Former Florida Gov. Claude Kirk dies

Claude Kirk, a flamboyant self-promoter who became Florida's first Republican governor of the 20th century even though he never held prior public office, died yesterday. He was 85.

Kirk died peacefully in his sleep at his West Palm Beach home, his family said in a statement.

"He woke up every morning with 30 new ideas, 28 of which weren't the best in the world, but two were absolutely genius," said Nat Reed, who was Kirk's environmental adviser and later served as assistant interior secretary under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford.

Rural Democrats dominated Florida politics when Kirk was elected in 1966, but his victory over Robert King High cracked open the door for what eventually became the Republicans' mastery of Tallahassee.

Although his political rivals derided the colorful insurance executive from Jacksonville, Kirk is credited with changing the course of state government and politics during his four-year term.

"There weren't a lot of people ready to be Republicans," the California-born Kirk recalled of those days during a 1999 interview with The Associated Press. "We had to create our own." Political niceties were of no concern to Kirk, who was known as "Claudius Maximus," and "Kissing Claude," the latter a reference to his fondness for women and them for him.

His relationship with the Democratic-controlled legislature was acrimonious, especially over taxation and environmental issues. His opposition to court-ordered school busing gained national attention.