Reubin Askew

**Reubin O'Donovan Askew** (September 11, 1928 – March 13, 2014) was an American politician. He was a Democrat from Florida. He was born in Muskogee (Oklahoma), but since 1937 he lived in Florida. He was a lawyer. He served both in US Army and US Air Force.

## Early life

Askew was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma. He studied at Florida State University and at University of Florida Levin College of Law. Askew married Donna Lou Harper in August 1956.

## Career

Prior to becoming governor, Askew served as state representative (1959-1963) and state senator (1963-1970). For a year (1969-1970) he was president pro tempore of this body.

He was elected governor in the same year and assumed duties in January 1971. He was one of the first southern governors (alongside Jimmy Carter of Georgia) to openly support desegregation. In 1972 then-democratic Presidential nominee, senator George McGovern of South Dakota offered him vice presidency, but Askew declined it. McGovern lost to Richard Nixon.

Askew was reelected in 1974 and served until early 1979. After leaving office he was, for two years, United States Trade Representative under President Carter.

In 1984 he ran for president, but was defeated in the primary.

## Personal life

Askew had two children; one son and one daughter. Askew lived in Tallahassee, Florida.

## Death

Askew died at the age of 85 on March 13, 2014 at his Tallahassee home, after a recent stroke.

## Legacy

He was regarded by many (including Harvard Scholars) as one of the best U.S. governors in the 20th Century.

## Other websites

- Official Governor's portrait and biography from the State of Florida
- Florida DeMolay hall of Fame website
- DeMolay hall of Fame website
- NYTimes obituary

## Infobox (officeholder)

- **name**: Reubin Askew
- **image**: Ruebin Askew official portrait.jpg
- **caption**: A 1971 portrait of Askew
- **office**: 7th United States Trade Representative
- **president**: Jimmy Carter
- **term start**: October 1, 1979
- **term end**: December 31, 1980
- **predecessor**: Robert S. Strauss
- **successor**: Bill Brock
- **order1**: National Governors Association#Chairs, Chair of the National Governors Association
- **term start1**: January 23, 1977
- **term end1**: September 9, 1977
- **predecessor1**: Cecil Andrus
- **successor1**: William Milliken
- **order2**: 37th List of governors of Florida, Governor of Florida
- **lieutenant2**: Thomas Burton Adams Jr.
Jim Williams (Florida), Jim Williams
- **term start2**: January 5, 1971
- **term end2**: January 2, 1979
- **predecessor2**: Claude R. Kirk Jr.
- **successor2**: Bob Graham
- **state senate3**: Florida
- **district3**: 2nd
- **term start3**: November 6, 1962
- **term end3**: November 3, 1970
- **predecessor3**: Philip D. Beall
- **successor3**: W. D. Childers
- **office4**: Member of the
Florida House of Representatives
 from Escambia County, Florida, Escambia County
- **term start4**: November 4, 1958
- **term end4**: November 6, 1962
- **predecessor4**: J. B. Hopkins
- **successor4**: Gordon W. Wells
- **birth name**: Reubin O'Donovan Askew
- **birth place**: Muskogee, Oklahoma, U.S.
- **death place**: Tallahassee, Florida, U.S.
- **party**: Democratic Party (United States), Democratic
- **children**: 2
- **education**: Florida State University (Bachelor of Arts, BA)
University of Florida (Bachelor of Laws, LLB)
- **serviceyears**: 1946–1948
- **rank**:  Sergeant
- **unit**: Paratrooper