to buy the Oslo theater people, the Ringling didn't want us to buy, so I had to call up Lamar. So, Lamar, I need an attorney.

01:00:36.310 - 01:01:03.850

Do you believe in free enterprise? he said, Yeah, I believe in free enterprise. I said, Well, I'm the head of an enterprise that needs free service. Lamar, This is a $15,000 speech. David Lawrence for a mask. Canosa has a boat out here. He wants to take you back to Miami.

01:01:03.860 - 01:01:33.640

Way of Havana. And he said he'd help sell the Miami Arrow. Dennis Frost ran the governor's office like a Marine drill sergeant. We had to report to work with our shoes, shined with our hair cut with our suits. Press didn't care with anything else. The rest of that I wish it was lucky for you, Charlie.

01:01:35.910 - 01:02:02.520

Actually, actually, I'm the only one had enough guts to last the whole administration. Dennis started with a full head of hair and ended six months of the bullet here. This is what you got after 7.5 years? No, I said, How come Lamar, This is a great event because I need to tell the truth about our honored guest.

01:02:03.200 - 01:02:33.740

Come on, now. Everybody else's missed it. Let me say this. Back in the middle 19 thirties, when Florida was a poor under populated states, the one and only D Robert Graham was born in a log cabin. Yeah, in the few niac springs in North Florida. A.

01:02:33.750 - 01:02:57.520

As a matter of fact, growing up as a boy, he had to split logs for the fireplace. He ate beans for lunch and supper. And worst of all, he had no credit cards and no air conditioning. But then a miracle occurred and his family struck it rich.

01:02:58.600 - 01:03:31.770

They got on a bus in Defu Niac Springs at the Troll Way station, and they went to South two pence Ouko Flora in the trackless wasteland of Dade County, where his father happened to find 30,000 acres. Yeah, to build the theory, can you imagine how many cows you can put on 30,000?

01:03:31.770 - 01:04:13.110

Maybe. Okay, it was a step up from the few NIAC springs, but yet young d Robert still didn't have air conditioning. And by God, the cows had air conditioning. Before long, growing up, D Robert decided to enter the University of Florida. He wanted a football scholarship when he couldn't kick any better than what David or the University of Florida coach decided for him.

01:04:14.390 - 01:04:39.340

How about playing for the fraternity team Bob? So he got demoted right away and had to pay his way through. Then he moved on to that big school in the sky. Parliament. Mhm. I don't know how much damage they did, but as soon as he graduated, he decided to enter politics.

01:04:40.390 - 01:05:05.720

So what's the first thing he did in entering politics was to change his name to just plain old body. Hey, after he spent some time in the Florida house and the Florida sun, he decided that he wanted the big job. He wanted to be governed. So what did he do?

01:05:07.290 - 01:05:41.220

He decided to hire a big time consultant who lives in Sarasota by the name of Bob Squad. Bob Square offered Body two options. One was Don't right a campaign check for $750. But print your face on a handbill and let's see if we can pass them out in the front of public all over the state of Florida.

01:05:43.690 - 01:06:32.400

The other option was Do write a personal check for $750,000 and by so much damn television time that you own almost all of mm, which later on a little boy in a parade came up to Bob Graham and said in front of his father, Daddy, Daddy, that's the man that lives in my television set along the way to becoming governor for the first time in his life, Bob develop a unique work at he would learn to work only one day a month.

01:06:33.940 - 01:07:20.910

Give it a publicist to do jobs that belong to somebody else. Woman in Jacksonville, he cleaned out chicken guns in Orlando. He hauled garbage in Miami. He was a tail gunner on a bread truck. Mhm Mm. Sarasota. He was a shark tire. Now the truth. And since we have a reporter here tonight, write it down as governor, Bob Graham never once raised taxes.

01:07:21.480 - 01:08:04.400

Mhm, mhm. All you ever did was decide on doing great things for our state. Cost hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars. Save our rivers, save the Everglades. Mhm. Save our beaches. Reach the upper court style and funding education. Mhm. Why? All he ever said to Gary Smith, the dentist and me was go out and raise the money to pay for these good ideas.

