VIDEO: Ricketts Commemorates Lindsey Graham

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today on the Senate Floor, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) commemorated the life and legacy of Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC).

"Lindsey Graham was part of the glue for the Senate - not just for Republicans, but for Republicans and Democrats… When Lindsey would see an issue, he would hop on a plane and go fix it, whether it was overseas or in my home state of Nebraska," said Ricketts. "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've experienced the loss of this larger-than-life patriot, Lindsey Olin Graham."

Watch the video here.

TRANSCRIPT

Senator 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.

"He 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, the National Guard, and the Air Force Reserve.

"Total of 33 years, retiring with 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 eight years and then came to the Senate in 2002, taking over for Strom Thurmond.

"And he has been a dynamic personality in this body.

"And I've had the privilege to get to know him and call him my friend.

"Lindsey Graham was part of the glue for the Senate - 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 worked with Lindsey Graham on a number of different items.

"One was 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'd say, 'How many people think that for example if Iran had a nuclear weapon, they'd use it on us? Raise your hand.'

"They'd raise their hands.

"And he'd say, 'How many people think it would be bad if they got a nuclear weapon?'

"Of course, all those people would raise their hands.

"'How many people think we should stop them from getting a nuclear weapon?'

"They'd raise their hands.

"That's the simple way that Lindsey would make his point.

"He was super smart 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.

"At 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.

"When the presentation came to an end, Lindsey Graham said something to the effect, 'Well, next time we're going to record that, and we're taking it down to Gitmo because it'll 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 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 that when Putin is losing, we're winning.

"We're safer.

"He was appalled by the invasion of Russia into Ukraine.

"That unprovoked aggressive attack.

"He 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 American would be if Putin were successful.

"If they're successful in Ukraine, they're 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 in my home state of Nebraska.

"He came to Nebraska several times.

"I love the man.

"I had the privilege of spending time with him here over the last three and a half years.

"He liked Coke Zero and Riesling Wines.

"He was charming, funny, intelligent, and dedicated to this country.

"Our body and this country are losing a lot with Lindsey Graham.

"We're losing some of the humor we have.

"We're losing some of the glue that holds us together.

"We're losing a fierce patriot, and our country is the 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've experienced the loss of this larger-than-life patriot, Lindsey Olin Graham.

"Lindsey, I know you're looking down on us from upstairs, and you're going to do your best to guide us from up there.

"We really, really miss you."