Trent Lott of Mississippi will Leave Senate

Lott's political career has been one of substantial controversy, but he believes he has made a positive difference for Mississippi and the United States.

Trent Lott Photo courtesy: rizzo.noidiots.net

(PASCAGOULA, Miss.) - U.S. Senator Trent Lott of Mississippi, the Senate Republican Whip, has announced his retirement from the Senate.

Chester Trent Lott Sr. who was born October 9th 1941, is a long serving United States Senator from Mississippi and a member of the Republican Party. Over the years he has served in numerous leadership positions in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, including House Minority Whip, from 1981-1989, Senate Majority Leader from 1996-2001, Senate Minority Leader from 2001-2002, and Senate Minority Whip between 2006-2007. Senator Lott is the first to have served as whip in both houses of Congress.

Announcing his Retirement from the Senate at the LaFont Inn in Pascagoula, Mississippi, Lott said that for he and his wife Tricia, "it has been a wonderful experiences," the Senator stated.

"It's been such a pleasure to serve the good people in this state and to work on things that are important to our country and even issues that involve the world."

Lott's political career has been one of substantial controversy. The most memorable may be remarks he made on December 5th 2002 at the 100th birthday party of Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina. Lott's comment was made in support of Thurmond's failed run for President in 1948 on the Dixiecrat or "States' Rights" ticket.

Lott said, "When Strom Thurmond ran for president, we voted for him. We’re proud of it. And if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn’t have had all these problems over the years, either."

Lott was apparently unconcerned that many people recalled that Thurmond's presidential campaign largely on an explicit racial segregation platform.

Many political commentators suggested that because Lott expressed support for Thurmond's campaign, Lott was supported racial segregation.

It wasn't his first controversy by any means. Lott attracted the wrath of several groups over civil rights. In Congress, he voted to renew the Voting Rights Act, he voted against the continuation of the Civil Rights Act and opposed the Martin Luther King Holiday.

Lott also stated for many years his affiliation with the Council of Conservative Citizens, which the Anti-Defamation League and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People consider a hate group.

Lott says that "for a boy from Pascagoula, Mississippi, it's been quite a wild ride, but a very enjoyable one," he also says it is one he's proud of.

"I want to also say to my colleagues in the House and the Senate that I thank them, too, for allowing me to serve in leadership positions in the House and the Senate and being able to work on issues that are important to all of us."

Lott says he still feels very strongly about the role of the federal government and having a strong national defense, and also about fiscal responsibility, and in his words, "trying to find some way to control spending."

He admits that as a nation, we've not always done a great job of that. "But I still think that that's one of the key responsibilities of members of Congress, House and Senate," he added.

"I've been very committed, as you know, to jobs creation and all that goes into being able to create more and better jobs in Mississippi, including better education. And I focused in that area – in the higher education area – where the federal government really can be helpful and does have a role."

But in truth, Mississippi is one of the poorest states in the union and that is largely attributed to its dependence on agriculture before and after the Civil War, and its failure to build railroads to link its towns and river cities.

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The segregation and disfranchisement of African Americans after the Civil War, and the state's refusal for years to educate and encourage residents, particularly minorities, is also looked at as reasons the state has emerged into the 21st Century as one of the poorest.

The state has also suffered repeated major property damage from flooding and natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and others.

But Lott sees it differently. He believes among other things that Mississippi's infrastructure has taken a turn up.

"One of the things that struck me when I started back in the '70s as a Congressman, and then as I went though North Mississippi in the '80s and '90s as a senator, was the poor quality of our infrastructure – our industrial sites, our roads, our airports, our ports and harbors. And I really felt that we needed to do more in that area, and I focused on it."

He says he believes they have made lot of progress in those areas, and that he will keep working in that regard until his very last day of service in the Senate.

"And the last day I'm alive because I am just so committed to this state and the people of this state and to having a better quality of life for all of our people."

He says the time has come though when he and his wife Tricia are going to try something else.

"We've had this great experience for these 35 years, but we do think that there is time left for us to maybe do something else. We had 30 members of our family for Thanksgiving dinner, children, grandchildren, cousins, and aunts and uncles, and I just realized once again I've missed a lot of those opportunities to spend extra time with family. We'd like to have a little more time to do that, too."

So Lott announced today that he will be retiring from the Senate by the end of the year.

"It's not effective today. I want to collaborate and consult with our governor, state officials, and with federal officials, and I want to continue to serve in my position as whip in the Senate right to the end of the session and try to be helpful there as much as I can."

He added, "I don't know what the future holds for us. A lot of options, hopefully, will be available. I've always thought I might like to teach some – as the son of a school teacher why wouldn't I want to do that."

He says their son Chet has turned out to be a pretty good musician. "Maybe I could manage his musical career."