LINDSEY GRAHAM OUR SENATOR - A Tribute Part 1: A Week of History

LINDSEY GRAHAM: OUR SENATOR – A Week of History, A Tribute (Part 1)

In one of the most extraordinary weeks in modern South Carolina political history, we look back at the remarkable events that unfolded from Senator Lindsey Graham's final overseas trip to Ukraine through the days that followed his unexpected passing.

This first installment traces the timeline of a week that stunned the nation, beginning with Senator Graham's final public appearances abroad and concluding with Governor Henry McMaster's announcement appointing Graham's sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to serve as South Carolina's temporary United States Senator. Throughout the episode, we hear from political leaders, friends, colleagues, and longtime associates who knew Lindsey Graham personally, offering their reflections on his life, his service, and the legacy he leaves behind.

Drawing from press conferences, interviews, and public statements recorded during those historic days, this documentary preserves the voices of those who worked beside him and provides a chronological account of one of the most significant transitions in South Carolina's political history.

This is Part One of our special tribute to Senator Lindsey Graham—a week of history, remembered.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_18 0:44

I'm pleased to announce, as of about 30 minutes ago, we've reached an agreement with the White House on a version of the Russian sanctions bill that they will support. It means it's gonna become law. So when I get back to Washington, I'm gonna go with Senator Blumenthal to the Republican, the Democratic leader, to see if we can find time to move this Russian sanctions package that would give tools to President Trump to help end this war.

SPEAKER_17 1:22

Thank you very much. Good to see you. Good to see you again. Good to see you, sir.

SPEAKER_16 1:31

Thank you for coming, please. Yeah, got a little update for you here. Yeah, just tell me when I can talk. But uh good visit with the preserve, right? Yeah, I think that we had really a good meeting.

SPEAKER_17 1:43

Yeah, the mood was good, and we had some very important results. I think that uh the decision of President Trump about licenses, positive signals about 83th licenses, very important.

SPEAKER_28 2:00

EMS 64797, cardiac arrest, 4145. EMS 6478797 with cardiac arrest. 73 year old male. The LS 6132 response pressure is 32 at 2492, Scott Inflace South East. The LS Fall Family 32, responding class is 32, 2492, Scott Inflace South East, Girl 24.

SPEAKER_01 2:35

This is Fox News Alert. I'm Marianne Rafferty. We're following breaking news out of Washington right now. Prominent Republican South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham has died. His office saying on social media that he died from a brief and sudden illness, but right now no additional details have been released. Graham has held his Senate seat since 2003, and he's also chaired the Senate Budget Committee and was seeking a fifth six-year term in November. He was one of the most well-known members of the chamber and also a key voice within the party of defense and international affairs.

SPEAKER_13 3:47

Shockwaves across Washington and beyond this morning after the death of one of the most powerful and prominent lawmakers in the Senate, Lindsey Graham. The South Carolina Senator died of a brief and sudden illness, according to a statement from his office. He had just turned 71. Washington, D.C. E.M.S. dispatched to Graham's home on Saturday night for a man in apparent cardiac arrest. Thank you very much. Graham had just returned to Washington from Ukraine, where he met with President Zelensky on Friday.

SPEAKER_16 4:24

I think that we had really a good meeting.

SPEAKER_13 4:26

Zelensky writing on social media this morning, he is deeply saddened by the news of Graham's passing, adding, Lindsay was a true defender of freedom and the values that make our world safer. Graham launched a campaign for president in 2015.

SPEAKER_18 4:43

No one here, including me, ever expected to hear me say I'm Lindsey Graham and I'm running for President of the United States.

SPEAKER_13 4:54

Dropping out before the primaries, then a vocal critic of Donald Trump's candidacy.

SPEAKER_18 5:01

I think he's a kook. I think he's crazy. I think he's unfit for office.

SPEAKER_13 5:06

Graham later becoming one of President Trump's strongest allies in the Senate, at times a frequent golf partner and personal friend. President Trump writing on social media, Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the greatest people and senators I have ever known, is dead.

SPEAKER_11 6:13

Our senator, our South Carolina Senator. Which is where we do this program. And Lindsay Graham has been a giant figure in South Carolina politics, in national politics, and my life. And I've also put together a lot of feedback from this office in the years. So I thought this would be a very good retrospective.

