For more than 27 years, Senator Lindsey Graham's communications director Kevin Bishop would typically begin his day by connecting with the senator after 9 a.m. to discuss the day's news. Bishop, speaking to the Daily Mail, described Graham as a dedicated public servant who poured his life into his work, rarely taking personal days.
"Lindsey worked incessantly," Bishop said. "That guy never took a day off. Even when he was on the golf course, he was working."
Graham inspired significant loyalty among his staff, with many remaining with him for decades. Bishop recalled a running joke that a decade of service still meant one was relatively new to the team. Graham, known for his humor, often joked about his demanding work schedule, telling journalists and colleagues, "I want to die, but no time soon."
Initially, Graham was among the Republican senators who found Donald Trump's presidency abrasive. However, mutual friends encouraged them to meet, leading to a friendship that often involved playing golf. Bishop described golf as their "love language," noting that both shared a strong sense of humor and appreciated honesty and directness.
This evolving relationship with Trump drew criticism from some Senate colleagues and Democrats, including Joe Biden, who in 2019 expressed embarrassment over Graham's shift from denouncing Trump to becoming one of his staunchest defenders. Graham, however, maintained a demeanor that included engaging with protesters, sometimes crossing the street to acknowledge their concerns.
A Fiery Day in the Senate
Bishop recounted an especially notable day on September 27, 2018, during the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. Amid allegations from Christine Blasey Ford, Graham, uncharacteristically for him, woke up in a state of intense anger. "He was so damn mad, he was madder than a hornet," Bishop recalled, expressing concern about what Graham might say.
Despite his fury, Graham's colleagues and staff noted he was attempting to control his reaction. When it was his turn to speak, Graham voiced his strong opposition to what he perceived as an unethical process, stating, "What you want to do is destroy this guy's life, hold this seat open and hope you win in 2020." He characterized the proceedings as "the most unethical sham since I've been in politics."
Bishop and other staffers felt a sense of relief after hearing Graham's controlled remarks, suggesting that his private expressions of anger were far more intense. "What you all heard was the calm and controlled version," he said. "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."
The last communication Bishop had with Graham was a text on the senator's birthday, July 9th. Graham, then in Ukraine, had indicated he would call Bishop upon his return to the United States. That call never occurred.