Lindsey Graham was a consequential senator. If there was an important issue, he was right there on top of it. But that’s not the whole story. The essence of his character, the shaping of his background, the joy he found in people and in the political process, and the joy he brought to those around him, is the big story.
A Life of Service
Over the years, many had an opportunity to see Lindsey at work on many occasions, and to hear his passion for the issues. He could be the most entertaining person at any dinner table, but his wit was matched by a razor-sharp mind that was always considering how to solve the next problem. He never stopped working. The night he died he’d just returned from Kyiv, Ukraine where he’d met with President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Lindsey’s love for people shined through. He had a special appeal and was socially gifted. Maybe that came from his early years hanging out in the back room of his parents’ bar, where he learned the fine art of schmoozing. People from every walk of life crossed his path, and he was interested in them all.
A Legacy of Bipartisanship
Lindsey also learned early in life the meaning of commitment. His mother died when he was 20, followed by his father months later. Lindsey became the legal guardian for his 13-year-old sister Darline, who once called him ‘a brother, a father and a mother rolled into one.’ He raised her to adulthood, and they have always been extremely close. With Lindsey’s death, Darline has been appointed by South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster to finish her brother’s term, which expires at the beginning of 2027.
Lindsey’s death on July 11 at the age of 71 capped a Congressional career that began in 1992 in the South Carolina House, then the U.S. House for eight years, and the U.S. Senate since 2003. From 1995-2015 he simultaneously served in the Air Force Reserves. His passing brought a flood of tributes, including tearful memories from his colleagues on both sides of the aisle.
Illinois Democrat Dick Durbin spoke with obvious fondness when he recalled emotionally, ‘Lindsey, for many years, was the only Republican willing to co-sponsor the Dream Act, a bill that I introduced over 20 years ago and reintroduced in successive Congresses, providing protection to illegal immigrants brought to this country as children, his support took guts.’ New Jersey Democrat Corey Booker shared a similar experience, recounting their collaboration on important legislation.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
