Trent Lott facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Trent Lott
United States Senator from Mississippi
In office January 3, 1989 – December 18, 2007
Preceded by	John C. Stennis
Succeeded by	Roger Wicker
Senate positions Senate Majority Leader In office January 20, 2001 – June 6, 2001 Deputy Don Nickles Preceded by Tom Daschle Succeeded by Tom Daschle In office June 12, 1996 – January 3, 2001 Preceded by Bob Dole Succeeded by Tom Daschle Senate Minority Leader In office June 6, 2001 – January 3, 2003 Deputy Don Nickles Preceded by Tom Daschle Succeeded by Tom Daschle In office January 3, 2001 – January 20, 2001 Deputy Don Nickles Preceded by Tom Daschle Succeeded by Tom Daschle Leader of the Senate Republican Conference In office June 12, 1996 – January 3, 2003 Deputy Don Nickles Preceded by Bob Dole Succeeded by Bill Frist Senate Minority Whip In office January 3, 2007 – December 18, 2007 Leader Mitch McConnell Preceded by Dick Durbin Succeeded by Jon Kyl Senate Majority Whip In office January 3, 1995 – June 12, 1996 Leader Bob Dole Preceded by Wendell Ford Succeeded by Don Nickles
House Minority Whip
In office January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1989
Leader	Robert H. Michel
Preceded by	Robert H. Michel
Succeeded by	Dick Cheney
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Mississippi's 5th district
In office January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1989
Preceded by	William M. Colmer
Succeeded by	Larkin I. Smith
Personal details
Born	Chester Trent Lott (1941-10-09) October 9, 1941 (age 83) Grenada, Mississippi, U.S.
Political party	Republican (1972–present)
Other political affiliations	Democratic (before 1972)
Spouse	Patricia Thompson ​ (m. 1964)​
Children	2
Education	University of Mississippi (BPA, JD)
Signature

Chester Trent Lott Sr. (born October 9, 1941) is an American politician, lawyer, and author. He represented the state of Mississippi in the United States House of Representatives from 1973 to 1989. Later, he served in the United States Senate from 1989 to 2007.

Trent Lott held many important leadership roles in both parts of Congress. He was one of the first Republicans to win seats in Southern states. These states had traditionally voted for the Democratic Party. During his time in the Senate, he was the Senate Majority Leader twice and also the Senate Minority Leader. In 2003, he stepped down from his leadership role after some controversial comments he made about a past political campaign.

From 1968 to 1972, Lott worked as an assistant to Representative William M. Colmer of Mississippi. When Colmer retired, Lott won his seat in the House of Representatives. In 1988, Lott successfully ran for the U.S. Senate. He replaced another retiring senator, John C. Stennis.

When Republicans gained the majority in the Senate, Lott became the Senate Majority Whip in 1995. He then became Senate Majority Leader in 1996. This happened after Bob Dole resigned to focus on his presidential campaign. After the 2000 Senate elections, the Senate was split 50–50 between the two major parties. Lott briefly became the Senate Minority Leader. He was restored as Senate Majority Leader after Dick Cheney became Vice President in January 2001. Lott was Senate Majority Leader until June 2001. At that time, Senator Jim Jeffords changed his party, and Democrats regained the majority. Lott then served as Senate Minority Leader again.

After more Republican gains in the 2002 elections, Lott was expected to become Majority Leader again. However, in December 2002, he resigned from his leadership position due to controversial comments. Even though he was no longer in a leadership role, Lott remained in the Senate until he resigned in 2007. Roger Wicker, a fellow Republican, won the special election to replace him. After leaving the Senate, Lott became a lobbyist. He co-founded the Breaux–Lott Leadership Group.

Early Life and Education

Trent Lott was born in Grenada, Mississippi. He spent his early years in Duck Hill. His father, Chester Paul Lott, was a farmer. His mother, Iona Watson, was a schoolteacher. When Lott was in the sixth grade, his family moved to Pascagoula. There, his father worked at a shipyard.

Lott attended the University of Mississippi in Oxford. He earned a degree in public administration in 1963. He then received a law degree in 1967. While in college, he was president of his fraternity, Sigma Nu. Lott was also a cheerleader for Ole Miss, along with future U.S. Senator Thad Cochran.

Political Career

Serving in the House of Representatives

Lott with President Richard Nixon in 1973

Lott with President Ronald Reagan in 1982

From 1968 to 1972, Trent Lott worked as an assistant to House Rules Committee chairman William M. Colmer. Colmer was also from Pascagoula.