SPEAKER_18 7:37

Chair recognizes the gentleman from South Carolina for one minute. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I like unanimously revived. Without motion. I come from South Carolina, a state that a few years ago sent about 18 people to jail because they took shirts, they took shoes, they took golf trips, and they sold their vote. If you want to outreform me, I challenge you to do so. But everything in its time. Forty years you've had control of this body to do that. What the American people need to know, and what I want you to know at home, is that what we're talking about doing the first day is to change the way this institution operates. Newt Gingrich, the new Speaker of the House, has done something that no Speaker of the House has ever done in this body, Republican or Democrat. He's instituted a measure to limit his own term as Speaker. I congratulate him for doing that. Leadership and reform begins at the top, and that's what he's demonstrated. And on behalf of the freshman class, thank you for doing something other than talk. Also, this rule is a provision that would limit the committee chairman to serve to six years. If you want to change America, that's a great place to start. That's what we're talking about today. Changing this institution to breathe new life into it. And Mr. Speaker, ideas do matter. And they're gonna have a new day. I'm Lindsey Graham, and I approve this message.

SPEAKER_20 9:04

We grew up in a small town, central South Carolina. I guess looking back, we didn't have a lot. My parents, they were loving people and cared about us, but Lindsay was always the one that took care of me. He helped me with my homework if I was sick. He gave me my medicine. He taught me how to ride a bicycle. I remember that. It was hard when we lost my mom and my dad. Lindsay assured me that he was gonna take care of me and he was gonna be there for me. And he did. He never let me down. He would come home every weekend, then he would call during the week. He made sure I went to college to take on that responsibility of raising a little sister that came from within for Lindsay. And he did a good job. Lindsay cares about the people of South Carolina just like he cares about me.

SPEAKER_24 10:01

I'm told when Senator Graham had a breakaway from work or from Washington, he could be found right here. Pastor Tim Tate says there are memories packed inside of this church of the Senator being ministered to. Tate says while he was Senator Graham's pastor, he was also his friend. Recently, they were planning a fishing job.

SPEAKER_08 10:23

Last time he was here, um I specifically remember him sitting on the other side over there.

SPEAKER_24 10:28

Down on a stretch of old Clemson Highway.

SPEAKER_08 10:34

This is where he was baptized. Um he professed Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.

SPEAKER_24 10:39

Her sadness sat heavy in the sanctuary on Sunday morning.

SPEAKER_08 10:43

It was just a shock. So he he he was fine, and then he just felt bad, and then things began to um progress with not feeling well to um to this. Thank you all.

SPEAKER_24 10:58

Pastor Tim Tate said early Sunday morning, he gave Graham's sister Darlene a call to share in the sorrow.

SPEAKER_08 11:05

God's grace abounds, and his grace is sufficient, and it will be for um for her, his family, and our our nation.

SPEAKER_24 11:17

Tate often covered the senator in prayer.

SPEAKER_08 11:20

There's so many voices out there and so many ways to get swayed in different directions, and so I would just pray that that God would speak to his heart.

SPEAKER_24 11:28

He says whether they were sitting in this church office or in a living room having coffee, one thing never changed.

SPEAKER_08 11:35

He loved his job and he loved America. And so um, you know, we would talk about other things, but it always went back to America.

SPEAKER_24 11:44

In the coming days, um there will be a lot of questions surrounding his seat and moving forward. You know, what are you hoping that people do not lose sight of right now?

SPEAKER_08 11:55

Yeah, I mean, I think obviously all of that is important. But right now, um a life has been lost, you know, and I think we just have to focus on celebrating that life um and supporting the family and being there for them.

SPEAKER_24 12:11

Looking back on his relationship with Graham, he tries to picture what the senator would say right now.

SPEAKER_08 12:16

So I could hear him saying something to the effect of um, you know, stay strong, keep the faith, keep fighting.

SPEAKER_24 12:23

I asked Pastor Tate if he knew of any of the details surrounding the funeral plans. He says, not at this moment. Of course, we'll keep you updated as soon as we know. In O'Conee County, I'm Maya Patrick Reporting, WIFF News 4.

SPEAKER_18 12:37

I've been on a few of these shows, and if this is my 15 minutes of fame, I'd like to cash it in for something else. I never expected it to be just about this. But uh but about the process, three hundred and sixty-three members of the House, 70% plus of those voting, almost 80%, told us to go into executive session as a committee, told us to release the material on the 28th, and the presumption was it would go out unless there's a good reason to keep it. 60,000 documents have been gone through by the majority minority staff, and Abbey and our guys have done a good job going through it. There will be some mistakes made. We've redacted some very salacious, embarrassing, irrelevant material. We've had a lot of agreement, some disagreement, but we did what the House as a whole told us, and my counterparts on the other side, about 80% of them voted not to release. So we've had a little bit of philosophical debate about that. If we get down to a thousand troops by 2017 and dismantle our eyes and ears in Afghanistan and Pakistan, it will haunt us far worse than Iraq. The counterterrorism mission in Afghanistan is a frontline defense against the for the homeland, and it is being destroyed by this idea of leaving completely in 2017. Mr. President, reverse your course, keep our counterterrorism capabilities in effect to protect us here at home.

