[Senate Document 109-16]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
109th Congress SENATE DOCUMENT S.Doc 109-016
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TRIBUTES TO HON. BOB DOLE
Bob Dole
U.S. SENATOR FROM KANSAS
TRIBUTES
IN THE CONGRESS OF
THE UNITED STATES
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] 28300.002
Bob Dole
U.S. Senate Historical Office
Tributes
Delivered in Congress
Bob Dole
United States Congressman
1961-1968
United States Senator
1969-1996
Compiled under the direction
of the
Joint Committee on Printing
Trent Lott, Chairman
CONTENTS
Biography.............................................
v
Proceedings in the Senate:
Tributes by Senators:
Alexander, Lamar, of Tennessee.................
22
Brownback, Sam, of Kansas......................
15
Cochran, Thad, of Mississippi..................
13
Enzi, Michael B., of Wyoming...................
25
Frist, William H., of Tennessee................
3
Harkin, Tom, of Iowa...........................
21
Hutchison, Kay Bailey, of Texas................
24
Inhofe, James M., of Oklahoma..................
27
Martinez, Mel, of Florida......................
23
McCain, John, of Arizona.......................
18
McConnell, Mitch, of Kentucky..................
19, 20
Roberts, Pat, of Kansas........................
8
Smith, Gordon H., of Oregon....................
11
Stevens, Ted, of Alaska........................
4, 6
Warner, John, of Virginia......................
6, 7
Biography
Robert Joseph Dole was born in Russell, KS, on July 22,
1923, the eldest son of Doran R. and Bina Talbott Dole. He
is married to the Honorable Elizabeth Hanford Dole,
current Senator from North Carolina, and has one daughter,
Robin, from a previous marriage.
Bob Dole was raised on the plains of western Kansas. He
is a graduate of Russell public schools, and attended the
University of Kansas, Lawrence. He received an A.B. and
LL.B from Washburn Municipal University in 1952.
Senator Dole entered active duty in the U.S. Army in
June 1943, after completing his sophomore year at the
University of Kansas. He served 5\1/2\ years and was a
10th Mountain Division platoon leader in the Allied
liberation of Northern Italy. Twice wounded and twice
decorated for heroic achievement, Senator Dole was
discharged with the rank of captain, in July 1948, having
convalesced for 3 years from grave wounds sustained in
combat. His decorations include two Purple Hearts and a
Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster.
Senator Dole was elected to the Kansas Legislature in
1950 and served in the House of Representatives from 1951
until 1953. He was elected to four consecutive terms as
Russell County Attorney, from 1952 to 1960. In 1960,
Senator Dole was elected to the U.S. House of
Representatives and reelected in 1962, 1964, and 1966. He
was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1968 and was reelected
in 1974, 1980, 1986, and 1992. His distinguished career in
the U.S. House and Senate includes, among many
assignments, long-standing service as a member of the
House and Senate Committees on Agriculture, and chair of
the Senate Finance Committee.
In 1984, he was elected Senate majority leader, 1 of
only 18 Americans to serve in that position. According to
Congressional Quarterly, Majority Leader Dole ``proved a
point that badly needed proving at the time: the Senate
could be led.'' Ronald Reagan said, ``His title of leader
is not just a job title, it's a description of the man.''
After serving in four consecutive Congresses as Senate
Republican leader, he retired from the Senate in 1996 to
seek the GOP nomination for the Presidency. As the
Republican Presidential nominee Senator Dole offered
himself to Americans as an honorable leader. His candidacy
for the White House cemented his reputation as an honest,
respected statesman who will long be considered one of the
most powerful Senators and brilliant legislators of our
times.
Senator Dole was not only the Republican candidate for
President of the United States in 1996, but also the
Republican candidate for Vice President in 1976. He served
as Republican National Committee chairman from 1971 to
1973. Among numerous distinguished appointments, Senator
Dole has been an advisor to the U.S. Delegation to the
United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in 1965,
1968, 1974, 1975, 1977, and 1979; a member of the
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe in 1977;
a member of the National Commission on Social Security
Reform in 1983; a member of the U.S. National Commission
for the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and
Cultural Organization in 1970 and 1973; an advisor to the
U.S. Delegation to Study the Arab Refugee Problem in 1967;
and an advisor to the President's Delegation to Study the
Food Crisis in India in 1966.