01:08:05.670 - 01:08:32.920

So, in a meeting with Dennis, we put together our motto. And that was and Bob Graham adopted this. You give us the facts on them. We'll put the tax on them. Mhm. Mhm! After eight years as governor, Bob Graham became a United States senator. Let me say this.

01:08:33.370 - 01:09:01.500

You talk about some adjustments to make. Try that out sometime. What a hell of a step down. No more state plane. How are you getting back to Miami tonight? I have my own state called tw No more Governor's Mansion. No more official driver, no more cook, no more made no more anybody getting you up and getting you downstairs at seven o'clock in the morning.

01:09:04.270 - 01:09:25.340

When he got to Washington, though, he's so damn cheap he called back Dennis. Gary and I chipped in so that he could take driver's education. Yeah, Our only agreement was that you had to report back to us if we paid for it. He flunked out the first time.

01:09:25.340 - 01:09:44.420

He could not parallel park. Mhm. He flunked at the second time. He could not parallel park. We called up the U. S Senate and said, Give him one of them straight drive in partner. Yeah, he gets to the Senate and his career takes off. He gets his first assignment.

01:09:44.430 - 01:10:05.550

Big assignment the Banking Committee just in time for the savings and loan scandal. Uh huh. Then he gets his second assignment. The Armed Services Committee. Just in time for the biggest cut back and the military since Valley Ford. Rumor has it he wants to go on foreign relations.

01:10:05.560 - 01:10:33.190

Look out, Serbia. Now, this is a secret. We all signed some pledge that we wouldn't talk about this. It was this quiet conversation about how Bob Graham really wanted to be President Bill Clinton. L came along and screwed up the timing of that. That's what you think.

01:10:34.660 - 01:11:03.980

He still wants to be president. Okay, He has told me 100 times. I want to be president of Florida Community College for the hearing in the Keys. More than anything, you know? And he said, after I'm president of Florida Keys Community College, I want the big, big job of my life.

01:11:04.460 - 01:11:29.740

What's that? He said, I want to manage the Marlins baseball team. Oh, probably true. The reality is, though, if I can be the only straight guy up here for a minute is that Bob Graham was one of the best bosses anybody could ever have. He's serious.

01:11:29.870 - 01:12:03.260

He's sincere painting. Smart. He keeps his agenda short. He works really hard on two or three things until he gets him accomplished. What I found is he also has great values. Generally, he's funny, okay, but he's also hard working. One time I figured out my hours, and in the almost eight years that I worked in the governor's office, you could count that as 16 years on the regular clock time.

01:12:03.750 - 01:12:27.990

So he takes his work seriously. I'm proud to work with them. I feel honored to be here tonight to be included in promoting the Mote Marine Lab. I hope that our state university system again the near future, can work with multi on a relationship which I think will be beneficial to both the university system and mode.

01:12:28.000 - 01:12:57.980

And I look forward to contributing to that. The breakdown shipments Okay up one little final roaster here it is, written in the third book of Proverbs, and I quote, He who roasted himself is roasted. Well, indeed. Uh, the gender neutral translation isn't out yet. Shirley and Giulio get that movie can.

01:12:57.990 - 01:13:25.590

Bob Graham loves to campaign. His record shows he's good at it, but he can't leave well enough alone. Bob wants to campaign for everybody. You will learn tonight. Perhaps for the first time. Why Bob Martinez succeeded Bob Graham as governor. Governor Graham insisted on doing the political ads for all viable Democratic candidates.

01:13:26.150 - 01:14:00.360

He selected the issue crime. He wrote the script. And now, as the lights go down and you turn behind the platform, look what else he did. Uh huh. Steve Patrick has been endorsed by the NRA. Steve Patrick is a good shot. The crime rate in Jacksonville went down when Steve got in the governor's race with his tough stand against crime.

01:14:01.040 - 01:14:30.560

It'll be tough to beat. Okay. Hello. I'm Steve Magic, and I'm running for governor. When I was in the Legislature, I used to believe the way you fought crime was to help kids and families. But I've learned different. My high priced Polman has told me that Floridians want us to be tough on crime.

01:14:31.140 - 01:14:56.510

And my high priced media man has told me that the way that you fight crime in Florida is to be tough. Yeah. Come on. You got up on crime just the other day. All right? A bad guy came in here the hot tub away. Every man's hot tub is my condo.

