Trent Lott: Old-Fashioned Success Story

— -- In the 30 years since he first came to Washington, Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott has climbed the political ladder the old-fashioned way — rung by rung.

Lott was raised in the small town of Pascagoula, Miss., and attended the University of Mississippi. Although he wasn’t politically active at the school, that’s where he cultivated his people and alliance-building skills.

He joined the Sigma Nu fraternity, and was eventually elected president of the fraternity and the university’s interfraternity council. Ole Miss elects its cheerleaders, so Lott successfully waged a door-to-door campaign to win a spot on the squad.

After graduating in 1963, he enrolled in Ole Miss law school, which kept him out of the Vietnam War. The next year he married a hometown girl, Patricia.

After his law school graduation, Lott returned to Pascagoula and began working at a small law firm. Soon, he and his wife had their first child, Chester, and daughter Tyler came along a few years later. Because he was a new father, he obtained a hardship exemption that further kept him out of the war.

A New Life

Less than a year later, the Lott family moved to Washington because he accepted a job with a Democratic congressman from his home state. Patricia said they moved north “to stay a couple of years and see if we liked it.”

But when Lott’s boss, Rep. William Colmer, announced his retirement in 1972, Lott decided to try and stay a little longer — he switched parties and ran for the seat. His candidacy was boosted by Colmer’s endorsement, and Lott was swept into office with more than half of the votes, thanks partially to President Nixon’s landslide re-election.

Lott’s colleagues elected him to a series of leadership posts during his years in the House of Representatives. In 1980 they elected him minority whip — a position he held for eight years. His party also acknowledged his rising stature by naming him chairman of the Republican National Convention platform committees of 1980 and 1984.

Calculated Move

In 1988, Lott decided to give up his safe House seat and run for Senate. He won the election with a 54 percent majority, and continued his steady climb toward the top. After his election, Lott, known for his alliance building talents, was appointed to several key Senate committees, such as the Ethics Committee and the powerful Senate Budget Committee.

During his first term, he successfully ran for the Senate Republican Conference secretary — the fourth highest leadership position. He was re-elected to the Senate in 1994, and the next year challenged incumbent Majority Whip Al Simpson, R-Wyo., for his position.

Simpson was backed by most of the Republican leadership, including Majority Leader Bob Dole, but Lott eked out a win by a one-vote margin. Not only was his ascent impressive, it made history — he is the only person ever to hold the whip position in both houses of Congress.

When Dole announced his retirement in 1996 in order to concentrate on his presidential campaign, Lott made his move again. Relying on the network of alliances he formed as majority whip, Lott easily won the race for majority leader.

Lott’s Reign

Despite his tendencies to be aggressive and partisan at times, Lott has proved to be more of a deal-maker than a polarizing figure. During his first years as Senate majority leader, he worked closely with his counterpart in the House, Newt Gingrich. The two conservatives formed a tight bond during their years together in the House. More surprising, he enjoyed a close working relationship with Democratic Leader Tom Daschle.

But he came under attack in 1998 for calling homosexuality an illness, much like alcoholism or sex addiction. Later that year, as President Clinton’s impeachment began to unfurl, the president ordered the bombing of Iraq. Lott raised eyebrows when he implied Clinton’s actions were linked to the scandal. “I cannot support this military action in the Persian Gulf at this time,” Lott said. “Both the timing and the policy are subject to question.”

Lott is facing re-election this year, but it’s doubtful Democrats will spend too much time and money trying to unseat the Senate majority leader.

For now, Lott is concentrating on helping his party maintain control of Congress, especially now that he’s at the top.