In addition to his vigorous law practice in the Nation's
Capital, Senator Dole maintains a strong commitment to
public service. Among several roles, he recently chaired
the International Commission on Missing Persons and the
Federal City Council. Among the honors he has been
accorded, he is a recipient of the Presidential Medal of
Freedom, the Nation's highest honor for distinguished
service; the American Legion's prestigious Distinguished
Service Medal; and the National Collegiate Athletic
Association's Teddy Roosevelt Award. The Robert Dole
Scholarship Fund for Disabled Students has recently been
established in his honor at the United Negro College Fund.
Recognized as one of the most prominent political
figures of our time with a distinguished record of
service, Bob Dole continues to make a difference in the
lives of the American people. Known for his unconventional
candor and prairie wit, Senator Dole is a rare quality,
especially in Washington.
In 2005, Senator Dole made his latest contribution to
the country with the publication of his best-selling World
War II memoir, ``One Soldier's Story.'' The book
chronicles his harrowing experience on and off the
battlefield and the lessons learned through his struggle
to survive. ``One Soldier's Story'' is a tribute to those
who defended liberty in its darkest hour and his gift to
future generations, a destined-to-be classic about
overcoming adversity and making the most out of life.
As chairman of the National World War II Memorial,
Senator Dole led the Nation in honoring the heroes of his
generation and helped enshrine their legacy of sacrifice
for freedom.
As a renowned political commentator, a frequent guest on
late night talk shows, star of two Super Bowl commercials
and author of two best-selling books on political humor
``Great Presidential Wit, I Wish I Was In The Book'' and
``Great Political Wit, Laughing (Almost) All the Way to
the White House,'' Dole is part of the American landscape.
Following the attacks of September 11, Senator Dole
joined forces with former rival President Bill Clinton to
serve as co-chair of the Families of Freedom Scholarship
Fund, assisting the educational needs of the families of
the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and United Flight
93. In January 2003, he was appointed honorary co-chair of
the President's Council on Service and Civic
Participation, part of President Bush's USA Freedom Corps.
The American public started seeing the lighter,
entertaining side of Senator Dole's legendary sense of
humor with his post-election appearances on ``The Late
Show with David Letterman,'' ``Saturday Night Live,''
``The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,'' ``Late Night with
Conan O'Brien,'' and ``The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.''
This tough, commonsense conservative from America's
heartland accumulated political achievements second to
none. He earned national acclaim for his leadership on
behalf of the disadvantaged and Americans with
disabilities, and for his mastery of foreign affairs.
Senator Dole's effectiveness as a consensus-builder and
his commitment to deficit reduction and economic growth
have earned him the admiration of Republicans,
Independents and Democrats alike. On issue after issue,
Senator Dole is a statesman who has made his mark.
President Bush called Senator Dole ``a great Republican
leader, as great as any in the past.'' Retired General and
Secretary of State Colin Powell called him ``a plain-
spoken man of strength, maturity and integrity.''
TRIBUTES
TO
BOB DOLE
Proceedings in the Senate
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, this Sunday marked the 10th
anniversary of Senator Robert Dole's retirement from the
U.S. Senate. From humble beginnings on the plains of
western Kansas, Bob Dole has risen to become one of our
most accomplished and respected public figures of the 20th
century.
Bob Dole was elected to Congress in 1960 as a
Representative of the Sixth District of Kansas. He was
immediately chosen by his fellow freshman colleagues to
lead the freshman class. His ability to lead and inspire,
his dry wit and savvy, would characterize his ascent to
the peaks of political life.
Bob Dole was reelected for three more terms before being
elected to the Senate in 1968.
In 1971, Senator Dole was chosen to lead the Republican
National Committee, a position he held for 2 years.
It was a tumultuous time for America. His steady hand
earned him the Vice Presidential nomination alongside
Gerald Ford in the 1976 election. Jimmy Carter won. But
that didn't hinder Senator Dole's steady climb.
Over the next decade, Senator Dole moved up through the
leadership ranks, and in 1984, he was elected to succeed
Senator Howard Baker as majority leader. While Democrats
regained control of the Senate in 1986, Senator Dole
continued to lead his party as minority leader. In 1994,
Republicans swept Congress, and Senator Dole was once
again elected majority leader. His 12 years as the leader
of his party in the Senate set a record, and made him the
longest serving Senate leader of the Republican Party
since its founding in 1854.
I learned a lot from Leader Dole during my first few
years here. We saw eye to eye on most issues, but when we
didn't, he always encouraged me to vote my conscience.
He respected my commitment to family, and with my three
young sons, he was always careful to ensure that the
schedule wouldn't run over my time with my wife and
children.
And he took the time to listen to all colleagues. While
many remember his famous admonition, in meeting after
meeting, to ``work it out,'' what fewer recall is that he
would pursue votes, and ideas, and solutions over and over
and over to lead to the point where, indeed, we could
``work it out.''
