Emotional Colleagues Eulogize Coverdell

Political leaders from around the nation and Georgia packed a church Saturday to say goodbye to Paul Coverdell, the second-term senator who died of a brain hemorrhage.

Some fought to choke back tears, including Gov. Roy Barnes, who had difficulty saying “Goodbye, old friend.”

Coverdell, 61, who died Tuesday, was remembered as a gentle man and as a politician who preferred to work behind the scenes rather than hog the spotlight.

In addition to Georgia’s congressional delegation, mourners from Washington included dozens of Coverdell’s Senate and House colleagues, including Sens. John McCain of Arizona, Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts and Fred Thompson of Tennessee.

The White House was represented by Defense Secretary William S. Cohen.

Republican presidential hopeful George W. Bush sat with Coverdell’s widow, Nancy, during the service at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church.

One of several eulogies read at the service was written by Bush’s father, former President Bush, who said Coverdell “told us that quiet is good, caring about the other guy matters.”

Barnes said Coverdell became his mentor when he was first elected to the state Senate even though they were of different parties. Barnes is a Democrat and Coverdell was a Republican.

Despite their political differences, they became close friends and at one point counseled each other on their political plans, Barnes said.

Sen. Phil Gramm of Texas drew chuckles and smiles with his remembrance of Coverdell.

“We won’t soon forget that squeaky voice, that disheveled hair, those flailing arms,” Gramm said. At the same time, he said, Coverdell’s friends also would remember his “lion heart, iron will and loving ways.”