SPEAKER_15 13:54

We're not advocating combat troops. We're advocating leaving sustaining capability to give them the capabilities that they don't have right now.

SPEAKER_14 14:02

We turn now to the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Lindsey Graham. Senator, good morning to you. Uh the President's up. He's watching, apparently, because he sent out a tweet this morning about you appearing on this program. He said, deface the nation will tell Lindsey Graham they must start up the judiciary and not stop. I'm not exactly sure quite what that means, but it sounds like he's giving you marching orders.

SPEAKER_18 14:26

I think what he's talking about is oversight of the FISA warrant system that failed. I can promise the president and your viewers that I'm gonna call witnesses about foreign surveillance. Yeah, the Horlitz report. You know, McCabe, Comey, uh Rosenstein, Yates, how did you miss it so badly? How could you issue four warrants against an American citizen based on information that was unreliable? Uh but here's what I want to tell the president. I'm not gonna be the Republican Christopher Steele. So Rudy Giuliani last night said he's got the goods on Hunter Biden. I called the Attorney General this morning and Richard Burr, the chairman of the Intel committee, and they told me to take very cautiously anything coming out of the Ukraine against anybody. So what I will do is I will get to the bottom of how the FISA warrant system failed and make sure we reform it. It doesn't happen again.

SPEAKER_14 15:18

There's a lot that still hasn't been figured out here in this deal. Um, but you wrote nine days ago the idea of a U.S. plan with partners to create a fund of at least $300 billion. This is point six in the memorandum, is tone deaf and it's akin to a Marshall Plan for Germany with the Nazis still in charge. Why did you change your position and how do you support it?

SPEAKER_18 15:44

Uh because before I thought the money was coming from the West. If the West funds Iran, I think that would be a Marshall Plan with a Nazis still in charge for Germany. If the plan envisions the Sunni Arabs, yeah, if the Sunni Arabs do it, can you imagine if Saudi Arabia Qatar and the United Arab Emirates invest $300 billion in Iran? That would tell me that Iran has changed. To all the experts out there, do you think Saudi Arabia Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are going to invest in Iran with a theocracy bent on destroying Sunni Islam? So think it through. If the money comes from the Sunni Arab world, I hope it happens. It would mean that the Sunni Arabs believe that Iran has changed to the point they want to be a business partner. I pray that happens.

SPEAKER_00 16:35

I doubt if it will. It has a genetic element to it. So what should you watch for? Sudden, severe ripping chest pain that comes out of nowhere and feels like different from anything you've ever experienced. If this happens, don't drive yourself to the hospital. Don't wait to see if it's getting better. You call 911 immediately and find the biggest risk factor that you can control is high blood pressure. So know your numbers, which your local pharmacy can help you with. Please share this message with people that you love.

SPEAKER_19 17:57

And I know that we are all just absorbing this news. We are all in shock. Can you tell us, Mr. President, how you received this news and your immediate gut reaction when you heard it?

SPEAKER_07 18:10

So what makes it even stranger is that I got a call last night sometime at you know the early evening, maybe in the sevens. And he called and he said we're all set for the Save America Act. He was pushing the Save America Act like crazy. Got back, said he just landed from Ukraine. I said, That's a long trip to Mexico. He sounded a little tired, but perfect, but a little bit tired. I had a right to be. But he was he was uh he actually said he was tired. But he he wanted to pass the Save America Act. And I said, Well, we're gonna get it done, Lindsay. We're gonna get it done. I'll see you like soon. We thought maybe we might even meet today. And then that was it. And that was, you know, very around the time. It couldn't have been much longer. I don't know, it could have been his last call. I don't know exactly, but I got a message about one o'clock in the morning from one of the people at his office that he had passed away. I said, You got it I can't believe it. He was like a member of the family to me. It's very tough, actually. It's amazing.

SPEAKER_19 19:19

Mr. President, he was he was president. It is just extraordinary. You just spoke with him last night. His office says he passed away from a brief and sudden illness. Are you learning any more details about how and why he may have passed? Did he tell you anything in that phone call, Mr. President, about not feeling well?

