Reuben Askew was considered the “Governors’ Governor.” He led the way for the New South on so many issues. Here are excerpts from his memorial service yesterday in Tallahassee:
Former U.S. Rep. Jim Bacchus, who was a speech writer and aide to Askew: “Reubin Askew didn’t need to put his finger in the wind to find out what he believed. You knew what he believed, because he told you. And he didn’t care if he lost the election because he told you because he only wanted to be in office if he could get there in the right way so that he could serve in the right way, because it was all about service. Yes, limit government. This is America. We want limited government. But also use government. It belongs to the people. Use it to help the people where it can and where it should, and help those especially who can’t help themselves.”
Former FSU President Talbot “Sandy” D’Alemberte, who served in the Legislature with Askew: “He was called ‘Reubin the Good.’ Isn’t that remarkable? … When you think about Reubin Askew, you think about a person with good character, good judgment and charm. … In Florida, we’ve had a number of great public servants, people that we liked and admired. But I believe that we’ve had two people who we loved, and those people were LeRoy Collins and Reubin Askew, and in fact, LeRoy Collins inspired Reubin Askew. My thesis is, that the two of them shared a very uncommon trait. They both had this uncommon political courage. You do not see this in many people.”