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  Adams, Jr., Thomas Burton
CANDIDATE DETAILS
AffiliationDemocratic  
 
NameThomas Burton Adams, Jr.
Address
Tallahassee, Florida , United States
EmailNone
WebsiteNone
Born March 11, 1917
DiedMay 22, 2006 (89 years)
ContributorSome say...
Last Modifed00
Mar 09, 2011 10:51am
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InfoTom Adams was an American politician who served as Lieutenant Governor of Florida (1971-75), Florida Secretary of State (1961-71) and was a member of the Florida state senate (1956-60).

Adams served as Secretary of the Florida Department of Commerce, and was also engaged in real estate and property management ventures for more than 20 years. Prior to his political career, he worked as a timber dealer, was a dairy farm owner-operator (1944-48) and a farmer (1942-61).

His political career ended when Governor Reubin Askew forced him to resign after reports surfaced that the Lieutenant Governor used state employees to work on his private farm in Quincy. It was not the first time Adams was at the center of political controversy in Florida. In 1970, he took a state airplane and disappeared for 18 days to South America, on what he later called, "a goodwill tour." Before Governor Askew forced him to resign, an effort to impeach him fell just 17 votes short, but he was censured. The majority in the Florida House voted in favor of his impeachment (61-55), but this was 17 votes shy of the two-thirds required. The resolution which censured Adams was for "misconduct and misdemeanor" and passed with a 88-26 vote in 1973.

While Adams was embroiled in scandals even after he left public office, no criminal charges were ever filed against him. Most agree that his overall impact on Florida was a positive one, despite some questionable actions and his near-impeachment.

Lt. Gov. Tom Adams was survived by his wife Fran and six children. He was formerly married to Helen Brown, to whom he wed July 30th, 1939.

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BOOKS
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EVENTS
Start Date End Date Type Title Contributor

NEWS
Date Category Headline Article Contributor
May 24, 2006 08:00am Obituary A political career, clouded by scandal  Article CBlock941 
May 23, 2006 08:00am Obituary Former lieutenant governor dies in crash  Article CBlock941 
Apr 11, 1984 12:05am News Adams loses to Deratany  Article Southern_Moderate2 

DISCUSSION
Importance? 0.00000 Average

FAMILY

INFORMATION LINKS
RACES
  09/10/1974 FL Governor - D Primary Lost 10.17% (-58.66%)
  11/03/1970 FL Lt. Governor Won 56.88% (+13.76%)
  09/29/1970 FL Lt. Governor - D Runoff Won 57.68% (+15.35%)
  09/08/1970 FL Lt. Governor - D Primary Won 27.18% (+0.00%)
  11/08/1966 FL Secretary of State Won 99.98% (+99.96%)
  11/03/1964 FL Secretary of State Won 100.00% (+100.00%)
  11/08/1960 FL Secretary of State Won 63.42% (+26.84%)
ENDORSEMENTS