[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 116 (Thursday, July 16, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4121-S4122]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                       Remembering Lindsey Graham

  Mr. RICKETTS. Mr. President, I rise today to talk about our colleague 
Lindsey Graham, who tragically passed away last weekend.
  Lindsey Graham was the definition of the word ``patriot.'' He loved 
this country and dedicated his life to serving this country. He was 
from humble backgrounds. His parents ran a bar. And, again, tragically, 
he lost his parents at a young age. His mom died when Lindsey was 20, 
and his dad died when he was 22. And so, as a young man, he took over 
the care of his sister Darline, who was only 13 years old.
  He was the first in his family to go to college and then got a law 
degree, joined the Air Force. And to help take care of his sister, he 
adopted her so she could get his Air Force benefits. He served our 
country in the Air Force and in the National Guard and the Air Force 
Reserve, a total of 33 years, retiring at the rank of colonel and a 
Bronze Star.
  He began his career in politics in 1992 in the South Carolina 
Legislature and got elected to the U.S. Congress, the House of 
Representatives, in 1994. He was the first Republican to be elected 
from his district since 1877. He served in the House for 8 years and 
then came to the Senate, 2002, taking over for Strom Thurmond. And he 
has been a dynamic personality in this body, and I have had the 
privilege to get to know him and call him my friend.
  Lindsey Graham was part of the glue for the Senate, and not just for 
Republicans but for Republicans and Democrats. He worked across the 
aisle. Just a few days ago, my colleague from Delaware was talking 
about how he

[[Page S4122]]

worked with Lindsey Graham on a number of different items; one is a 
conservation fund that also fights terrorism. He remarked that Lindsey, 
in his way, was able to boil down why this was so important and had 
hats created that said: ``Good for animals, bad for terrorists.''
  And that was very typical of Lindsey because he could boil things 
down very simply to be able to make a point, almost like a country 
lawyer. He would say: How many people think that, for example, if Iran 
had a nuclear weapon, they would use it on us? Raise your hand. They 
would raise their hand.
  And he would say: So how many people think it would be bad if they 
got a nuclear weapon? All of those people would raise their hand.
  How many people think we should stop them from getting a nuclear 
weapon? They would raise their hand.
  That is the simple way that Lindsey would make his point.
  He was supersmart and had an incredible sense of humor. It was not 
often fun if you were on the other side of that sense of humor 
sometimes. In one of our Budget Committee hearings, Lindsey Graham was 
presiding, and we had one of our members who was going through all 
sorts of points and charts and so forth. And when the presentation came 
to an end, Lindsey Graham said something to the effect: Well, next time 
we are going to record that, and we are taking it down to Gitmo because 
it would be more effective down there. So you wanted to make sure that 
you were talking to the right audience and making your points quickly 
with Lindsey.
  He was also very charming and was very direct. When he would go talk 
to foreign leaders, he would be able to get across those simple ideas 
the way he did with audiences back at home and be able to express 
directly through humor, through charming them, to help them understand 
where their interests were aligned with our interests, how we needed to 
work together to be able to keep the people of their country safe and 
the people of our country safe.
  Lindsey was very clear-eyed about the dangers of dictators like 
Vladimir Putin. He understood, when Putin is losing, we are winning, we 
are safer. He was appalled by the invasion of Russia into Ukraine--that 
unprovoked, aggressive attack--and was a fierce advocate for supporting 
Ukraine, not only because of the injustice of what Russia is doing to 
Ukraine but because Lindsey understood what the threat to the United 
States and the people of America would be if Putin is successful; that 
if they are successful in Ukraine, they are going to go after a NATO 
member, and then we will have boots on the ground in Europe. Lindsey 
was trying to keep us safe by advocating for the Ukrainians.
  When Lindsey would see an issue, he would hop on a plane and go fix 
it, whether it was overseas or to my home State of Nebraska. He came to 
Nebraska several times.
  I loved the man. I had the privilege of spending time with him here 
over the last 3\1/2\ years. He liked Coke Zero and Riesling wines. He 
was charming, funny, intelligent, dedicated to this country. Our body 
and this country is losing a lot with Lindsey Graham. We are losing 
some of the humor we had. We are losing some the glue that holds us 
together. We are losing a fierce patriot, and our country is worse off 
for it.
  Susanne and I are praying for Darline and the rest of her family and 
Lindsey's staff at this tragic time and, indeed, for our entire country 
as we have experienced the loss of this larger than life patriot, 
Lindsey Olin Graham.
  Lindsey, I know you are looking down on us from upstairs, and you are 
going to do your best to guide us from up there. We really, really miss 
you.
  I yield the floor.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Nebraska.
  Mr. RICKETTS. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. TILLIS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  Mr. TILLIS. Mr. President, I also ask unanimous consent to use a prop 
during my remarks.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  Mr. TILLIS. Mr. President, it is actually fitting. I just had 
somebody in the cloakroom tell me the last person that came to the 
floor and used the chart to draw on was none other than Lindsey Graham, 
so I will dedicate these comments to Lindsey.