For over 27 years, Senator Lindsey Graham maintained a consistent morning routine: a call to his communications director, Kevin Bishop, to review the day's news. Bishop, who served as Graham's aide for nearly three decades, shared insights into the senator's personality and political evolution in an interview with the Daily Mail.
Bishop described Graham as a dedicated public servant who worked incessantly, rarely taking personal days. "In his mind, God gave you so much time on this earth, and that he wasn't gonna waste any of it," Bishop recalled of Graham's philosophy.
Evolution of a Friendship
Initially, Graham was critical of then-President Donald Trump, finding him abrasive and politically foolish. However, a group of mutual friends encouraged them to meet, leading to a friendship that Bishop characterized as having a "love language" of golf. Both men shared a strong sense of humor and appreciated honesty and directness. This bond, however, drew criticism from some Senate colleagues and Democrats who were dismayed by Graham's shift from a vocal Trump critic to one of his staunchest defenders.
Despite facing protests and criticism, Graham maintained a conciliatory approach, even engaging with demonstrators. "He would say, listen here, sorry we disagree on this but I appreciate you caring enough for your country to make your voice heard," Bishop said.
The Kavanaugh Confirmation
A notable moment of Graham's intense engagement occurred during the 2018 confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. Christine Blasey Ford had recently surfaced with an allegation of sexual assault from their high school years, which Democrats sought to use to block Kavanaugh's nomination.
Bishop recalled Graham waking up "madder than a hornet" that morning, a rare display of such intense anger for the senator. During the committee hearing, Graham, visibly struggling to contain his fury, unleashed a powerful rebuke of the proceedings. "What you want to do is destroy this guy's life, hold this seat open and hope you win in 2020," Graham stated, denouncing the process as an "unethical sham."
Bishop noted that what was expressed publicly was a toned-down version of Graham's initial anger. "They would still be paying the FPC fines if he had said on the air or at that hearing what he had said to us beforehand," he said, underscoring the senator's uncharacteristic rage.
Final Communications
Bishop's last communication with Graham was a text message on the senator's birthday, July 9th. Graham, who was in Ukraine and wary of phone calls due to suspicions of Russian surveillance, texted back that he would call Bishop upon his return to the United States. That call never came.