Our Senate party was in good hands under his
stewardship. He was a good partner for President Reagan
and President Bush. And the respect President Clinton paid
him was impressive, even across party lines.
I was proud to begin to know him during my early years
here. His portrait hangs on the wall in my conference
room, making him part of our leadership meetings every
week. I have often thought about what he might do when
challenging situations arise around here.
And as much, I have often wondered what quip he might
have offered to break the tension at a tough moment.
With my leadership team, we have made some tough calls
under his watchful gaze. In 1996, Senator Dole was chosen
by the party to run as its Presidential nominee. It was
the capstone to a remarkable career.
World War II hero, dedicated public servant, master of
the Senate, and champion of the conservative cause,
Senator Dole has stamped his place in American political
history. Although he has left office, the elder statesman
has in no way retired. He has authored two best-selling
books on political humor, and a personal memoir of his
life as a soldier. He is invited to speak all over the
world to offer his wit and keen insights into the issues
of our time. President Reagan once said of Senator Dole:
``His title of leader is not just a job title, it's a
description of the man.''
This plain-spoken, honest and humble man from Russell,
KS, is the genuine article.
One of the brightest stars of the Greatest Generation,
Senator Dole served his country with bravery and
dedication. He has earned the affection and respect of his
fellow citizens. And he will always be remembered for his
humor, leadership, graciousness and humility--and for the
honor he has brought to political life.
Mr. President, I yield the floor.
Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, yesterday, we honored our
colleague, Senator Robert Byrd, for achieving an important
milestone in our Senate's history. Today, we come to the
floor to pay tribute to another man who stands out as a
giant among those who have served in this Chamber, Senator
Bob Dole. Last Sunday marked the 10-year anniversary of
his retirement from the Senate.
Bob Dole and I came to the Senate at the same time. We
have worked together a great deal. When I was Republican
whip and he was our party's Vice Presidential nominee, I
was asked to help him prepare when he debated Walter
Mondale--the first Vice Presidential debate in history.
Bob helped us pass the Alaskan Native Land Claims
Settlement Act, which paved the way for the Trans-Alaska
Pipeline. And he supported the Alaska Lands Act and the
Alaska Railroad Transfer. In short, Bob Dole is a great
personal friend, a friend to me and to Alaska.
Bob was--and still is--a leader in the truest sense of
the word. Whenever I think of Bob Dole, I think of the
great many men I have known who were tested in World War
II. Like my good friend Senator Inouye, Bob Dole is a true
war hero. He was tested in war and injured and struggled
back through a long recovery. Like all great leaders, Bob
takes great challenges of life and uses them to improve
the world around him.
Having been injured in World War II, he dedicated much
of his time in public service to improving the
opportunities for disabled Americans.
Those of us in the Senate who were fortunate enough to
call Bob a colleague for 27 years, chose him to serve as
our leader six times, when we were in the majority and the
minority. He reached out to those who disagreed with him.
He listened to advice. You never had to ask him twice to
know where he stood; his word was--and is--his bond. As
President Reagan said: ``His title of leader is not just a
job title, it's a description of the man.''
I think Bob's decision to resign his seat rather than
stay in the Senate and campaign for the Presidency
demonstrates what a devoted public servant he is. I have
now been in the Senate over 30 years, and I have seen
Members of this body run for President and miss vote after
vote because they were on the road campaigning.
Bob Dole loved the people of Kansas too much to leave
them without a voice in the Senate, so he resigned. I
believe that took great courage. If there is one thing
about Bob Dole that there is no shortage of, it is
courage. Bob himself said, when he resigned from the
Senate:
One of the qualities of American politics that
distinguishes us from other nations is that we judge our
politicians as much by the manner by which they leave
office as by the vigor with which they pursue it. You do
not lay claim to the office you hold, it lays claim to
you. Your obligation is to bring to it the gifts you can
of labor and honesty and then to depart with grace.
By his own standards, Bob Dole stands out as one of the
most noble and dignified men who ever graced these Halls.
Senator Dole did not win the 1996 Presidential election,
but his commitment to public service has not wavered. He
still contributes to the public debate through his writing
and speaking, and he has remained active on the campaign
trail. We have been fortunate that since his retirement
another Dole has joined this Chamber--his wife, Senator
Elizabeth Dole, who serves the people of North Carolina
and our Nation, also, with great distinction.
When Senator Dole resigned from the Senate 10 years ago
to run for President, he and I were the only remaining
Members of the class of 1968. We have a bond that was
forged on the morning of January 3, 1969, when we each
took the oath to serve our country in the Senate. That
bond never fades, and I salute his service today.
