Sen. Graham isn't expecting Gore's call

By MARY EVERTZ

© St. Petersburg Times, published August 6, 2000

When Vice President Al Gore announces his running mate on Tuesday, Florida's top Democrat, Sen. Bob Graham, who apparently is no longer on the list of candidates, will be going about business as usual.

Thursday, Florida's senior senator opened his National Park Summit at Yellowstone National Park.

Graham, who grew up close to the Everglades, is on a crusade for the preservation of our national parks and monuments. During the summit, he had a nice reunion with Yellowstone superintendent Mike Finley. Finley was the superintendent at Everglades National Park when Graham was Florida's governor.

From Yellowstone, Graham and wife Adele headed to Moose, Wyo., and Grand Teton National Park, where they met up with their four daughters and their husbands and the 10 Graham grandchildren.

Since the Graham daughters are scattered around the country, the Grahams set aside time each year for a family holiday. Last year the reunion was on a Disney cruise.

Though some held out hope that Graham would get the veep slot, Graham apparently knew he wasn't a finalist. One indication: Only one daughter, Kendall Elias, is scheduled to be in Los Angeles with the Grahams when the Democratic National Convention begins Aug. 14. Kendall is married to Robert Elias; they have a 7-month-old daughter, Peyton.

When Gore makes his choice on Tuesday, Graham said, he will be in a park, "out with the bears."

Moving out of Miami

First it was Sylvester Stallone, then Madonna. Now Michael Caine has joined the legions of rich and famous who have sold their homes and have moved out of Miami.

The much-in-demand British star has sold his South Beach condo for $2.6-million to John Forte, a Dade County real estate developer. Caine bought the 10,000-square-foot condo in March 1994 for $1.8-million, but it took five years for the Sunset Harbor tower to be completed.

"In the time it took the penthouse to be built, Caine started cranking out movies," says Realtor Jackie Aaronson. "He doesn't need a vacation place anymore." Forte will live in Caine's feng shui-decorated penthouse while his mansion on Star Island is being remodeled.

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