Early life and career

Born in Taylor County, Florida, he spent most of his life in Live Oak, Florida. He was a teacher until 1900 when he was admitted to the bar and began practicing law.^[1] Additionally, he was a banker, establishing the First National Bank of Live Oak in 1902 and later serving as its president. He also organized the Mayo State Bank and was president of the Branford State Bank.^[2]

Political career

In 1905 he became the state's attorney for the Third Judicial District. He served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1915 to 1919, and was Speaker of the Florida House.^[2][3]

Gubernatorial campaign issues

Hardee identified his positions on the issues of better and more efficient government, taxation, waterways and roads, agriculture, and veterans' affairs in a 1920 newspaper article.^[4]

Governorship

He took office as governor on January 4, 1921.^[2] During his term, the state adopted constitutional amendments that reapportioned the legislature and prohibited the levying of state income and inheritance taxes along with starting the first state gasoline tax.^[3] Six counties were created during his tenure as governor.^[5] He also halted the practice of leasing state prisoners out to private businesses, following the death of Martin Tabert.^[3] During his term as governor, electrocution became a legal method of execution in Florida.^{[citation needed]}

Hardee was less willing to spend state funds than his predecessor, the populist Sidney Johnston Catts. During his tenure, the state cut the budgets of all three of Florida's state universities - the University of Florida, the Florida State College for Women, and Florida A&M University. Hardee particularly targeted Florida A&M, which due to segregation only served African-American students. Since he believed a more educated black populace would be more likely to leave the state in search of better opportunities, he instructed his appointees to the Florida Board of Control to abolish the liberal arts program at the school and convert it into a purely vocational college. FAMU president Nathan B. Young resisted these efforts, but was eventually forced to resign; in response, students at FAMU staged a violent strike that led to the destruction of multiple campus buildings.^[6][7][8]

He offered to send in National Guard troops in response to the Rosewood Massacre but the local sheriff refused the offer.^[9]

Post-governorship

Hardee left office on January 6, 1925.^[2] He ran for governor again in 1932, but lost the Democratic primary.^[10]

He was a banker in Live Oak until his death in 1957.^[10]