SPEAKER_07 19:38

No, he said he's a little tired. He it was a long trip, you know, many hours. And he had just gotten back. And he uh I mean it must have been right after that because I understand the police or whoever it is came there at about seven thirty, eight o'clock in the evening, something like that. So somebody notified him. But no, he felt okay. I mean, I actually uh on the on the call he told me, Chris, and he said, You know, I feel good, but I'm tired. He was fine. I knew him I knew him well. He would he wouldn't let you know if he wasn't feeling well. He he had days where he didn't feel so well and he'd let you know about it, but he was a fantastic person. He he was a man who you're gonna watch, it's gonna be a very big thing with him. Um he's gonna be appreciated more now than he was when he was living. I think.

SPEAKER_19 20:33

And just to make that point, uh I mean, you know, you You know, he had some fine moments.

SPEAKER_07 20:37

His moment on Brett Kavanaugh was one of the classics, I think, in the history of the Senate. His moment was literally, I mean, literally one of the great classics of of anyone in the Senate when he defended Brett Kavanaugh so brilliantly. And Brett might not have made it except for that. He was they were treating him very unfairly, good man. They treated him so unfairly, and Lindsey was so angry at the Senate because of it, and he had a mo a really an emotional moment. And I think that saved Brett Kavanaugh's uh Supreme Court, you know, ascension. He uh Lindsey did something that he was just so angry at the way Brett was being treated by the Democrats. It was so unfair. It was so unfair. But Lindsay Lindsay got that over. Lindsay did a thing there that was I think uh nobody else could have done that.

SPEAKER_19 21:39

Let me ask a little bit.

SPEAKER_07 21:41

He was so intent. I mean, he literally called me about the Save America Act. That's why he's you know, I that's where I heard think of it. He's traveling for many, many hours. That's a long flight. That's a long trip. And he, you know, calls me about the Save America Act. Uh he he thought we were gonna get it passed. Do you remember the very big this is a big um this is a big blow to the Save America Act, let me tell you.

SPEAKER_19 22:09

Do you remember, Mr. President? What was the last thing you said to him? What was the last thing he said to you?

SPEAKER_07 22:14

I said, We'll see you soon. Come over at any time you want. He came into the White House a lot because I liked him. Can't do that with everybody.

SPEAKER_19 22:25

To think about replacing Senator Lindsey Graham. And yet the governor of the great state of South Carolina is going to need to appoint someone on an interim basis. There will also be a special election call. Do you have I know it's only ours, but is there someone you think he should appoint? Is there someone you think he will appoint?

SPEAKER_07 22:45

I have somebody that I think would be great, but I don't want to say it now because it you know it's too soon with Lindsay. I don't want to even talk about anybody, but I do have somebody that I think is really good. The governor's a good friend of mine. I've endorsed him. You know, I endorsed him early on, and he endorsed me uh right from the beginning as a person that never did this before. In 2016, he came out and very strongly endorsed me, and then I I made up for it. I removed somebody from office that I didn't think was so good, moved her over to the United Nations. 95% of that of my doing that, because the United Nations yeah was not exactly tough. Yeah, it it could be very important, but you know, she was okay at it. But I did it because Henry McMaster was the lieutenant governor, and by moving there, I I got myself a great, uh, really a great guy. Henry McMaster has been a really good governor, really good guy. And you know, that that position cleared out, and uh, but I have somebody that I like, but I'm not gonna tell you who now because it's too soon.

SPEAKER_19 23:50

All right, fair enough.

SPEAKER_07 23:52

I never thought I'd be in this position.

SPEAKER_19 23:54

Yeah.

SPEAKER_07 23:55

I said I thought Lindsay was gonna be living forever. I never thought I never I said, Lindsay, you're gonna live forever. And he was gonna have a big victory. You know, he was he was scheduled to win by a lot. He had my support, and he was scheduled, he was gonna win by a lot. He was gonna have one of his best elections ever. Now he's got he's got this terrible.

SPEAKER_19 24:16

Well, I uh had the great honor of being able to talk to him a couple of times this week, Mr. President. And as you can imagine, we talked about a lot of foreign policy, we talked about a lot of Iran, and in honor of him, I want to still have some of those conversations. Those are the conversations he wanted to have here this morning, Mr. President. You obviously launched you obviously launched uh a fresh round of strikes overnight. Iran said overnight the Strait of Hormuz is closed. Centcom came out this morning and said the Strait of Hormoose is open. Which is it, Mr. President? How are you going to do that?

SPEAKER_07 24:50

I don't want to talk about it because I I want to honor the life of Lindsay Graham, so I don't want to talk about it. I told you that before the call.

SPEAKER_09 24:57

Yeah.

