In the tragic and sudden loss of Sen. Lindsey Graham, America has lost one of its greatest patriots. I have lost a dear friend. And the Republican Party has lost a champion.
Much will rightfully be written about Lindsey’s strong advocacy on behalf of the United States and freedom-loving people around the world. There was no bigger believer in America’s role in the world. In uniform and in Congress, Lindsey dedicated his life to the mission that America was a singular force for good.
I was blessed to travel with Lindsey on several occasions, and while there was always a lot made of his support for American hard power, he also was a big believer in the use of soft power — America’s economic, diplomatic and political solutions to the world’s problems.
Lindsey was a statesman, and he will be mourned the world over. I expect that nearly every living American president has taken advice from Lindsey Graham, whether they care to admit it or not. Heads of state came to respect his opinion and seek his counsel because of his undeniable influence on American foreign policy.
But the most profound sting of this great loss will be felt here at home and within the Republican Party. Lindsey was our glue. He spoke fluently to every corner of our big-tent party, and to those of us who had the privilege of serving with him, we were blessed to call him a friend first and a colleague second. Even in the most stressful situations, Lindsey was adept at bringing out a laugh and putting a smile on your face.
If you were putting together a dinner of colleagues, Lindsey was the first person you called. He was always entertaining and never pretentious. To me, he was a loyal friend, a trusted advisor and someone who always called them as he saw them.
He was as transparent as they come — he never minced words or pulled punches. When he was against you, he let you know. When he was on your side, he was your greatest ally. And if his convictions demanded that he stand on an island, he did that too. What you saw was what you got. He was respected for it.
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And when Lindsey set his sights on a goal, watch out — because nothing was going to stand in his way. His relentless work ethic paved the way for generations of conservative policy victories.
One doesn’t need to look far to see Lindsey’s remarkable contributions to our party and his outsized role in passing the Republican agenda.
In this Congress alone, he and his team at the Budget Committee shepherded three budget resolutions and two reconciliation bills through laborious, all-night vote-a-rama sessions. No Senate has ever held more vote-a-ramas in modern history, and that wouldn’t have been possible without Lindsey’s persistence and determination. He and his team led our conference through incredibly high-stakes, fraught negotiations and floor processes. And because of that, generations of Americans will have greater national, economic and financial security.
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But this was the leadership that we knew to expect from Lindsey Graham. As a former chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Lindsey was passionate about the rule of law and an independent judiciary. His influence on the judicial system will undeniably last for generations. After all, virtually every judicial nominee for the last 20 years has had to withstand his questioning and work to earn his support.
I am grateful for all the ways Lindsey gave to America and Americans. His mark on history and his impact on the conservative movement will be well documented, but I will be equally, if not more, grateful for the mark he left on my life. Thank you, Lindsey, for being a true and loyal friend, and thank you for always making me laugh.
Rest in peace, my friend.
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