01:14:56.520 - 01:15:31.240

I'm ready to take a shot on Dr Elects. Speed pattern. He's tough on crime. Okay? People laughed when Loughton walked. People laugh when Bob works, but they cried when Frank Man rode a horse to town. Hello. I'm bright, man. I'm running to be your governor. This is my old pal.

01:15:31.250 - 01:16:03.240

Renegade. Renegade is the campaign. He's my manager. The whole step. My media man. He's my family. He's my closest advisor. Renegade. You They were going to take any of that dirty old Pac money. Really gay. I think we can get elected without taking that dirty old Pac money renegade.

01:16:04.030 - 01:16:24.650

What do you think of the big issues on the minds of the people of Florida? Mm. Really? You think crime is the big issue? Renegade. Well, I'll tell you one thing. We got a different position on crime than those other fellas. We do. When it comes to crime.

01:16:25.230 - 01:16:54.760

We're four square again. It elect Frank, Man. Easy on the planet. Of all the candidates for governor, Barry Colton has gone out on a limb the farthest on the crime issue. Barry Coutant has the guts. Barry Coutant has the political courage to say he doesn't like the ruthless killers on death row.

01:16:55.630 - 01:17:26.450

They don't come any tougher than Barry. Yeah, okay. Mm hmm. I'm very cool. Running into forgotten. No, In Florida, we've learned a lot of good things from the French. No, I'm not talking about what you're thinking about. I'm talking about crime. We're gonna take the French idea of devils out.

01:17:27.330 - 01:18:04.840

We're going to move it right to Floyd. You do? Devil's Island. Look, they've got it bad. We've got a good elect. Barry Cooper. He's tough on fine. Mhm. I'm not a real except I can remember that Bob Shevin hates crimes so much that he put up billboards all over the state saying I hate crime.

01:18:05.720 - 01:18:28.500

Seven will be very effective on the crime issue. I am not going to do, Sheriff Bob. Murder isn't good friends of ours. They've been just great to us since 78. It's not fair. He's out of the rape. I'm not gonna do Bob. Chef, I am not going to do Bob Sheppard.

01:18:28.500 - 01:18:42.260

Look, Myrna has been one of Adele's best friends. Bob seven has helped us every step of the way since we've been here in this mansion, I am not gonna do anything to embarrass him. Our last year here, you can forget it. I know all those sick jokes about Bob seven.

01:18:42.270 - 01:18:57.390

I am not going to do Bob seven and I'm not gonna do Bob shit. I'm not gonna do one of those 67 jokes about his hair and about his body. And I'm just not going to do about you. He's too good a friend of mine, Ken.

01:18:57.400 - 01:19:28.760

We are not going to do Bob seven. We are not going to do a parody on my friend Bob. Yeah, yeah. Mhm. Mhm. People don't take Harry Johnston seriously, and that's understandable because his voice is not as good as mine. But they should give Harry Johnston more credit.

01:19:28.880 - 01:19:52.740

He has wiped out crime in Palm Beach. Last week, Harry Johnston teamed up with Eleanor Weinstock to make a citizen's arrest on Worth Avenue. They picked up a day visitor who didn't have a gold card. Uh huh. Uh huh. Hello. I'm Senator Harry Johnson, and I want to be your governor.

01:19:53.720 - 01:20:20.890

I'm a graduate of Virginia Military Institute and I am president of your Florida Senate. I know what concerns you, because it's the same thing that concerns me. Crime. We had a crime once, right here on the place. 16 years ago, big, sturdy fellow Lochte across the road jumped over our fence and poached our quails.

01:20:20.980 - 01:20:57.620

Never no mind that we had big signs. Posted crime. It doesn't respect anybody on our plantation, but throughout Florida. But I know what to do about crime, Jarvis. Sure. Thank you. Job. You've got to be tough as nails on crime in Florida. Uh huh. See that right?

01:20:58.110 - 01:21:42.230

Just a few years ago, that would have made me sickly. Now I'm tough on crime. Yeah, because the best has come and gone. Harry Johnson for Governor elect Harry Johnston. He's tough on crimes. All right. Mhm. And now, for appropriate remarks, rebuttal and rejoinder. Artist senior senator who is so generous with his time and his talents and honors us with his presence tonight.

