Senator Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., has shed new light on the final moments of the late Senator Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., revealing a crucial detail about the medical assistance sought for Graham just before his sudden death over the weekend. Tuberville explained that a former member of his own staff was the one who initiated the emergency call for Graham, who had recently returned from an international trip.
“My former scheduler was Lindsey’s scheduler, and one of my staff members was with that scheduler the night Lindsey called,” Tuberville recounted to reporters. “He called [and] basically said, ‘Listen, I’m having chest pains. You know, I need to do something.’”
The pivotal exchange, according to Tuberville, involved a direct question about emergency services: “‘Did you call 911?’ And he goes, ‘No, that’s the reason I called you.’”
This prompted Tuberville’s staff member to immediately contact emergency services. “And so she called 911… By the time she got there, 911 had knocked the door down, and they were working on him,” Tuberville continued, describing the rapid response.
Preliminary Cause of Death Revealed
The preliminary cause of death for Senator Graham was announced Sunday evening. His office stated that the long-serving lawmaker succumbed to an “aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.” An aortic dissection occurs when a tear develops in the inner layer of the aorta, the body’s largest artery, and is considered a life-threatening medical emergency.
Tuberville offered a somber reflection on Graham’s dedication, suggesting his relentless work ethic may have contributed to his untimely demise. “Lindsey basically worked himself to death, most of us have families, he didn’t have any family,” Tuberville observed. “And if we had a couple of days off, he went to that airport, and he went somewhere to try to work out something for our country.”
Graham’s Dedication to Duty
Further details emerged regarding Graham’s state of mind in the hours leading up to his death. Reports indicated that in one of his last conversations, Graham expressed feeling unwell but indicated a strong desire to postpone seeking medical attention until after a scheduled appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
According to an unnamed source, Graham stated, “I can’t die now. I still need to do the Russia sanctions, get Iran sorted out and do Israeli-Saudi normalization.” This sentiment underscored his deep commitment to ongoing legislative priorities and foreign policy initiatives.
Senate Mourns a Colleague
Senator Graham’s death sent ripples of shock and sorrow through the Senate, with colleagues offering emotional tributes throughout Monday, the first day the chamber convened following the Fourth of July recess. The Senate floor was a place of palpable grief as members remembered their departed colleague.
Graham’s Senate desk, a seat once occupied by his close friend, the late Senator John McCain, R-Ariz., was notably draped with a black veil. A glass bowl filled with sharp white roses rested atop it, a poignant symbol of mourning.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., delivered an emotional address, noting the profound emptiness left by Graham’s absence. “The halls of the Senate already feel empty without him,” Thune stated, his voice thick with emotion. “I am comforted by the knowledge that, in the end, he has just changed his address. And that one day, Mr. President,” he continued, addressing the presiding officer, “We will laugh together again.”
Sister Appointed to Fill Senate Seat
In a swift move to fill the vacancy, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster appointed Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to temporarily succeed him. She was slated to be sworn into the position on Tuesday.
During the appointment ceremony in Columbia, South Carolina, Nordone expressed her commitment to honoring her brother’s legacy. “I think this is what Lindsey would have wanted, and I plan to honor him in this way,” she said. Addressing her late brother directly, she added, “Now to Lindsey, I miss you more than I can even put into words. But I’m going to do this, I got it.” Her appointment aims to maintain the Republican Party’s fragile majority in the Senate.
