Trent Lott

U.S. Sen. Trent Lott: Getty Images PhotoMINNEAPOLIS - Trent Lott, the former Senate Majority Leader from Mississippi, spoke to the Washington delegation this morning with an address full of jokes, old Senate stories, southern military history and recollections of the good times he has spend in Washington state.

He also complimented the Washington delegation on their organization for all getting together in the same room for breakfast.

"We Mississippians just kind of wander around the hotel lobby hung over," he joked.

Lott also touched on the idea of friendship and working together. He told stories of his camaraderie with former Sen. Slade Gorton, and the accomplishments that their friendship, which he said was very true, allowed them to achieve.

In January, U.S. Sen. Harry Reid (D-Searchlight) will have two years under his belt as Senate majority leader. There's no particular reason to suspect that his reign is nearing an end, but recent majority leaders have served short terms, and sometimes hit dead ends in their political careers.

U.S. Sen. Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) served for four years as majority leader and then walked away from the Senate. U.S. Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) was majority leader for two years before being defeated during his next re-election campaign. It's not a major concern yet, but like South Dakota, the Nevada media market is not terribly expensive, and could present a similar opportunity for Republicans under the right conditions.

After a total of five years, U.S. Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) resigned from the leadership post in the wake of a Strom Thurmond controversy. After less than two years as majority leader (the second time), U.S. Sen. Bob Dole (R-Kan.) left the Senate to run for president. After leading the Senate for six years, U.S. Sen. George Mitchell (D-Maine) chose not to run for re-election.