SPEAKER_07 24:57

It's open. We bombed the hell out of them last night. They're uh very, very evil and sick people. We had meetings with them for the last they agreed to a deal yesterday. A perfect deal for us. No nuclear, no this, no that, no nothing. They gave up everything. And then after that, they left the room, and then within an hour, they launched a drone and a ship. I said, You people are sick. You're sick people. And so it's one of those things. I don't want to talk about it. Finally, before I let you know, I want to talk about one person today, Lindsey Graham.

SPEAKER_19 25:35

As we should.

unknown 25:36

Of course.

SPEAKER_10 25:37

I knew him a long time. I think everybody knew him a long time. He was everywhere at once, it seemed. Uh the characteristic I remember about him, apart from his uh typical cheerfulness and good humor, was the guy was absolutely relentless. And he had a certain set of policy convictions. You know, he was a he was an interventionist at a time when that was sort of going out of style in his party. Uh he was a he was pro-NATO, deeply pro-Israel, and he didn't waver on those things. He wavered on one thing, and that was he initially went hard after Donald Trump and reversed himself on that completely. And there's no doubt in my mind why he did that. Um He knew the levers of power, and he realized with Trump in the White House that that was where the big lever was, and if he wanted to have any say on it, uh he better get right with Trump, and so he did. And Trump ended up, as you heard, uh extolling him today.

SPEAKER_13 26:30

Senator, you you have these lovely memories of Senator Graham, but he often did clash with you, and he was a very strong supporter of President Trump. How did you talk about that? How did you get through that?

SPEAKER_03 26:46

Um So in a in a memorable exchange we we had, um boy, this was this was a couple years ago. He and I were the chair and the ranking of the appropriations uh subcommittee that funded foreign aid. Um, and it was in the first Trump administration, and he had saved foreign aid at that point. Um and it was the same week uh of the Kavanaugh fight, which was ugly and awful. Uh and he and I were at the same event. Uh, and someone said to me, How can you stand Lindsey Graham? And I said, Well, I love him like a brother, which means when I fight with him, I want to kill him. Um and they're awful and ugly fights. And um yet when we work together and when I see the good that he wants to do for our country, I'm able to forgive him and find the positives in him. Uh we had knockdown drag out fights. Uh the Kavanaugh confirmation was exceptionally ugly. There were other things he did I really, really disagreed with and thought were bad choices and violated our shared values. Um, but I also saw him in his best moments uh fighting fiercely for the underdog in America.

SPEAKER_04 28:00

Well, I mean, I c I came in with Lindsay uh the same day. We were both elected in the 94 class and came in with him. And, you know, Lindsay was always uh he was always laughing, he was always joking. I know in 1998, Steve Largent, Lindsay, and myself uh we went around the country and campaigned uh together. And uh in that one election, Lindsay uh gave me enough one-liners and jokes to hold me uh through speeches for the next 20 years or so. One of the things I remembered him, uh, I think he was in South Carolina when he was joking about it. Lindsay was telling people how hard it was to redistrict in his district because half of the homes were on wheels. But he was it was it was constant joking uh and um, you know, as far as his legacy goes, uh as uh John Beechum uh said recently at uh the passing of his father-in-law, uh, he contained multitudes. Um I will let uh I will let everybody else hear and history judge Lindsay on uh uh his house face, his John McCain phase. I will just say uh we've said some tough things about Lindsay. I've said some tough things about Lindsay. He said a few tough things back uh over time, but uh we saw him on the 30th anniversary of the 1994 uh classes uh reunion. And just wonderful together. Like uh not a day had passed, and we were laughing and he was joking, very kind to the family. Uh and that's the way Lindsay usually was. So most senators will tell you they'll they they'll get into pretty hard fights with him and end up walking away with their arms around him. It was never personal, it was always very political. It was, of course, uh his policy positions very personal to a lot of people. I'm just talking about for those that are debating and fighting and moving forward on policy, uh, Lindsay never seemed to make it personal.

SPEAKER_11 29:55

Senator Richard Blumenthal by the death of Senator Lindsey Graham.

SPEAKER_27 30:01

I will say Lindsey Graham and I disagree profoundly and passionately about many, many issues. We voted differently on most questions before the United States Senate. I fought the war in Iran, which he supported, I fought the Trump attacks cuts, which he supported, I fought the SAYAC, which he supported. I fought Donald Trump vigorously and vehemently. And he supported President Trump. But he was always focused on trying to bridge differences and bring together members of the Senate to get things done.

SPEAKER_14 30:52

You worked with Senator Lindsey Graham for a time here in Washington. You weren't exactly on the same page politically, but I wonder your thoughts on his passing.

