In a day of tributes, Lindsey Graham is remembered as a tireless Washington mainstay - NPR
Source: NPR
President Trump honored the late Senator Lindsey Graham at a funeral service held at Washington National Cathedral on Tuesday, calling him a 'legend' and a 'giant of the U.S. Senate.' Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, died earlier this month at age 71. The ceremony marked the first of two days of remembrances for the senator, who served in Congress for more than three decades and became one of Washington's most prominent and recognizable legislative figures.
Trump reflected warmly on his evolving relationship with Graham, recounting how the two had once been fierce rivals during the 2016 GOP presidential primary. In a memorable moment, Trump had publicly shared Graham's personal cell phone number — an act he acknowledged he 'shouldn't have done' — yet repeated the digits again during the funeral, drawing laughter from the congregation. Despite their rocky start, the two men developed a close and enduring friendship that lasted until Graham's death.
Graham was widely regarded as a hawkish voice on foreign policy throughout his career. Trump noted that Graham 'never saw a war that he didn't like,' a characterization delivered with affection rather than criticism. Graham also played a key role in shepherding Trump's signature tax and spending legislation through the Senate, with Trump hinting that the bill contained several concessions negotiated specifically by Graham on behalf of his constituents and priorities.
Graham died just one day after returning from a trip to Ukraine, where he had announced a newly-brokered sanctions deal aimed at pressuring Russia to end its military assault on the country. Senate Republican leaders moved quickly to honor his final effort, scheduling a procedural vote on the sanctions legislation for Tuesday. The move underscored Graham's reputation as a tireless legislator who remained devoted to his work until the very end of his life.
The funeral was attended by dozens of members of Congress and Cabinet officials. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh was also present, reflecting Graham's pivotal role in defending Kavanaugh during his contentious Senate confirmation hearings. Several of Graham's longtime staff members served as honorary pallbearers. A separate Congressional tribute had already been held in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, where an honor guard stood watch around Graham's casket in a solemn ceremony befitting his decades of service.
Traduction japonaise
トランプ大統領は火曜日、ワシントン国立大聖堂で行われた故リンゼー・グラハム上院議員の葬儀で追悼演説を行い、同氏を「上院の巨人」と称えた。サウスカロライナ州選出の共和党議員だったグラハムは今月71歳で死去。この日は2日間にわたる追悼行事の初日で、30年以上にわたって議会を支えた重鎮にふさわしい厳粛な式典が執り行われた。
トランプ氏はグラハム氏との関係を振り返り、2016年の大統領予備選で激しく対立していた当時、グラハム氏の個人携帯番号を公表したエピソードを紹介した。「やるべきではなかった」と認めながらも、式典中に再び番号を読み上げて笑いを誘った。当初は険悪だった2人の関係は、やがて深い友情へと発展し、グラハム氏の死まで続いた。
グラハム氏は在職中、外交・安全保障分野での強硬な主張で知られた。トランプ氏は「彼が嫌いな戦争はなかった」と愛情を込めて語った。また、グラハム氏はトランプ政権の目玉となる税制・歳出法案を上院で成立させる上でも重要な役割を果たしており、トランプ氏は法案に「グラハム特典」が多く盛り込まれていると冗談めかして語った。
グラハム氏はウクライナ訪問の翌日に急逝した。訪問中、同氏はロシアに対する制裁法案をめぐる新たな合意を発表していた。共和党上院指導部はこの遺志を継ぎ、葬儀終了後の火曜日に制裁法案の手続き採決を予定した。最後の最後まで立法活動に身を捧げたグラハム氏の姿勢を象徴するかのような展開となった。
葬儀には数十名の連邦議会議員や閣僚が参列したほか、ブレット・カバノー最高裁判事の姿もあった。カバノー氏の上院承認公聴会でグラハム氏が熱心に擁護したことへの敬意を示すものだった。長年グラハム氏に仕えたスタッフ数名が名誉棺担ぎを務め、前日には連邦議事堂円形ホールで議会としての公式追悼式も行われていた。
Vocabulaire clé
- mainstaynoun
A person or thing that is the most important or reliable part of a system or group.
和訳: 中心的人物、柱
She has been a mainstay of the organization for over two decades, guiding it through every major crisis.
- confidantenoun
A person, typically a close friend, with whom one shares private thoughts and secrets.
和訳: 腹心の友、信頼できる人
The president relied on his confidante to speak honestly about decisions that advisors were too cautious to question.
- hawkishadjective
Favoring an aggressive or confrontational foreign policy, especially regarding military action.
和訳: 強硬派の、タカ派の
The senator's hawkish stance on defense spending put him at odds with colleagues who preferred diplomatic solutions.
- shepherd (something) throughphrase
To guide a proposal, bill, or plan carefully through a complex process until it is completed or approved.
和訳: 〜を丁寧に導き通す、成立させる
It took months of negotiation, but she finally shepherded the landmark education bill through both chambers.