In 1972, Colmer retired after 40 years in Congress. He supported Lott to take his place in Mississippi's 5th District. This district is in the southern part of the state. Lott ran as a Republican and won easily. This was partly because Richard Nixon won by a large margin in the presidential election that year.

Lott and his future Senate colleague, Thad Cochran, were among the first Republicans elected to Congress from Mississippi since the Reconstruction era. Lott's strong election results helped him get a spot on the important House Judiciary Committee as a new member. He was re-elected six more times without much difficulty. He even ran unopposed in 1978.

In 1980, Lott was Ronald Reagan's state chairman for Mississippi. He served as House Minority Whip from 1981 to 1989. This made him the second-highest ranking Republican in the House. He was the first Southern Republican to hold such a high leadership position.

Serving in the United States Senate

Lott with President George W. Bush in 2001

Sen. Trent Lott with former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (R-GA) at the 2004 Republican National Convention

Lott ran for the Senate in 1988. This was after Senator John Stennis, who had served for 42 years, announced he would not seek another term. Lott defeated Democratic Congressman Wayne Dowdy. Lott won by a significant margin in his congressional district. He was also helped by George H. W. Bush winning the state easily in the presidential election. Lott was re-elected in 1994, 2000, and 2006 without strong Democratic opposition.

In 1995, when Republicans gained control of the Senate, he became Senate Majority Whip. In June 1996, he ran for Senate Majority Leader. He aimed to succeed Republican Bob Dole, who had resigned to focus on his presidential campaign. Lott won the vote among his fellow senators. As Majority Leader, Lott played a big role in the Senate trial after the impeachment of President Bill Clinton.

Lott generally held conservative political views. After the 2000 elections, the Senate was evenly split between the two major parties. Vice President Al Gore's tie-breaking vote gave Democrats the majority for a short time. Then, when George W. Bush became president, Vice President Dick Cheney's tie-breaking vote gave Republicans the majority again. Later in 2001, Lott became Senate Minority Leader again. This happened after Senator Jim Jeffords changed his party to Independent and voted with the Democrats.

Resignation from Senate Leadership

On December 5, 2002, Lott spoke at the 100th birthday party of Senator Strom Thurmond. Lott made comments about Thurmond's 1948 presidential campaign that caused a lot of controversy. In the wake of this, Lott resigned as Senate Republican Leader on December 20, 2002. Bill Frist of Tennessee was then chosen for the leadership position.

After losing the Majority Leader post, Lott was less in the national spotlight. However, he did sometimes disagree with typical conservative views. For example, he supported passenger rail projects. On November 15, 2006, Lott regained a leadership position in the Senate. He was named Minority Whip after winning a close vote.

Resignation from the Senate

On November 26, 2007, Lott announced that he would resign from his Senate seat by the end of 2007. His resignation became official on December 18, 2007. In January 2008, it was announced that Lott and former Senator John Breaux of Louisiana opened their own lobbying firm.

After the Senate

Lott with Cindy Hyde-Smith in 2018

In January 2008, Trent Lott co-founded the Breaux-Lott Leadership Group. This firm provides "strategic advice, consulting, and lobbying." He started it with former Louisiana Senator John Breaux. The firm was later bought by a larger law and lobbying firm. Lott also served on the board of directors for EADS North America, which is now known as Airbus.

For the 2016 presidential election, Lott was a national co-chair for John Kasich. He later supported Donald Trump's campaign once Trump became the nominee.

Lott has been named an Honorary Patron of the University Philosophical Society at Trinity College, Dublin. He is also on the Board of Selectors for the Jefferson Awards for Public Service.

Memoir

Lott's memoir, a book about his life, is called Herding Cats: A Life in Politics. It was published in 2005. In the book, Lott discussed the comments he made at the Strom Thurmond birthday party. He also shared his feelings about former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. Lott claimed that if Frist had not announced his intentions when he did, Lott would still be the Senate Majority Leader. He also said that former Democratic Leader Tom Daschle was "trustworthy." Lott also revealed that President George W. Bush and other Republican leaders played a big part in ending his career as Senate Republican Leader.

Personal Life

Trent Lott married Patricia Thompson on December 27, 1964. They have two children: Chester Trent "Chet" Lott Jr., and Tyler Lott.

Lott is a Freemason. He holds a high rank in the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States in the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite.

Legacy

Trent Lott Academy in the Pascagoula School District is named after him. Lott is also the namesake of Trent Lott International Airport in Moss Point, Mississippi. The character of Lott Dod, a senator from the film Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, is named after him.

The Trent Lott Leadership Institute is named after him. It is located at his alma mater, the University of Mississippi.

See also

In Spanish: Trent Lott para niños