ballot box: Politics and policy.

Profile: Bob Graham

By William Saletan and Avi Zenilman
Posted Thursday, June 5, 2003, at 11:34 AM ET

This week, Slate begins a series of short features explaining who the 2004 presidential candidates are, what they've said and done, and where they propose to take the country. The first installment summarizes each candidate's personal and professional background. Today's subject is Bob Graham.

Daniel Robert Graham

Web site: www.grahamforpresident.com.

Age: 66 (born Nov. 9, 1936).

Highest grade completed: Law school (1962).

Political experience: U.S. senator, Florida (1987-present); governor, Florida (1979-1987); state senator, Florida (1971-1979); state representative, Florida (1967-1971).

Asserted achievements: Primary author of 2001 Patriot Act (expanding capabilities and powers of intelligence agencies ); chaired committee investigating what led to failure to prevent 9/11; launched Everglades Swamp restoration movement.

Previous jobs: Helped found Graham Companies with his brothers (1960-1966).

Spouse: Adele Graham.

Children: Four adult daughters.

Previous marriages: None.

Military history: None. Too young for Korea, too old for Vietnam.

Medical history: Open-heart surgery in January 2003.

Parents' jobs: Father was a Florida state senator, rancher, and engineer. Mother was a teacher.

Net worth: $7.35 million-$30.7 million.

Religion: United Church of Christ.

Campaign song: "The Best" (Tina Turner).

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Ballot Box also profiles Howard Dean, John Edwards, Richard Gephardt, John Kerry, Joe Lieberman, Dennis Kucinich, Al Sharpton, Carol Moseley Braun, and George W. Bush.

William Saletan is Slate's national correspondent and author of Bearing Right: How Conservatives Won the Abortion War. Avi Zenilman is a former Slate intern.

Photograph of Bob Graham by Marc Serota/Reuters.

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