Democratic strategist James Carville says the late Lindsey Graham's career was 'defined by duplicity'

Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville said Wednesday that while he takes no joy in the late Senator Lindsay Graham’s death, he will remember his career as one of "duplicity."

"Let's give him all the credit in the world. He was one of the [Bill Clinton] impeachment managers. Remember the great moral titan Henry Hyde and that whole crowd. And yeah, he was a little bit more than just for impeachment. He was the most aggressive," Carville said.

"I knew him. He could be personable, but I don't think the man has had a... sorry, I don't want anybody to get sick or die, that's not it," Carville said. "But I think his political career is mostly defined by duplicity. Just my own view."

Graham, 71, died Saturday night from an an aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The news stunned Washington, as Graham was one of the body's most active members and was even scheduled to appear on NBC's "Meet the Press" Sunday morning.

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The reaction to Graham’s death, as one of the most vocal and visible Republican senators, has sparked headlines as people share hot takes about his career.

"He was a character," co-host Al Hunt said. "Somewhat controversial, different stages of his life. I first met him right after he won the House seat in 1994, and I felt he was different than most southern Republicans back then, 30-some years ago. Young, kind of funny."

Hunt recalled that Graham was a close ally of John McCain in terms of policy, and managed to be witty and funny to the point he himself chose him for the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Committee when told to find somebody "smart and fun."

"Then as McCain was dying, he turned to a new leader, a new guru because he always wanted to be a player, and that was Donald Trump," Hunt recalled. And I think his influence was exaggerated, but he was a very constructive force on Ukraine and a very, very bad influence on the war in Iran and actually on his policy towards Israel."

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He concluded, "I just think Lindsey Graham was a force in American politics for 30-some years and, like most people, if you get too close to Trump, you get soiled."

Carville offered a harsher assessment, but nonetheless acknowledged how personable he could be.

Graham served in the House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003 and was a key figure in the impeachment trial of Carville's old boss, former President Bill Clinton. 

Graham was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2002 and re-elected three more times; he was seeking a fifth term in 2026 when he died.

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