Trent Lott: “Mr. President, the affected parties have checked their differences at the door, have worked together with openness and…”

I was accused of being a compromiser or a deal-maker. I didn't know those were dirty words.

When you're dealing with 100 United States senators, let alone 435 House members, you're not going to get it all the way you want it. The president's going to have to give some, the president is going to have to show leadership.

You've got to do that every now and then. Even though you might get your little flak from some of the people within your conference. It's called leadership.

I think if they would go back to the old way of getting things done, carefully and systematically, would really help them.