Lindsey Graham's career and influence on American politics

Geoff Bennett:

The late Senator Lindsey Graham will be succeeded in the U.S. Senate, at least temporarily, by his sister Darline.

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster announced the appointment this afternoon, and the newly designated senator said she's ready to continue the work of her brother.

Darline Graham Nordone, Sister of Lindsey Graham: I think this is what Lindsey would have wanted, and I plan to honor him in this way.

Now, to Lindsey, I miss you more than I can even put into words, but I'm going to do this. I got it.

Geoff Bennett:

Lindsey Graham died Saturday of an aortic dissection and cardiovascular disease. He had served more than 30 years in Congress, becoming one of the nation's most prominent voices on foreign policy, and later one of President Trump's top allies.

Our congressional correspondent, Lisa Desjardins, has more on Lindsey Graham's life and impact.

Announcer:

Please welcome the United States Senator from South Carolina the Honorable Lindsey Graham.

(Cheering)

Lisa Desjardins:

Senator and security hawk, Lindsey Graham was a powerful study in contrasts, often unshakable, yet repeatedly capable of reversal. Known for his humble beginnings...

Narrator:

Lindsey Graham was the first in his family to go to college.

Lisa Desjardins:

... Graham's parents both died while he was a student, leaving him to run their family business, a local bar, and raise his younger sister, Darline. He spoke with Judy Woodruff about it in 2015.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC):

Most people, Judy, are one car wreck away from needing somebody's help. So I don't take anything for granted much anymore.

Lisa Desjardins:

After law school, he joined the Air Force, serving as a prosecutor and defense attorney, including in Iraq and Afghanistan. His 33-year career brought him a Bronze Star and a belief in military power to deter.

In 1994, as Newt Gingrich swept into control of the House, Graham won his first seat in Congress. The 39-year-old displayed Moxie, taking the mic on his first day in office.

Sen. Lindsey Graham:

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.

Gibbs Knotts is a political scientist and provost of Coastal Carolina University.

Gibbs Knotts, Provost, Coastal Carolina University:

Lindsey Graham was a great campaigner, but he also really kind of dug into public policy, and got to know all the ins and outs of a particular issue. I think that resonated really well here in South Carolina.

Lisa Desjardins:

In a moment that would regain attention decades later, Graham made a national name for himself as a sharp, plainspoken manager in the 1999 trial of Bill Clinton.

Then, when Senator Strom Thurmond retired at the age of 101, Graham became his successor, cementing his defense hawk identity. As support of president George W. Bush's war in Iraq dropped, Graham tripled down his backing.

Sen. Lindsey Graham:

This speech is for the troops.

(Cheering)

Sen. Lindsey Graham:

By every measure, the surge of troops into Iraq has worked.

Lisa Desjardins:

Then, in 2013, Graham and his close friend Arizona Senator John McCain tackled another politically perilous, but critical issue, immigration. As one of the so called Gang of Eight, Graham helped push immigration reform through the Senate, aiming to block illegal immigration with more border agents while offering a path to citizenship for those already in the country.

The bill died in the House and hovered above Graham at a key moment as he joined a near platoon running for president in 2015 and especially came out swinging against Donald Trump.

Sen. Lindsey Graham:

He's a race-baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot. He doesn't represent my party. He doesn't represent the values that the men and women who wear the uniform are fighting for.

Lisa Desjardins:

Graham would drop out before the first 2016 vote was cast. And when Trump entered the White House, Graham reversed, reaching out and ultimately becoming one of his closest allies and golf buddies.

Graham also rose, becoming Senate Judiciary chairman, overseeing contentious bold-print fights as Democrats relentlessly opposed Trump's Supreme Court nominees, none more than Brett Kavanaugh, whom Graham fiercely defended after he was accused of a brutal sexual assault.

Sen. Lindsey Graham:

This is the most unethical sham since I've been in politics.

Lisa Desjardins:

Graham's embrace was critical to Trump and reflected the base, but he did break with Trump on January 6 after the Capitol was attacked by a pro Trump mob.

Sen. Lindsey Graham:

Trump and I, we've had a hell of a journey. I hate it to end this way. Oh, my God, I hate it. From my point of view, he's been a consequential president, but, today, first thing you'll see. All I can say is, count me out. Enough is enough.

Lisa Desjardins:

But another flip, as Graham soon would actively campaign with and earn praise from Trump in 2024.

Gibbs Knotts:

I think Lindsey Graham had some of his famous shifts in part to be -- continue to be relevant. I mean, he wanted to be an effective senator when there was a Democratic president and also when there was a Republican president.

Lisa Desjardins:

Graham remained his own man on foreign policy, one of the loudest Republican supporters of Israel, including the U.S. decision to attack Iran this year. Critics saw him as a warmonger, but Graham didn't change.

