Richard Stone (politician)

Richard Stone
Richard Stone
Born	Richard Bernard Stone; 22 September 1928 (age 98); New York City, U.S.
Died	28 July 2019 (aged 90); Rockville, Maryland, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Attorney, politician, diplomat
Known for	U.S. Senator from Florida; Ambassador at Large to Central America; U.S. Ambassador to Denmark; Florida Secretary of State

Richard Bernard Stone (September 22, 1928 – July 28, 2019) was an American attorney and political figure who represented Florida as a Democratic United States Senator from 1975 until 1980. Subsequently, he held positions as Ambassador at Large to Central America and U.S. Ambassador to Denmark. Before his tenure in the Senate, Stone served as Florida Secretary of State.

In the 1980 Democratic primary for the Senate, Stone was defeated by Bill Gunter, who was then serving as Florida Treasurer and Insurance Commissioner.

Early life and career

Stone was born in New York City to parents Lily (Abbey) and Alfred Stone, his father having Belgian origins. Coming from a Jewish family background, he relocated to Florida where he attended public schools within Miami-Dade County. He graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard University in 1949, during which time he became a member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. Stone earned his LL.B. from Columbia Law School in 1954, after which he returned to Florida, gained admission to the Florida Bar in 1955, and commenced his legal practice in Miami.

In 1966, Stone was appointed Miami City Attorney and the following year was elected to the Florida Senate, representing Miami-Dade County. He won election as Florida Secretary of State in 1970 but resigned in July 1974 prior to completing his term to dedicate himself to his campaign for the U.S. Senate.

Senate

Stone emerged victorious in the closely contested 1974 Democratic primary runoff, securing 51% of votes amid an eleven-candidate race. The incumbent Republican Senator Edward Gurney chose not to run for reelection after facing bribery allegations. Jack Eckerd, a wealthy owner of Eckerd drug stores, won the Republican nomination over Paula Hawkins. In the general election, Stone narrowly defeated Eckerd while American Party candidate John Grady garnered nearly 16% of the vote. Stone became only Florida’s second Jewish U.S. Senator following David Levy Yulee and the first since the Civil War era. When Senator Gurney resigned on December 31, 1974, Governor Reubin Askew appointed Stone on January 1, 1975—two days before Stone’s official term commenced.

Throughout his Senate service, Stone was a member of both the Foreign Relations and Agriculture Committees. He was a strong proponent of the Panama Canal Torrijos–Carter Treaties and played an influential advisory role during negotiations for the 1978 Camp David Peace Accord. Stone supported congressional assistance to Israel, voted in favor of funding for neutron bombs and natural gas deregulation, backed public campaign financing, but opposed early versions of the Kemp–Roth Tax Cut and funding for medically necessary abortions. At that time, he was one of three Jewish senators alongside Jacob Javits and Abraham Ribicoff.

Reelection bid

By the time of his 1980 reelection attempt, Stone’s inconsistent record and opposition from the AFL–CIO had weakened his standing. He faced five other Democratic challengers including Bill Gunter, who was then Florida State Treasurer and Insurance Commissioner. Stone again advanced to a runoff against Gunter but ultimately lost the nomination. Gunter subsequently lost to Paula Hawkins in the general election. Stone stepped down from office three days early on December 31, 1980.

Post-senate

After the 1980 elections, Stone became a member of President-elect Ronald Reagan's transition team. Between 1981 and 1982, he held the position of senior resident partner at the Washington, D.C. law firm Proskauer, Rose, Goetz & Mendelsohn. Proficient in Spanish, Stone acted as a compensated lobbyist for the right-wing Guatemalan administration led by Fernando Romeo Lucas García. On January 19, 1982, he was appointed Vice Chairman of the President's Commission for Radio Broadcasting to Cuba and simultaneously served as vice chairman of Capital Bank of Washington.

In February 1983, Stone was designated Special Representative of the President for Public Diplomacy in Central America at the State Department. Subsequently, on April 28, 1983, President Reagan announced Stone’s appointment as Ambassador at Large and Special Envoy to Central America. Despite apprehensions regarding his connections to Guatemala’s regime and concerns about his acceptance by El Salvador’s leftist FMLN faction, Stone was confirmed and commenced his duties on May 26. He stepped down effective March 1, 1984, reportedly due to disagreements with Assistant Secretary of State Langhorne A. Motley.

Stone continued his affiliation with Capital Bank of Washington and was promoted to chief operating officer in 1989. On November 9, 1991, he received a nomination from President George H. W. Bush to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Denmark; his tenure lasted from November 21, 1991, until October 14, 1993.

On December 28, 1995, amid a familial dispute involving Herbert Haft, owner of discount drug store chain Dart Drug, Stone was appointed voting trustee. Later, on September 24, 1997, Haft and Stone designated him as acting chief executive officer; by February 1998, Stone officially assumed the CEO role. The Dart Group was subsequently sold to Richfood by mid-1998.

Personal life and death

Stone wed Marlene Lois Singer on June 30, 1957; together they had three children and five grandchildren. Marlene Stone died on August 29, 2008. Stone passed away on July 28, 2019, in Rockville, Maryland, due to complications arising from pneumonia and other health issues. At the time of his death, he lived in the Chevy Chase area.

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