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CNN Saturday Morning News
Resignation of Trent Lott Provides Relief on Capitol Hill
Aired December 21, 2002 - 08:07 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: All right, now let's talk about how this Senate shake-up will shake out in the new Congress.
For that, we check in with CNN's Kathleen Koch, who is on Capitol Hill this morning -- hello there, Kathleen.
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Fredricka.
Well, you can almost feel the relief here now that this ordeal is over, though I don't think you can say that anyone is happy, really, among the GOP about how this all wrapped up. Of course, as we heard Jason describe, there is going to be this conference call on Monday where the Senate GOP Conference will take a final vote and decide who will be their Senate majority leader. But it's, of course, looking very much like Senator Frist, noted heart surgeon. He also is very, has won kudos for his work on health care issues here in the Senate and also a lot of praise for leading the successful GOP takeover of the Senate in the November elections.
Now, Senator Lott, though, for right now he himself is not having much to say. He released a very brief statement yesterday in announcing he was going to be stepping down as Senate majority leader. Trent Lott saying, "In the interests of pursuing the best possible agenda for the future of our country, I will not seek to remain as majority leader."
Now, after that reaction came very quickly, both from the White House and from colleagues who insisted that Trent Lott had not been forced out, but had determined his own destiny.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN WARNER (R-VA), ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE: He did it on his own decision. History will show that he was not forced in that sense. Trent Lott was a very effective floor leader and in every other respect. We wouldn't have a homeland defense agency today had he not brilliantly resolved the problems in our caucus.
But I come to this point. Bill Frist never wanted to force him out. And I can tell you that, because we've, all this week, quietly, each day, talked about this together. What Bill Frist felt was necessary is to give the Republican Caucus a choice as soon as Don Nickels had made it known that he was stepping down. Otherwise it was just a wide open field with Trent Lott.
ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I respect the very difficult decision Trent has made on behalf of the American people. As majority and minority leader of the Senate, Trent Lott improved education for the American people, he led the way in securing tax relief, he strengthened our national security and he stood for a bold and effective foreign policy.
Trent is a valued friend and a man I respect. I am pleased he will continue to serve our nation in the Senate and I'll look forward to working with him on our agenda to make America safer, stronger and better.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOCH: And Senator Lott is promising to fill out the remainder of his term as senator from the State of Mississippi. He is winning praise, being called courageous for not doing the easy thing but doing the right thing -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, Kathleen Koch on Capitol Hill.
Thank you very much.
And in a moment, we're going to talk to a close friend of more than 30 years with Senator Frist to find out just who this man is and what kind of leader he just might be.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
>
Aired December 21, 2002 - 08:07 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: All right, now let's talk about how this Senate shake-up will shake out in the new Congress.
For that, we check in with CNN's Kathleen Koch, who is on Capitol Hill this morning -- hello there, Kathleen.
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Fredricka.
Well, you can almost feel the relief here now that this ordeal is over, though I don't think you can say that anyone is happy, really, among the GOP about how this all wrapped up. Of course, as we heard Jason describe, there is going to be this conference call on Monday where the Senate GOP Conference will take a final vote and decide who will be their Senate majority leader. But it's, of course, looking very much like Senator Frist, noted heart surgeon. He also is very, has won kudos for his work on health care issues here in the Senate and also a lot of praise for leading the successful GOP takeover of the Senate in the November elections.
Now, Senator Lott, though, for right now he himself is not having much to say. He released a very brief statement yesterday in announcing he was going to be stepping down as Senate majority leader. Trent Lott saying, "In the interests of pursuing the best possible agenda for the future of our country, I will not seek to remain as majority leader."
Now, after that reaction came very quickly, both from the White House and from colleagues who insisted that Trent Lott had not been forced out, but had determined his own destiny.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN WARNER (R-VA), ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE: He did it on his own decision. History will show that he was not forced in that sense. Trent Lott was a very effective floor leader and in every other respect. We wouldn't have a homeland defense agency today had he not brilliantly resolved the problems in our caucus.
But I come to this point. Bill Frist never wanted to force him out. And I can tell you that, because we've, all this week, quietly, each day, talked about this together. What Bill Frist felt was necessary is to give the Republican Caucus a choice as soon as Don Nickels had made it known that he was stepping down. Otherwise it was just a wide open field with Trent Lott.
ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I respect the very difficult decision Trent has made on behalf of the American people. As majority and minority leader of the Senate, Trent Lott improved education for the American people, he led the way in securing tax relief, he strengthened our national security and he stood for a bold and effective foreign policy.
Trent is a valued friend and a man I respect. I am pleased he will continue to serve our nation in the Senate and I'll look forward to working with him on our agenda to make America safer, stronger and better.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOCH: And Senator Lott is promising to fill out the remainder of his term as senator from the State of Mississippi. He is winning praise, being called courageous for not doing the easy thing but doing the right thing -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, Kathleen Koch on Capitol Hill.
Thank you very much.
And in a moment, we're going to talk to a close friend of more than 30 years with Senator Frist to find out just who this man is and what kind of leader he just might be.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
>