Sen. Lindsey Graham:

The day this regime no longer can wreak terror and havoc is a good day. And we're close to that.

Lisa Desjardins:

And while others wavered, Graham remained a fiery advocate for U.S. aid to Ukraine. Graham visited the country just prior to his passing.

At home in June, Graham won an expensive primary and saw himself as entering a fifth term, thanks in part to Trump's backing. In the past two days, Trump and others paid tribute to Graham.

President Donald Trump:

I don't know how you find anybody like him. He was so intent.

Sen. John Thune (R-SD):

He was confident that the United States could be a force for good. And he gave everything he had to ensuring that we would be.

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister:

Israel has lost one of the great champions of the American-Israeli alliance. And, frankly, I have lost a beloved friend who I have had for many decades.

Lisa Desjardins:

Graham ended what would be his final victory speech last month with one thought, and it was for his state.

Sen. Lindsey Graham:

I'm going to enjoy tonight as a gift from God and the people of South Carolina. I'm going to bed tonight the most grateful person on the planet.

Lisa Desjardins:

Lindsey Graham was 71.

Geoff Bennett:

And Lisa joins us now.

Lindsey Graham's death came as a shock, a surprise to all of Washington, certainly. What have you been hearing in response?

Lisa Desjardins:

That's right. Those who agreed or disagreed with him, this was a shock for all of them. Graham in South Carolina had a particular hold.

One South Carolinian I was texting with today said they had had hope that maybe Graham would end up in the Cabinet or that another GOP president would raise him up into the Cabinet. Would Graham have said yes? Unclear.

But one Democrat who did not agree with Graham said he was a force. There was no ignoring him in the Senate, and also added that he had a devilish sense of humor, which came out a lot. I noticed -- I have covered him for decades, including in South Carolina. And I noticed in the past few years he'd become increasingly frustrated.

He seemed more prone to sort of lash out at the press in particular. But the last time I talked to him just a couple of weeks ago, he was a very happy warrior. And I think that he definitely leaves a big legacy. But this is a problem for Ukraine. He's one of their biggest advocates. There is some push to get through the sanctions bill for Russia that he wanted in tribute to him.

Geoff Bennett:

So his sister fills his seat temporarily, and then what happens?

Lisa Desjardins:

Right.

Now, she begins tomorrow. That's good news for Senate Republicans. But after that, South Carolina will move quickly to find a new Republican nominee. Let's look at the dates here in particular. She will serve -- as for what's going to happen here is that they will vote in less than a month for their new nominee, and then there will be a run-off if they need one on August 25.

So this is going to move within just weeks to figure out who will be the new nominee, and likely in this Republican senator -- in this Republican state, they will have an advantage to likely become the next senator.

There are many people in South Carolina who would like a chance at this job, and these are four of them right here. That's the lieutenant governor, Pamela Evette, Congresswoman Nancy Mace, Governor Henry McMaster, and Congressman Ralph Norman.

Interestingly, Geoff, all four of those, what do they have in common other than just ambitious? All of them are leaving their current jobs and may be interested in this Senate opening.

Geoff Bennett:

And this happened, this all unfolded as the nation was watching and focused on the health of another Republican senator, Mitch McConnell, made some news over the weekend. Bring us up to speed.

Lisa Desjardins:

That's right. We talked about this last week.

McConnell was admitted to a hospital, as our viewers know, on June 14. And over the weekend, his office posted this statement. I want to read some of it to you.

"Last month, I took a fall, which landed me in the hospital. My doctors have confirmed that I didn't break any bones or suffer a concussion. I didn't have a heart attack or a stroke. I don't have any tumors or hemorrhages, but I was briefly unconscious and was taken to the hospital. While receiving excellent care over the past several weeks, I have also had to deal with a mild case of pneumonia."

His staff also posted this photo of him with a newspaper in the corner to show that it was a current photo. That's in rehab. We do not know when he's going to return, and it's possible he may not know yet either, depending on how his recovery goes.

Geoff Bennett:

So what's this all mean for Senate votes going forward, since Republicans have a slim majority?

Lisa Desjardins:

Senate-designate Nordone, as she is right now, does help Republicans a lot. Texting with my leadership sources, they're very happy that she will be sworn in, we believe, tomorrow.

However, they still have the problem of Mitch McConnell being absent indefinitely. So this leaves the Senate with a ratio of 52 Republicans to 47 Democrats at a very critical time. The Senate's only supposed to be in session for another seven weeks or so. And in that time they have got a fund government, runs out again September 30. They still have a defense bill.

They still have the issue of the SAVE Act over them for Republicans. Nordone comes into all of that as someone who doesn't have any political office in the past. She has been a campaigner. We know she's worked with the disabled, but she's going to be someone who actually will be in a very tense, fast-moving Senate potentially.

Geoff Bennett:

Lisa Desjardins.

Lisa, thank you.

Lisa Desjardins:

You're welcome.