Claude R. Kirk, Jr.

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Claude Roy Kirk, Jr. (born January 7, 1926) was the thirty-sixth governor of Florida. He was the first Republican to hold the office of governor since 1877.

Claude Kirk was born in San Bernardino, California. He lived in Chicago, Illinois, and Montgomery, Alabama where he attended high school. After graduating at age seventeen, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and rose to the rank of lieutenant. Kirk served in both World War II and the Korean War. Following his service he attended the University of Alabama School of Law. In 1956, he founded the American Heritage Life Insurance Company in Jacksonville, Florida. In 1960, he switched his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican, heading the "Floridians for Nixon" campaign. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in 1964 and then ran for governor in 1966. 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. A statewide teachers' strike in 1968 was a significant event during his term. He left office on January 5, 1971. 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.