Lawton Chiles assumed his seat in the U.S. Senate

1971 – Polk County native Lawton Chiles assumed his seat in the U.S. Senate on this date. Arguably one of the most unconventional campaign runs in Florida history, a relatively unknown Chiles walked 1,003 miles from Pensacola to Key West meeting the sunshine state’s constituents face to face in order to gain notoriety. The journey lasted 91 days and he walked through more than one pair of boots!  What was termed at the time a “public relations stroke of genius,” ultimately catapulted Chiles to an overwhelming victory over his opponent William C. Cramer in the 1970 election. Chiles would be reelected to the Senate two more times before deciding to run for governor of Florida in 1990, a post he served for two terms.