Biography

Known for being the first statewide elected Republican from Mississippi in over 100 years, then turned around to hire the first African-American congressional staffer to work in a Mississippi congressional office since Reconstruction, plus steadily advocating for Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

He was known for frequently playing a piano in his U.S. Senate office.

His quiet gentlemanly demeanor

As the senior United States Senator from Mississippi, Cochran was offered the opportunity to use the desk of Jefferson Davis, who had been a Member of the United States House of Representatives from Mississippi, and also a United States Senator from Mississippi, before switching his allegiance to the Confederacy, and becoming President of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War. Cochran enthusiastically accepted the offer to use the desk, and said that he was "very proud" to have Davis's desk.

In April 2006, he was selected by Time Magazine as one of "America's 10 Best Senators".

[From Cochran's Farewell to the United States Senate - reminiscence of serving in Congress] "...with nine presidents during times of conflict and peace."

[From Cochran's Farewell to the United States Senate] "All our citizens have the right to be heard and to have a voice in their government. I believe our job as their servants is not to tell others what to think or tell others what to do. Our job is to represent them. I have endeavored to do that the best way I possibly could."

[From Cochran's Farewell to the United States Senate] "We have engaged in heated arguments. But even in full disagreement, I believe all our motivations begin at the same point: the sincere desire to serve our states and country"