01:21:42.610 - 01:22:22.020

The honourable Bob Graham. Don't you think it's been rather nauseous? The number of these people who've had to proceed every paragraph with a statement? I'm about to tell the truth. I am about to tell the truth. First, I'd like a piece of information. How much did you pay for your ticket tonight?

01:22:23.000 - 01:23:00.830

Could anyone please tell me what they paid a dollar? 25 cents? I want to apologize to you. I knew that you were in trouble when they asked me if I would be the target for this dinner. If you think that Bob Johnson is a dull personality, if you think that he is a difficult person to find something that is the proper object of satire and humor, you should see what these people had to deal with tonight.

01:23:02.000 - 01:23:47.620

I mean, person who has lived the pristine purist life where I am leaves a few pounds for roasters. I also want to apologize that because I'm not the only cheap person here, Kumar, he's always Yeah, Mhm. Yeah, there was the possibility. And in order to spice up the evening, that Mote Marine Lab could have gone out across the land and found some people with actually some comedic talent or at least speechwriters.

01:23:48.100 - 01:24:06.750

I mean, Dave Lawrence lives just down the the hall from Dave Barrel. But Dave Barry, uh, doesn't come cheap. He does not believe in free enterprise. So when the question was asked of Kumar. Could we afford to spend some money on really professional talent? The answer was no.

01:24:06.750 - 01:24:34.970

And you paid the price. Mhm. Yeah. I also Gary took some offense at your remarks for someone who hadn't even the decency to come and talk with me and you get something close to reality. But that wasn't what hurt me the most. Uh, it was that sick reference to ignorance and Democrats.

01:24:34.980 - 01:25:00.250

All three Democrats were here tonight. Hi. I think we stand up. I'm not going to ask them to stand up and be the subject of ridicule. And like, like some some animal in the circus that used to be located around here that you would, uh, 0.2 with duration.

01:25:00.260 - 01:25:32.710

We're proud to be Democrats. We just want to sit down and be announced. Dave Lawrence is a person who has known me for some time, and I've known David. I have known him to be the kind of stumbling, self effacing man that he was. Did you notice that in order to make up the talent, But they gave these very long, boring introduction, Uh, the speakers and I thought, uh, that, uh, David's was especially, uh, that ill?

01:25:33.090 - 01:25:57.310

Uh huh. But David is a person who is not without accomplishment. I I must have. Did you know that the Miami Herald won a Pulitzer Prize? Uh, this last year, he manages a distinguished newspaper that has accomplished a great deal. Uh, the Miami here. It was not always a newspaper that had the kind of clear focus of its direction that it has now under David's leadership.

01:25:57.790 - 01:26:25.860

Uh, some time ago, the Miami Herald it was suggested that it should open a series of bureaus around Florida and become the dominant paper in the state of Florida. But the leadership of the Herald said, No, we're not going to do that. We have a even greater vision for the Miami hero, and that is that the Miami Herald will become the newspaper of record for Latin America.

01:26:25.870 - 01:26:50.770

And that is our debt. Mhm. Yeah, but they went beyond that. A noble goal. Is it? It's in my being. They decided that the way in which to become the newspaper of record for Latin America without having to spend all of that money on daily transportation of their papers throughout Latin America was to move a substantial percentage of Latin America to mind.

01:26:51.680 - 01:27:35.710

True. Mhm the market. Dennis Ross as you, uh, perceived as a man who is remarkably devoid of town. Uh, he did manage to quote, probably misquote one former prime minister of England, Benjamin Disraeli. He could have, in some sense of self description, used another, more recent, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who, in describing one of his political opponents, said that to give the man his dude, he is a very humble man.

01:27:36.980 - 01:27:59.710

He has a great deal to be humble about. That's Dennis Ross, I might say in his in his defense, however, he is an example of a failed graduate of a drug and alcohol rehabilitation. Uh, reference was made to his marine background in this sort of military approach to life.

01:28:00.160 - 01:28:25.910

He is one of the few people in America who followed closely the events in Waco and concluded that the real lesson to be learned there was that David Koresh was not very professional in what he was doing. Yeah, now Charlie Read doesn't give you a sense of uplift to know that our state university system is in the hands of Charlie Riga.

