So why was such a tyro made Majority Leader?
He had the backing of former Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker and was head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which was very successful at fundraising during his watch. A lot of senators owed him.
Remember it was set to return to Trent Lott, until he offered his birthday wishes to 100-year old outgoing Sen. Strom Thurmond. The left/media demanded his head for paying tribute to his 1948 Dixiecrat candidacy for President. The party establishment wanted a “non-controversial” person to become Majority Leader and went with Frist.