[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 14, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3916-S3917]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                       Remembering Lindsey Graham

  Mr. COTTON. Mr. President, Lindsey Graham was a self-made American 
original. Born in Central, SC, Lindsey grew up in a room behind his 
parents' bar and pool hall, where he worked to help the family make 
ends meet and earned the nickname ``Stinkball'' from its patrons 
because of his sense of humor and his irrepressible nature and his 
rascal streak, as he called it.
  I saw that in my first experience with Lindsey Graham. I traveled 
with him and Senator McCain to the Munich Security Conference in 2013 
as a brandnew Congressman. That evening, as I was meeting some of the 
other Senators on the delegation--Senator Ayotte and Senator Corker--
Lindsey came up to me and slapped me on the back and asked me who the 
hell I was. I introduced myself, and I told him a little bit about my 
story, my service in the Army before I was elected to the House. He 
told me I was great; I needed to run for the Senate; we had to win the 
Senate seat in Arkansas.
  The next morning, we had a 08 briefing with General Breedlove, then 
the commander of our forces in Europe, and Lindsey stumbled in at about 
8:55. Senator McCain hailed the arrival of his illegitimate son, and 
then we had a coffee break 5 minutes later, when Lindsey came over, 
slapped me on the back, and said: You were great. We have got to have 
you run for Senate. Now, what was your name again?
  That was Lindsey, self-described rascal that he was. I often joked 
about it--and with him. You never knew quite what Lindsey was up to, 
but it probably wasn't nothing.
  He became the first member of his family to attend college. After 
suddenly and unexpectedly losing both parents while attending the 
University of South Carolina, he stepped in to raise his beloved 
younger sister Darline. But even in the face of tragedy, Lindsey's 
grit, determination, and faith enabled him to finish college, earn a 
law degree, serve in the Air Force, and eventually make his way here to 
the U.S. Congress.
  When Lindsey arrived in the House in 1995 as the first Republican 
Congressman from South Carolina's Third Congressional District since 
1877, he brought with him a sense of duty and responsibility, a love 
for liberty, and a resolute commitment to America's national security.
  He carried this with him to the Senate, where he served for more than 
two decades and became the first person in South Carolina history to 
earn more than 1 million votes in a general election. Needless to say, 
South Carolinians loved him, and it is not hard to see why.
  Throughout my time working with Lindsey in the Senate, he fought for 
South Carolinians, he defended America's founding principles, and he 
supported the men and women of our military.

[[Page S3917]]