Thank you, Mr. President.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from
Virginia.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, before the distinguished
Senator departs, I say to the Senator, you made mention of
his heroic service, together with that of yourself and
Senator Inouye in World War II. But I think the Record
should reflect how you and I and others in the Chamber--
Senator Inouye--supported him in the World War II
Memorial. This was something that was very dear to his
heart, and he became the national public figure to really
raise those funds--almost all of the dollars from the
public sector: dollars from veterans, dollars from all
across America, and, indeed, some from beyond our shores.
To his credit, every time I pass it--and I am sure you
view that magnificent memorial--I always remember his
contribution in erecting it.
Mr. STEVENS. The Senator from Virginia is correct, Mr.
President. Senator Inouye and I were pleased and proud to
join him and you in that effort. And we are delighted that
the sponsors of that memorial remembered Alaska and
Hawaii. They are in the memorial although they were not
States during World War II.
I thank the Senator.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I thank my distinguished
colleague. I played a very minor role in World War II in
the last year, the closing year, when my class of 17-, 18-
year-olds joined.
And I say to the Senator, you, sir, were a great hero in
that war, as was Bob Dole.
Mr. President, I also thank our colleague, Senator
Smith, for initiating this recognition on the 10th
anniversary of Bob Dole's retirement from the Senate.
When I came to the Senate--it is hard to believe--28
years ago, he very soon became a figure to whom I would
turn from time to time to seek advice and counsel. He had
a magnificent ability to reach across the aisle. And he
very firmly believed in the concept of trying to do as
much business as we could in a bipartisan way.
Much has been said about trips we take in the Senate. I
value the trips I took with Senator Dole. I remember one
very vividly when he quickly put together a delegation to
visit Boris Yeltsin when he rose to the top position in
the then-Soviet Union, watching Bob Dole with that new
world leader, the two of them together trying to reach
common ground and common understanding in the midst of the
cold war between the United States and the then-Soviet
Union. He was a man who wisely thought about how this is
one world in which we live today. Be it the means of our
national security or otherwise, we have to have the vision
to look abroad.
I also remember another day very clearly. That was in
connection with one of the anniversaries of the landing of
D-day. He asked me to accompany him. He spoke in Italy
that day. Then we doubled back and went up to Normandy. We
also incorporated in that trip a visit to a small village
on the top of a mountain. All the way up the side of the
mountain, the old bus we were in was zigzagging up a
narrow road. There were little signs: Welcome home, Bob
Dole. After a luncheon, he took me and one other Member of
the Senate and we walked a short distance from the hotel
up on a hillside where there was a small stone wall. We
stood there and joined him in a silent moment of prayer.
Prayer was very important, as it is now, to Bob Dole. That
wall was where he fell wounded and survived under
extraordinary circumstances, largely owing to one of the
civilian partisans who helped him get back to receive
medical care. I will remember that moment always.
I also draw to the attention of my colleagues--I am not
here to sell books--a great book he wrote called ``Great
Political Wit, Laughing (Almost) All the Way to the White
House.'' In it he talks about himself. I particularly like
this from the last page of the book:
Don't feel too bad for me. The appearance of this book
coincides with the fiftieth anniversary of Harry Truman's
stunning upset of Tom Dewey in 1948, which not only
changed the course of American history but produced a
patron saint for every political underdog since. Like
Truman, I have a Midwestern preference for plain speaking,
and a sometimes impolitic habit of laughing at pomposity.
Although there have been times when I have been forced to
eat my words--or swallow my pride--I still find it hard to
take too seriously people who take themselves that way.
What people often forget is that the last laugh doesn't
belong to the victorious candidate--it belongs to the
late-night [show] comics.
In that book, he also told a story. I think this is
applicable to close out my brief remarks this morning:
As presiding officer of the United States Senate, Vice
President Calvin Coolidge declared his intention to master
the rules governing the world's greatest deliberative
body. This didn't take long, said Coolidge, who quickly
discovered that the Senate has but one rule, which is that
the Senate will do whatever it wants whenever it wants to.
I yield the floor.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from
Kansas.
Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, special thanks to my
colleague and friend, Senator Gordon Smith, who represents
the State of Oregon and our Nation with grace and
civility, intelligence and accomplishment, for this
special order paying tribute to our Kansas Senator Bob
Dole.
It doesn't seem possible that it has been 10 years since
Bob's tenure as our majority leader ended, a tenure that
represents the longest serving Senate leader of our
Republican Party since the founding of the Grand Old Party
in 1854. During those 12 years of leadership, there were
difficult and challenging times. But Bob Dole's legacy was
and is legislative accomplishment, always in Bob Dole
style, a unique mixture of principle and compromise when
necessary, comity, his great gift of wit and humor and
good old Kansas common sense.