01:28:27.170 - 01:28:55.630

Think of a great dominant figures in American higher education figures like Clark Kerr, the chancellor of the system in the You Know in California during the period when it came to greatness, the great presidents of uh of Yale and Harvard, Florida has Charlie read Charlie was some of his background was omitted in his biography.

01:28:55.630 - 01:29:15.790

As lengthy as it was, it was not referred to the fact And I know this well because on Charlie's office, where he could have put up all those diplomas and certificates and other right per quiz, it's of academic distinction. No, walls were blank of all of that.

01:29:16.670 - 01:29:42.430

What he did have up was a picture of Charlie Read, Uh, circa 1956. As as the headline read, The fastest running back in western Pennsylvania. This is a true step. The only difficulty was that Charlie Reid played football both in high school and later at George Washington here.

01:29:42.440 - 01:30:08.280

As you noticed his physique move from being the fastest line backer in western Pennsylvania to a very tough inside linebacker. Uh, he sacrificed speed for both, but he played before the advent of the plastic helmet and carrying some of those scars really still today uh huh.

01:30:09.160 - 01:30:34.440

And the word suck up. I mean, didn't you find it totally obnoxious at the very end of Charlie's remarks after he had really been inadequately gracious towards me, that he makes this outreach to Kumar and attempting to establish some relationship with both Greenland Kumar that indicates that Charlie has counted the house.

01:30:34.450 - 01:30:58.590

And you really did take in $20,000. Okay, Yeah. Mhm. Now, friends, I am going to proceed to the suck up part of my remarks. Uh, I don't know at what point you would like me to sing that song. Is there an outcry, Walter, Is there a great interest in my singing The ratty song?

01:30:58.730 - 01:31:25.480

Please. Oh, please. Well, as reluctant as I am to do so first, I've got to put this song into a little context. Yes. In June of 1985 how her oldest daughter was married. It was not just a marriage made in heaven. It was a marriage which was manipulated.

01:31:25.490 - 01:31:55.280

Negotiating by my wife, Adele, who found this young man and said, That's the man I'd like to be my daughter's husband. And she conducted a almost a desert storm like process which led to this. Shortly after the wedding, I was approached by a an arts group in West Palm Beach called Florida Repertory Company.

01:31:56.460 - 01:32:23.270

Do you know any arts group in the world that is not on the edge of financial ruin? Oh, that was the case. The Florida Repertory Theater and the representative said we would like to put on a fundraiser much like we're doing here tonight. Except we would like to do it in a performance and would like to ask if you would be willing to perform.

01:32:24.550 - 01:32:57.420

I said, Well, humbling. That's not my thing. Yeah, actually, a shun public appearances Black. But many years ago I saw a an off Broadway show called The Fantastics, which was about two families in which the parents manipulated, contrived to get their Children to marry one another, and that if I could, we could do the Fantastics and I could play the role of one of the fathers.

01:32:57.850 - 01:33:16.900

Hi. Would you be happy to do it so that I can relive this real life experience through which I had just endured? And so I did become the father of the son in the play? I did not know at the time I accepted the part that required that Act one being done in underwear.

01:33:16.950 - 01:33:43.400

But yeah, I mean, I'm an artist. You do what? You're required. Uh, and in fact, two We moved from underwear to a description of some of the challenges that face parents raising Children and gardeners tending their garden. And does the song plant a ravaged? Now, are you ready for the song?

01:33:43.520 - 01:34:15.370

Oh, yeah. The words clam a radish, grow a radish, not a Brussels sprout. That's why I'm a vegetables. You know what you're about. But if your issue will not kiss you, then you're out of luck. Because once you've planted Children, you're absolutely stuck. Every turn of green, every kidney being every plant grows according to the plot, while with Children it's bewildering.

01:34:15.940 - 01:34:44.770

You never know until the plant is grown. Just what you saw. So plant a carrot, get a carrot. Maybe you'll get to. That's why I love vegetables. You know that they'll come through. Life is Mary. If you're very vegetarian, a man who plants a garden is a very be mad.

