Senator Lindsey Graham returned to South Carolina for the last time Wednesday, where powerful friends remembered his unwavering commitment to his beloved state. While eulogized in Washington as an indefatigable dealmaker, mourners in Columbia recalled a man deeply connected to his humble origins.
Former Rep. Trey Gowdy described Graham, the son of pool hall owners, as someone "born with a plastic fork in his mouth." The Republican was renowned for his intimate knowledge of South Carolina's local officials and every Chick-fil-A in the state and ensured GOP candidates were funded for elections statewide.