SPEAKER_29 31:01

Good observation. No. Look, you lost a patriot. We disagreed, but we weren't disagreeable about it. There were three things we worked on. One, he represented John McCain, I represented uh then Senator Obama on the debate rules. Two, when we had a meeting during the transition, uh Senator McCain, Lindsay, the president-elect, myself, we agreed to work on a national service bill, which we actually got done in spring 09, that double the size for AmeriCorps and for the Peace Corps. And then third or final, which was really the most difficult, but we got to an agreement, which was to close Guantanamo. Senator Levin, Lindsay, myself represented administration. We got to a final issue. Uh the attorney general was against it, which was uh the trial of the sheikh, which uh he wanted civilian. Uh Lindsay said it had to be military court uh to get the 15 votes. Um that's not what happened, and so therefore, and it was one political uh analysis, which I thought was uh accurate versus a legal analysis, which was maybe by the law, but wasn't gonna happen. And so we worked at my desk as the chief of staff. I don't know, the dozen meetings between Colonel 11, myself, and the senator that would actually have c closed Guantanamo, moved all the prisoners out, and brought uh that chapter uh to America. Now, do we see everything 100%? No. Do we find compromise? Absolutely.

SPEAKER_23 32:25

I would like to say a few words about Senator Graham's untimely passing. Uh Senator Graham, of course, was a member of this House before he became a senator. And in part, I wish uh to express the entire court's condolences to his his sister, the rest of his family, his many friends and colleagues here in the House, in the Senate, and elsewhere on behalf of the entire court. But I'd also make like to make a few more personal comments. Um, you know, it's not very often. Well, I'll just say that I didn't get many Republican votes when I was confirmed to um the Supreme Court. Um, and that's the usual state of things today. Not many Republicans vote for the nominees of somebody selected by a Democratic president, and not many Democrats do the same for someone selected by a Republican president. Um would not expect uh such a cross-party, if you will, vote, uh, certainly from somebody from a deep red or deep blue state, and yet Senator Graham voted for me. And um I vividly remember, because he was a vivid person, the conversation that we had in his office prior to my hearing, where he got to know me. It was a long conversation. He took the opportunity to get to know me. He questioned me with great seriousness and great knowledge about my record as Solicitor General, including particularly the various terrorism issues that that office had dealt with over the time I was Solicitor General. Uh and I still more vividly remember the conversations that we had at my hearing itself. Um in the last day or so, many people have talked about how funny Senator Graham was. I think uh Al Franken said he was the funniest man in the Senate. Um, but what I remember about that hearing was that somehow Senator Graham made me look funny, which is a harder thing entirely, um, uh, by asking me what I had done on Christmas the following year. And I'll skip the back and forth, but many people said to me afterwards um that exchange with Senator Graham was the moment my confirmation was sealed. Um so I want to express my gratitude towards him, not only for his support, but for uh approaching the confirmation process uh with the the kind of seriousness that he did uh and uh and the kind of respect he did. And uh I never got to know Senator Graham very well, but I can see why so many people will deeply miss him, and I just wanted to convey that on behalf of me and again express the condolences of the entire court to his uh family and friends.

SPEAKER_18 35:12

To those who say the Constitution requires me to be quiet as a United States Senator and just suffer quietly as babies are aborted up to the moment of birth, in parts of this country, no. The Constitution does not require that. Dobbs did not uh make that the ruling is quite the opposite. Nobody took on cabinet when he mentioned Congress. So this idea that the states are the only game in town is wrong. There is not a close for business sign out in front of the House and the Senate when it comes at the end point.

SPEAKER_05 35:52

I've got a heavy heart this morning. Senator Lindsey Graham was uh an American patriot. He was a match of voice uh for freedom, um, but he was also my friend. Uh and uh we became friends during my time uh in the Congress, and I actually had the privilege of traveling with him and John McCain downrange to visit troops. And I know you come from a military family. We've got a couple in the service in our family. Uh, I have to tell you that some of my favorite memories with Lindsey Graham were simply being uh being with him mingling with troops. He not only wore the uniform uh some 30 years Air Force and Air Force reserves, but he spoke the language, uh, and he was a fierce, fierce advocate for the men and women of our armed forces. And uh uh those special memories uh will always uh be with me, and uh uh we mark his passing with a sense of personal loss today.

SPEAKER_02 36:47

For what purpose does the gentleman from South Carolina seek recognition? Mr.

SPEAKER_30 36:51

Speaker, I rise to ask unanimous consent that I am allowed to speak out of order.

SPEAKER_02 36:59

Without objection, so ordered.