01:34:46.510 - 01:35:14.210

Forget it. Wonderful. Thank you. Yeah, I have a friend. I'm going. Uh huh. And the request for Encore. But I know if I didn't begin the crowd to go wild, I'm not going to be responsible for the loss of human life. Friends. I want to thank you very much for the opportunity to be the target.

01:35:14.220 - 01:35:57.620

The turtle on the cover also thank you for the for the chance to his four spine will never recover. This is a an institution of national significance at a time when we are moving towards a greater science based understanding of our planet. When decisions on how we will protect our most basic resources are going to be increasingly made based on an enhanced knowledge of those resources and they're in a relationship, this institution is playing truly leadership role As a Floridian.

01:35:57.620 - 01:36:18.640

I'm proud to hear the comments of at Mote Marine Lab from scientists and colleagues across America. How we protect our oceans will be one of the great challenges, Uh, for the 21st century. This institution is leading the way in understanding what our proper action should be.

01:36:19.030 - 01:36:43.850

We have learned in so many areas here in Florida that it is often not the enemy but the purported friend of an ecological systems such as the Everglades, who, through ignorance, inflict great damage. We have the opportunity through informed science, to make a positive contribution towards the production of our water resources.

01:36:44.330 - 01:37:21.050

Your contribution here tonight will facilitate Mote Marine Lab continuing to be in the leadership of achieving that objective. I thank you very much. Mhm. Yeah, sure. Mm. Mhm. Yeah. Mark? Yeah. The effective seat. Slaves and John. In exactly 12 minutes and 30 seconds. We're going to hear from the Paris Sarasota Kumar and Frank Hopper, Jim Lombard and Bob Johnson.

01:37:21.530 - 01:37:36.460

Because Senator Graham has to leave to catch the midnight plane. And some of you folks don't look as awake as you did a few minutes ago yourself. I'd like to follow on mirror. Pull it. Now, if he'd come for a presentation and Kumar, would you come on up and Mr Hopper gonna be here so we don't wait.

01:37:36.460 - 01:38:07.750

Live around walking around time? The Honourable mirror. Sarasota team killer. Yeah. Um, Okay. Senator Lamar said earlier that I was a Republican that had the courage to vote for you. It doesn't take courage to vote for you and takes ignorance. Not too correct. Beverly and I each have voted four times for you and in the possibility that I can get those eight votes returns and I need them in the future.

01:38:08.220 - 01:38:31.590

It's my privilege tonight to represent the city of Sarasota to bring greetings in the name of the people of the city of Sarasota, Florida and being known to all the Senator Bob Graham has on this date and made an honorary citizen of the city of Florida, Sarasota, Florida and under the authority of the Charter of the City of Florida shall hold and enjoy a place of high esteem in the minds and hearts of the people of this city.

01:38:34.420 - 01:38:57.710

Yeah, mhm. Mhm, senator. Very massive. What that allows him to do. It's not what it allows you to do. It requires you to cast those votes. Thanks. You've just seen the Democratic graduation in the city. Sarasota double right. We appreciate it. Next, I'd like to call on Kumar and Frank Hopper for a presentation.

01:38:57.710 - 01:39:17.100

If you all enjoyed the covers on each of these Yeah, all around portrait artist. And he just keeps putting these things out there Just wonderful. I hope that's not called turtle abuse and some distant newspaper. Sometime I think it's great. But in any event at this time, I'd like, uh, Kumar to make a presentation.

01:39:17.110 - 01:39:47.850

Uh, with Mr Hopper as the artist in attendance, I want to publicly thank Frank. For the last four years, he's been the on the color, and he's done a wonderful job. Thank you very much. Frank, right? Yeah. Now it's hidden behind the balloons. He also did a painting for our Jason project that I encourage Olof you to look at and yeah, right.

01:39:48.220 - 01:40:25.940

Yeah, with this, I'd like to have Frank present this to Uh huh. Nice. Thank nice things. I also appreciate Frank using my high school graduation. Yes, both sides. Like I'd like to read the inscription which says Bob Graham rose 1993 in appreciation from your friends at Mote Marine.

01:40:27.110 - 01:41:32.120

Thank you, God. Mhm. Mhm. Mm hmm. Mm. Mhm. Yeah, Yeah. Mhm. Yeah. Uh huh. Yeah, yeah. Mm.