[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 23]
[Senate]
[Page 31977]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           SENATOR TRENT LOTT

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, during my time in public office, I have had 
the opportunity to serve with many good men and women. During my time 
serving in Congress, I have had the opportunity to make a friendship 
with Trent Lott.
  Senator Daschle gave me the freedom, during the 6 years I was 
assistant leader and he was the leader, to spend all my time on the 
Senate floor, and I did that. Senator Daschle did other things, but he 
trusted me. I hope I did the right thing--I sure tried to do that all 
the time I worked with him--but I lived on the floor of the Senate.
  During much of that time Trent Lott was the Republican leader, and we 
worked together over those years, I think, in a way that speaks well of 
our country. We made ``deals.'' Legislation is the art of compromise, 
consensus building. Even though Trent Lott is certainly a true 
conservative, we were able, in his pragmatic fashion, to work things 
out.
  Trent has an interesting background. He was born in Mississippi. His 
family settled in a place called Pascagoula. His father was a 
pipefitter. His mother taught school. She was an elementary school 
teacher. The public school that Senator Lott attended now bears his 
name. He received a degree from the University of Mississippi and also 
got his law degree from the same institution. That is a wonderful 
community, Oxford, MS. I have had an opportunity to spend a little bit 
of time there. There is a beautiful community square. It is like I 
envision the South as it used to be.
  He married a beautiful woman, Tricia--Tricia Thompson Lott. They were 
college sweethearts. My wife, who is a shy woman--always has been--has 
worked with Tricia on a number of different issues and has been so 
enamored of her, with what a wonderful woman Tricia is. She is a hard 
worker. Whenever projects are involved, she does more than her share.
  They have 2 children, Chet and Tyler. They have 4 grandchildren.
  Trent has been in Congress 34 years. He is the only person in the 
history of this country who has served as both the House and the Senate 
whip. He has been a champion for Mississippi, as we all know, but he 
has also been an important instrument in the Senate accomplishing what 
it has during the time he was here. I am disappointed that Senator Lott 
is going to be leaving the Senate, and I will miss him. I have been 
impressed with his ability to get things done. Other than John Breaux 
and Trent Lott, there are no two people able to accomplish as much as 
they did. John Breaux was a dealmaker, and the place he always went, as 
a Democrat, to start his deal, was with Trent Lott. They developed a 
friendship that lasts to this day. But as a result of their ability to 
work together on different sides of the aisle, we were able to 
accomplish a great deal. During the Clinton years, much of what Senator 
Breaux was able to accomplish for President Clinton was as a result of 
his relationship with Senator Lott.
  There is no need for me to dwell on my friendship with Senator Lott 
other than to say he is my friend, I wish him well, and certainly I 
wish Tricia and Trent and their family the very best. They deserve it.

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