SPEAKER_30 37:02

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, like many others, was shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Senator Lindsay Graham, who served in this body from 1995 to 2003, when he left to begin serving in the Senate. I wrote in introduction to my memoir that I entitled of the blessed experiences generally southern proudly black. All of my experiences have not been pleasant. I have considered all of them to be blessings, and so it was with Lindsay Graham. My relationships with Lindsay were sometimes partisan and passionate, mostly productive on behalf of the people of South Carolina. For more than three decades, we served the people of the Pamela State together here in Congress. Throughout that time, we maintained a relationship grounded in mutual respect, even when our political differences were significant. His commitment to public service and the people he represented will remain an enduring part of his legacy. I shall never forget playing a round of golf with Lindsey Graham and one of South Carolina's many beautiful golf courses. And I raised an issue with him that I thought was very significant. I said to him that South Carolina, which I consider to be one of, if not the most historic states in our nation, was without the heritage corridor. And I thought the one was in order for the state. Lindsay said he agreed with me, but I said to him, I said Lindsay. This bill that I've introduced to create the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor will never become law with my name on it. Back in 1994 and 56. And I asked him to put his name on it. He said to me, I don't want to take your legislation. And I said to him, you're not taking it. I'm giving it to you. I don't know if I understand what it's all about. Speak on it. And he did. South Carolina got that heritage carter and is now got two more sense. And in every one of those heritage carters, I work with a gram to make it happen. South Carolina has three national monuments in a and or three national parks. We had only one national monument, and now we have three national parks. The monument I worked with his predecessors again. But last two national parks. I work with Linda Graham to do it quietly. We didn't have press conferences. We just sat down with each other. Or we got in a golf cart together. To make it happen. That's the way it was. With Linda Graham someone who was passionate. But productive. And sometimes sometimes with that I like to yield to Congressman Job.

SPEAKER_31 41:50

Thank you very much, Congressman Jim Clivern, and indeed it is bipartisan this afternoon or this evening uh with our delegation, and we of South Carolina so appreciate the remarkable service and successes of Senator Lindsey Graham. It's so uh impersonal to me. I got to meet him uh in his public service uh as staff judge advocate for the Army Guard, he was Staff Judge Advocate for the Air Guard, and for his public service uh military, uh he served in the State House of uh South Carolina, U.S. Congress, and uh obviously in the U.S. Senate. Uh, but he was dedicated to the people of South Carolina, and it's really incredible. The last week of his service, he was present with Donald Trump, President Trump, uh, for the NATO meetings in Accra. And while he was there, he met with President uh Ahmad Sarah of Syria and uh proclaimed that we need to give Syria a chance. And he understood how important it is a stable and secure Syria uh as a himself being a proponent of a stable and sovereign Israel. And he's always stood with Israel. And then on Friday, of all things, he had the opportunity to be in Kiev, Ukraine with uh President Vladimir Zelensky, uh, where he again was so uh forceful in pointing out that indeed the sanctions bill uh has been agreed to by President Donald Trump, sanctions on war criminal Putin. And while he was there, he also toured a drone manufacturing facility. Uh he returned back to the United States on Saturday, and sadly uh he actually had a very uh uh positive conversation with President Donald Trump. Uh and then almost immediately after that call, uh, he sadly had a uh chronic uh acute uh heart attack and passed away. In the meantime, today is a very significant day, and that our governor Henry McMaster, I think, has made an incredible choice, and that is to appoint the sister of Sir Lindsay Graham Darlene to be the new U.S. Senator from South Carolina. And so uh as we're remembering uh Sarah Graham, uh, we can uh just cherish so many memories that all of us have. And with that, I would now like to now move for a moment of silence.

SPEAKER_22 44:58

The clerk will report the resolution. House resolution 1424. Resolved that the House has heard with profound sorrow of the death of the Honorable Lindsey Graham, a senator from the state of South Carolina. Resolved that the clerk communicate these resolutions to the Senate and transmit a copy thereof to the family of the deceased. Resolved that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn as a further mark of respect to the memory of the deceased senator.

SPEAKER_26 45:31

Without objection, the resolution is agreed to and the motion to reconsider is laid on the table.

SPEAKER_31 45:38

Madam Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

SPEAKER_26 45:43

The question is on the motion to adjourn. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, the A's have it. The motion is agreed to. Accordingly, pursuant to House Resolution 1424, the House stands adjourned until 10 a.m. tomorrow as a further mark of respect to the memory of the late Honorable Lindsey Graham.

SPEAKER_11 46:12

Dr. Annie Andrews, the Democratic nominee for the United States Senate in 2026.

