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"When I became governor
Florida was 49th in the nation in utilization of federal highway monies.
When I ended my term,
we were first in the nation."
Governor Bryant continually championed unique opportunities
to help Florida develop economically.
One of his most prized projects, the Florida Barge Canal, was first conceived by
Andrew Jackson, Florida's first governor, more than a century before.
Bryant looked on with pride the day President Lyndon Johnson stood in the rain at Palatka
to set off an explosive charge which would move the first start on canal construction.
"The Barge Canal
will provide a shipping shortcut that will affect the economy nationally.
It will interconnect the industrial complexes of the eastern seaboard and those along the Gulf coast.
Texas, Louisiana,
Alabama.
And those of the midcontinental United States along the Mississippi and and Ohio rivers.
The canal will permit shipment of Florida's resources and commodities.
Among them are phosphates,
limerock, timber products
heavy manufactured goods,
and many agriculture products."
"During my administration, they were still doing it,
and it was funded.
But it was stopped by Nixon.
If it had been built and finished,
so much would have been possible.
It's almost impossible to conceive
the changes that would have been made."
Governor Bryant knew that as Florida's population extended and infrastructure developed,
available land areas would diminish rapidly.
He was concerned about saving Florida's most precious heritage; its natural resources.
His administration established a revenue bond program to acquire valuable land for outdoor
recreation and development.
"Governor, I have here
four checks to be used
in purchase of land
off Key Largo, or at Key Largo
for parks and historical memorials.
I have added it up, and I haven't ever held a check this big in my life.
Here's one for $2,109,670."
"Yes sir."
"One for $95,000;
one for $44,500,
and one for $55,000, which we would appreciate you using for the purchase
of certain lands which
have been described
for the use of the Florida Board of Parks and Historic Memorials for the recreation of the people of Florida."
"The total of these checks being $2,350,000?"
"You got me, Governor, it's close to it." "About $30,000 over."
"It's a little larger"
"And, uh
the land
for which these warrants are issued
is known to be used in conjunction with the John Pennycamp-
Carl Reef Park in Monroe County.
This is probably the finest single acquisition
in the history of Florida, in our times."
Thus, Florida's commitment to setting aside irreplaceable natural resources began, and
continues today.
The governor also established, through the legislature,
Florida's first Installment Land Sales Act, providing regulation of speculative land development
and advertising.
As Bryant finished his four-year term, which at that time was the maximum limit,
he felt strongly that he had fulfilled his four-year pledge to the citizens of Florida,
a responsibility he never took lightly.
"I think
a government has a job of making government work,
and that's what I tried to do.
And I succeeded."
"I've been Governor,
and legistlative Speaker of the House.
Marvelous experiences,
wonderful, rich years.
Now they're passed.
I have another role cast for me, and I look forward to it with enthusiasm."
But the role he thought he'd be returning to, private law practice in North Florida, didn't last long.
Just one year out of public service, President Lyndon Johnson called Governor Bryant to serve
the nation in his cabinet.
As Director of the Office of Emergency Planning, 0:04:24.180,0:04:25.,759 NATO representative
member of the National Security Council and liaison to the nation's governors.
These years in Washington provided the former governor with an opportunity to dialogue with
national and world leaders.
Throughout Governor Bryant's distinguished public service career
he depended upon the strength of his family
and the support of his partner, Florida's First Lady, Julia Bryant.
"I attribute whatever success I may have had to the people I was able to attract into government.
They are honest, hard-working, talented,
had great capabilities, and they expended that
for Florida,
for me and for Florida, in a way that
just deserves my undying gratitude.
And they really deserve the undying gratitude of the people of Florida, could they but know what it was."
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