Verdict with Ted Cruz
Verdict with Ted Cruz

Remembering my Friend Lindsey Graham: Who he was as a Person & Why he left such an Extraordinary Legacy

July 13, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Remembering Lindsey Graham: A Personal Portrait from Ted Cruz

The morning the news broke, Senator Ted Cruz woke to five or six texts on his phone. He stared at them in disbelief. Lindsey Graham, his friend and Senate colleague of many years, had died suddenly of a massive heart attack at his home on Saturday night. He was 71. Cruz had just seen him days earlier in Paris for the 80th anniversary of D-Day. They had been arm in arm on a riverboat in front of the Eiffel Tower. "It did not seem real," Cruz said.

The Man Behind the Politics

Lindsey Graham was, by Cruz's account, impossible to dislike. The South Carolina senator grew up in modest circumstances—his parents ran a bar and a pool hall—and that background shaped him. "He was like the best bartender you've ever seen," Cruz recalled. "Who would smile and crack a joke, whether you were celebrating a great thing that happened in your life or you were there weeping because your wife just divorced you."

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What you'll learn

  • 1 (02:02) **Opening: Ted Cruz Reacts to the Sudden Passing of Lindsey Graham** - Cruz and Ben Ferguson process the shock of losing a close friend and Senate colleague, framing the episode as a personal remembrance.
  • 2 (03:04) **Lindsey Graham’s Personality: Wit, Charm, and a Force of Nature** - Cruz contrasts Graham’s humor with Senator John Kennedy’s, explaining Graham was a spontaneous, witty "zinger" thrower who didn’t take himself too seriously.
  • 3 (05:00) **Graham’s Devotion to Country: A "Love Story with America"** - Cruz explains that since Graham was unmarried and had no children, his entire life was dedicated to the Senate and serving the United States.
  • 4 (08:00) **Recent Memories: The D-Day Anniversary Trip to Paris** - Cruz shares a personal iPhone memory of a recent trip with Graham to the 80th anniversary of D-Day, illustrating their friendship.
  • 5 (09:09) **The Void: Nobody Can Fill Lindsey Graham’s Shoes** - Cruz directly answers the question of who will fill Graham’s role, stating unequivocally that "nobody" can.
  • 6 (10:12) **Graham as a Potent Ally and Senate "Tension-Cutter"** - Cruz describes how Graham was the most potent ally in the Senate when he was on your side, and how he used humor to defuse heated arguments.
  • 7 (14:00) **The "McCain Whisperer" and "Trump Whisperer"** - Cruz explains Graham’s unique gift for managing and counseling two extraordinarily volatile, larger-than-life figures: John McCain and Donald Trump.

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Guests on this episode

Ted Cruz

Show Notes

Lindsey Olin Graham (July 9, 1955 – July 11, 2026) was an American politician, attorney, and Air Force officer who represented South Carolina in the U.S. Senate from 2003 until his death in 2026. He was one of the most influential Republican senators of his era, particularly on national security, judicial nominations, and foreign policy.

Early Life

Graham was born in Central, South Carolina, where his parents owned a restaurant, pool hall, and liquor store. He became the first member of his family to attend college, earning both a bachelor's degree and a law degree from the University of South Carolina. While in school, he suffered the loss of both parents within about 15 months and took responsibility for helping raise his younger sister.

Military Service

After law school, Graham joined the U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps, serving as a military lawyer. He served on active duty from 1982 to 1989, including assignments in Germany, and later continued in the South Carolina Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve. During his military career he reached the rank of Colonel and retired in 2015 after 33 years of service.

Entry into Politics

Graham began his political career in the South Carolina House of Representatives, serving from 1993 to 1995. In 1994, he won election to the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina's 3rd Congressional District, becoming the first Republican elected from that district since Reconstruction.

During his time in the House, he gained national attention as one of the House managers who prosecuted the impeachment case against President Bill Clinton in 1999.

U.S. Senate Career

Graham was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2002 and took office in January 2003. He won reelection in 2008, 2014, and 2020. Throughout his Senate career he served on several powerful committees, including Judiciary, Appropriations, Budget, and Environment and Public Works. He also chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee and later the Senate Budget Committee.

Key Political Positions

Graham became known for:

  • Strong support for a robust U.S. military and interventionist foreign policy.
  • Advocacy for American support of allies such as Ukraine and Israel.
  • Leadership on judicial confirmations, including helping advance the confirmations of Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Ba
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