SPEAKER_12 46:18

The news of Senator Lindsey Graham's passing was sudden and unexpected. Senator Graham dedicated decades of his life to this great state and to our country. Moments like this remind us that life is fleeting, fragile, and so much bigger than politics. I'm thinking about the people who loved him, his family, his friends, his staff, and all of his supporters who are grieving this loss. Now it's no secret that Senator Graham and I didn't agree on much, but we did agree that when you love your country, you raise your hand to serve. And we both believed in the greatness of South Carolina. Senator Graham was a fighter. No one can dispute that. But here's what I want you to know about me. I'm a fighter too. My fight is for you and your family. It's for my great kids. My fight is South Carolina's fight. And even though we may not always agree, I will always show up and fight for you. So as we move forward, no matter your party, let's remember that there is far more that unites us than divides us. And that life is bigger than politics. Let's commit to building a better South Carolina together.

SPEAKER_18 47:32

You're very close with your sister. Yes, absolutely. Of all the things that have happened in my life, her turning out so well is to have it. Because she was starting lots of buildings of her parents. She's got two daughters, 121 and 16, and she's an incredible line for herself. And when she got up there and introduced me, it was just about all I could do to speak.

SPEAKER_25 47:54

If you were elected president, you'd be the first James Buchanan to be a bachelor's happened too. So what role would she play in the window?

SPEAKER_18 48:01

Well, uh, she would be a support network for me. I didn't really talk much about it. But at the end of the day, whatever I asked her to do, she would do. And if she took a role on, she would be a great representative of our country. I can't think of a better person to represent our country in an event than my sister. But at the end of the day, I think America can handle this. I want to be able to say everybody can grow up to be president, even if you're single. We'll see.

SPEAKER_06 48:32

This is a an important day in South Carolina history. There'll be other celebrations and events of all kinds. But I and the family thank all of you for coming here today. We meet in sadness over the loss of one of South Carolina's greatest sons. Here we also gather together to celebrate what this self-described poor boy from a small town, rural town in South Carolina, accomplished. Through grit determination, and character for his state, for his country, and for his world. Lindsey Graham recognized the greatest the greatness of America and her obligations to a dangerous world. Lindsey Graham recognized the seriousness of his work, but also the value of humor and a lighthearted spirit. Lindsey Graham understood the hopes, dreams, and needs of his state and delivered for his state every time. Presidents Pauper's famous or forgotten. He treated us all the same. We have seen him attack evil and injustice and embrace friendship and the common good with equal fervor and strength. Yes, we are going to miss Lindsay. But we will always remember his quickness, his laugh, and what he has done for us and the world. As he described himself, this poor boy from a little town in South Carolina. Today, under the law, it's my duty to and honor, to name someone to serve in the place of this irresistible man, this irreplaceable man, this extraordinary man for the remainder of his term. Lindsay took care of his little sister in years long departed. It's my honor to ask his little sister, Darlene Graham, to finish his work for him now. And by the way, Darlene, I don't know if I told you, but after we spoke on the phone in the wee hours of Sunday morning, and you agreed to serve through tears. Earlier, I had wondered what you would say. And I was humbled by your quickness to see the duty that you had to serve. And I called the president afterwards, and he thought it was a great idea. And I'm sure you that everyone here does as well. Darlene, little sister, come forward, please.

SPEAKER_21 51:36

Thank you, Governor, and just bear with me as I try to get through this. First, I just want to say one thing I've never heard Lindsay described as is irresistible. So okay, we'll just start with that. But uh first, I would like to thank everyone who has called and reached out over the past couple of days. I can't tell you how much it's meant to me and our family. I know Lindsay was loved and respected by many, and I greatly appreciate the memories and even the funny stories that have been shared. These shared experiences, along with our faith, have gotten us through these past two very difficult days. Next, I want to thank the governor for selecting me to serve the remainder of Lindsay's term. It is such an honor. Lindsay has always been there for me, and now I will be there for him. My brother was the most amazing person, outstanding leader, and just a genuinely good man. He was kind and considerate and loved by his family dearly. As I think everyone would agree, Lindsay worked harder than anyone. He worked nonstop to make our state, country, and world better. He loved his family and loved serving the state and our country. He dedicated his life to our country. It is such a privilege to get to finish some of his important work, and I promise to work hard over the next several months to support the president and carry forward the efforts of my brother on behalf of the citizens of South Carolina and the United States. I know Lindsay thought the world of his staff and colleagues, and with their support, I feel confident. I think this is what Lindsay would have wanted, and I plan to honor him in this way. Now to Lindsay, I miss you more than I can even put into words. But I'm gonna do this. I got it. Thank you.

SPEAKER_06 54:05

Thank you. That concludes this ceremony. Thank you. This way.