Johnny Isakson: “I am honored and privileged to join Leader McConnell and Senator Chambliss to take a few minutes to talk about one of my…”

“I am honored and privileged to join Leader McConnell and Senator Chambliss to take a few minutes to talk about one of my great friends, Paul Coverdell, and his lovely wife Nancy. Mitch McConnell has done some great recollections of Paul's service in the Senate. Senator Chambliss told some great stories of his relationship with Senator Coverdell. I wish to share some of mine to certify and document that everything they have said is absolutely correct. I met Paul Coverdell in 1972, 2 years after he was elected to the Georgia State Senate as the fifth Republican to serve there. I was running for the Georgia House of Representatives. Although I lost in 1974, I won in 1976. A few years later, I became the leader of the Republicans in the Georgia House of Representatives, and Paul was the senate leader. Paul was the most organized guy I have ever known and was the most goal-oriented guy I have ever known. His goal--when we were outnumbered 10 to 1 in the senate, Democrat to Republican, and 8 to 1, Democrat to Republican, in the house--he dreamed of the day when we were in the majority.”