  While he served as chairman of the Judiciary Committee, he oversaw 
the confirmation of a Supreme Court Justice and more than 200 Federal 
judges committed to upholding the rule of law as our Founders intended.
  Further, Lindsey knew that strength produces peace and prosperity, 
and he believed that the United States is the greatest force for 
freedom that mankind has ever known. Through every bill he introduced, 
every speech he gave, every statement he made, Lindsey ensured our 
allies knew our word was good and our enemies feared our resolve. If 
you loved America, Lindsey loved you. If you fought for freedom, 
Lindsey would fight for you.
  Only in America could a man like Lindsey Graham leave such a mark on 
our history and our future. That above all is a testament to his 
strength of character. Lindsey's unwavering love for our Lord, devotion 
to our country, and commitment to his family defined his entire life. 
He was an example of what makes America exceptional.
  Though we lost a dedicated public servant, a workhorse of a 
colleague, and an irreplaceable friend, his memory and his legacy will 
never be forgotten. I extend my deepest prayers, thoughts, and 
condolences to Darline, Lindsey's family, Lindsey's staff, his friends, 
and his loved ones.
  America and this Senate will forever be grateful to Senator Lindsey 
Graham for his lifetime of service, patriotism, and courageous 
leadership.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Iowa.
  Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, I rise today with a heavy heart to honor my 
dear friend and colleague Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.
  Before he ever set foot on this floor, he wore the uniform of the 
U.S. Air Force, serving 33 years between the Air Force, the South 
Carolina Air National Guard, and the Air Force Reserve. That service 
and his upbringing in the back of his parents' South Carolina bar 
shaped everything about how he approached his work here in the Senate. 
He understood, in a way too few in Washington, DC, do, what it costs to 
defend freedom. He was one of the loudest, most persistent voices this 
institution has seen on the importance of American leadership in this 
world.
  And before I joined the Senate, Lindsey was one of my earliest 
supporters. I am so grateful for his mentorship and his friendship 
throughout the years. Lindsey was really dear to my family. My mother's 
birthday was just a few days before Lindsey's, and through the years, 
he would call her on her birthday and wish her the happiest of 
birthdays. As my daughter entered the U.S. Army, he would call her and 
just give her words of encouragement--in the hilarious way that only 
Lindsey Graham could.
  He was such a good and decent man.
  One thing we all knew about Lindsey was his great sense of humor. I 
will never forget the gift he gave me after I won Iowa's Senate seat. 
In fact, I may be the only Senator in history to be handed a mounted 
castration clamp with a plaque engraved ``Make `Em Squeal, Joni!'' just 
off the floor of this Chamber, courtesy of Lindsey Graham. And I think 
he is probably still laughing about that one.
  Earlier this year, we were talking about Lindsey, doing dinner with 
Lindsey, as many of us did, and we were talking about this year's race 
because he was running for another term in the Senate. And my mother, 
again, being very close to Lindsey and his No. 1 fan in Iowa--in fact, 
she had a screen saver on her computer. It was her and Lindsey Graham. 
If you asked my mother who her favorite Senator was, it wouldn't be 
Senator Chuck Grassley or even her own daughter; it would be Senator 
Lindsey Graham.
  She was agonizing: Should I send Lindsey a donation for his campaign? 
And I was laughing about this with Lindsey.
  So he was like: Give me your phone.
  He said: Let's shoot a video for your mom.
  And so he took my phone, and he made this cute little 10-second 
video. And it went something like this: Marilyn, we love you. We love 
Joni. I know times are hard, but send money anyway. Lindseygraham.com.
  He did that all the time, and he was always so funny. And I can't 
tell you how many times I have watched that video, over and over again, 
and just laughed.
  He was certainly a very funny man, even when times were difficult, 
but behind the jokes was one of the most serious and effective 
legislators this body has ever known. He didn't care whose name was on 
a bill if the policy was right. He brokered friendships and alliances 
that many in this town said were no longer possible. He fought hard, 
and then he would sit down and crack a joke with the people that he had 
just been arguing with.
  All of us here on this floor know that Lindsey was always moving. The 
man never stood still. He was always working the phones--phone call 
after phone call--whether it was President Trump or my mom back in 
Iowa. He was always certain that presence was power.
  I had the privilege of traveling many times over with Lindsey. The 
very first codel, which is a congressional delegation trip, that I took 
in the U.S. Senate was with Lindsey. It was to the Munich Security 
Conference in Germany. The other Senators on that trip were former 
Senator Joe Lieberman, a dear friend of his; Senator John McCain, who 
was his deepest and truest friend; and Senator Kelly Ayotte. We had a 
wonderful trip together. And it was such a great experience for me to 
see him on the world stage, easily moving from conversation to 
conversation with some of the world's most important and powerful 
leaders, and to see how much they deeply respected Senator Graham.
  His contributions to conflict resolution went well beyond the United 
States. Just days ago, Lindsey was in Ukraine meeting with President 
Zelenskyy and standing with a nation fighting for its survival because 
he believed at his core that American leadership was the difference 
between peace and oppression.
  Lindsey Graham was tough, he was funny, and he loved this country.
  To the people of South Carolina and to Lindsey's family and, most 
especially, to his sister Darline and all who loved him, we are all 
mourning together. As a Christian like Lindsey, I know God will bring 
comfort where there is fear, strength where there is shock, and hope 
where there is loss.
  Lindsey, we miss you, and this Chamber will never be the same without 
you. Godspeed, my dear friend, and thank you for your service.
  I yield the floor.