South Carolina senator on Sen. Lindsey Graham’s passing
(CBS, KYMA) - Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) spoke with Margaret Brennan on Face the Nation Sunday to discuss the passing of his colleague, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).
A statement provided by his office says Sen. Graham died Saturday night "from a brief and sudden illness."
When asked how he would have Americans remember Graham, Sen. Scott said:
"America certainly has lost a statesman. I have lost a friend. To remember Lindsey Graham...is honestly to remember his very humble beginnings. I'm not sure everyone connects the dots on who he is and why he is. His mother dies of cancer 15 months later. His dad dies of a massive heart attack. He adopts his 13-year-old sister when he was just 19-years-old and a student at the University of South Carolina. And that remarkably hard and harsh beginning would frame his world view. And as a public servant, Margaret, the one thing that we don't oftentimes think about with Lindsey is he wanted to make sure if you needed help, and he could help, he was there. He wanted to make sure that those who would sometimes feel invisible that they were seen, and he did a- an incredible job in South Carolina, providing the kind of public service that you would want to see from your elected official. He also understood that he worked for the people of South Carolina, and not he was just a leader of South Carolina. Of course, there is a foreign policy portfolio that's undeniable that was synonymous who we knew him to be in public service, but as a South Carolinian, as a friend, I got to tell you, he was just a witty guy. He was always funny."
Brennan then asked the senator if he knew what happened that led up to Graham's death, and Scott said, "I don't know the details any more than his staff has released. My hunch was it was a heart attack, but I hate to just give you my opinion on what I've heard from people that are close in circle, but I think we'll have more information over the next couple days, but...it appears to have been a heart attack."
During the interview, Brennan asked Scott who can step up and help create the connective tissue between the White House and lawmakers in Congress, to which he said:
" I don't know anyone who can fill the shoes of Lindsey Graham. The one thing I can say that you just emphasized was the important role that he played in building bridges in life, just as a part of who he was, and that's why I started off with the story of those who felt invisible, and in his presence you knew you were seen. And we're going to have an important conversation to come. President Trump is committed to the Republican Party and, frankly, to the Republican Senate. There are disagreements, without any question. But the good news is those disagreements, so far, have made us stronger. And Lindsey Graham being on the phone with the president every single day was helpful without any question. Playing golf every weekend for four hours. How anybody plays golf for four hours, I'll never know because I've never played for two hours. But the truth of the matter is, it was the bond that he forged on the golf course that made him such a powerful advocate for the president and a powerful advocate for us with the president, and so we'll need that. But more importantly, what we'll need is a champion who steps up to the plate not for politics, but for serving our country. That is who Lindsey was. He had friends on both sides of the aisle. You're seeing world leaders come out across the world for Lindsey Graham, and why? Because he put others first. It is the biblical principle to let others shine more than you, and he's done that really well, even in his passing...he is like iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens the other. We're now watching the world respond to the impact that Lindsey Graham had, not just here at home in South Carolina, but around the world."
To watch more of Brennan's interview with Scott, click here.
