Sen. Lott (R-Miss.) Announces He Will Resign By the Year's End

And so, that's -- that was the reason why we decided to run. And that's why now, having been through the past two years, or, really, two and a half years, we feel like that it is time now, an opportunity for us to make this move.

QUESTION: Senator, what did the president say when you called him?

LOTT: Well, you know, I called him at his residence last night. And, of course, he's getting ready to have a conference meeting with the Middle East officials.

And we had a good conversation. He was very kind in his remarks. You know, we've had a personal relationship. Tricia loves Laura. And, you know, over the years, you know, we've had our ups and downs, and good times and bad times for both of us. And he said that he felt like I'd be missed in my role as whip.

But he was very generous and very kind. He certainly understood and wished us the very best.

QUESTION: Senator, I understand there's a rule in the Senate that if you're negotiating with a future employer, that you must register with the Ethics Committee.

QUESTION: Have you been down to that committee yet?

LOTT: Well, I have not yet, but I'm not really involved in negotiation. I've tried to stay away from that. There are some opportunities out there that I want to be able to consider, but I have nothing that we've agreed to or lined up.

I want to look at all of it. There's things that I've wanted to do for years, hadn't been able to do. And we'll see what they are. I might even want to come back and affiliate with a law firm.

But I don't know. I don't have any commitments lined up.

QUESTION: You were in this room five years ago, talking about Strom Thurmond and your comments then. How significant is it to you that five years later you're able to leave on your terms, having rebuilt your political career, rather than having it end on that note, that (inaudible)?

LOTT: Well, again, to me, this is a positive event. This is not something that's a negative or, you know, trying to rewrite history or change history. It is what it is.