In 1968, when Bob first ran for the Senate, his theme
song was ``Let a Leader Lead the Way.'' He certainly did.
It would be impossible to list all of Bob's legislative
achievements, but the Dole Institute at the University of
Kansas does provide some highlights. I ask unanimous
consent that they be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be
printed in the Record, as follows:
1962 Amendment to National School Lunch Act
1966 Food for Peace Act
1969 Controlled Dangerous Substances Act
1970 Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act
1971 Amendments to Federal Water Pollution Control Act
1973 Rural Health Care Delivery Improvement Act
1974 Campaign Finance Reform Legislation
1977 POW/MIA Vietnam Legislation
1977 Food Stamp Program
1979 Taiwan Foreign Relations Act
1980 Biotech Industry Incentives Act
1981 Immigration Reform Legislation
1981 Economic Recovery Tax Act
1981 Hospice Care Legislation
1982 Voting Rights Act Extension
1983 Bipartisan Social Security Act
1983 Emergency Food Assistance Program
1983 Martin Luther King Holiday Bill
1984 Comprehensive Crime Control Act
1985 Televised Senate Proceedings Resolution
1985 Landmark Farm Bill
1986 Tax Reform Act
1986 Terrorist Prosecution Act
1987 Homeless Assistance Act
1988 Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act
1988 INF Arms Control Treaty
1988 Anti-Drug Abuse Act
1988 Welfare Family Support Act
1990 Clean Air Act
1990 Americans with Disabilities Act
1991 Desert Storm Authorization Resolution
1993 North American Free Trade Agreement
1994 Violence Against Women Legislation
1995 Comprehensive Federal Agency Regulatory Reform Act
1995 Congressional Accountability Act
1995 Comprehensive Telecommunications Reform Act
1995 Lobbying Reform Legislation
1995 Safe Drinking Water Act
1995 Medicare Trust Fund Legislation
1995 Private Securities Legal Reform Act
1996 Farm Conservation Bill
1996 Line Item Veto
1996 Omnibus Appropriations Act
1996 Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act
1996 Bipartisan Immigration Control and Financial
Responsibility Act
1996 Bipartisan Anti-Terrorism Legislation
Mr. ROBERTS. These accomplishments were of direct
benefit to the daily lives and pocketbooks of Americans
and represent many programs and reforms that we now take
for granted. Bob is probably most proud of the fact he led
the way for disabled Americans, for our Nation's School
Lunch Program, not to mention the World Food Program where
food and education combine as the most effective long-term
answer in our current fight against terrorism.
I have special memories and a personal perspective of
the Bob Dole days in the Senate when I was in the House.
Having the privilege of representing Bob's former
congressional district, the big First District of Kansas,
knowing Bob Dole since his friendship with my father and
later during my service as the administrative assistant
both for Bob's predecessor in the Senate, Senator Frank
Carlson, and his successor in the House, Congressman Keith
Sebelius, many assumed that whatever I was for, Bob was
for. I would always emphasize that Bob Dole was riding
shotgun with me, whether he was or not. That was like
having Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, Doc Holliday, and Matt
Dillon all by your side during any kind of legislative
shootout. Of course, if we won, I had to come over to the
Senate and let him know. If we lost, I came over to ask
for help. Either way, when the chips were down, it was a
win-win with Bob on your side.
In Kansas, our State society named Dwight David
Eisenhower the Kansan of the 20th century, and we are
still proud of and still like Ike. Historians have
ensconced our native son as one of our greatest
Presidents. The fact is that the Eisenhower legacy lives
on with Bob Dole. Ike was his hero, and by following his
example, Bob has been accurately described as a towering
figure and the most enduring Republican leader of the 20th
century with a distinguished record of public service that
has made a tremendous positive impact on our Nation.
Following his elected public service, Bob has continued
to contribute, to lead, and to achieve. I daresay without
Bob Dole, the World War II Memorial would not be the
centerpiece of the Mall in our Nation's Capital. Most
deserving of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, he has
been and is an international emissary for peace and
freedom and is involved in countless projects and causes.
When I go back home to Kansas, Kansans always ask me: What
do you hear from Bob? How is he doing? I tell them he is
still on the go and doing what he has always done, that we
still tow buckets together, and we don't spill very much.
Simply put, Bob Dole continues to be a leader who leads
the way. We in Kansas are proud of Bob Dole.
My thanks again to Senator Smith for reserving this time
honoring our native son.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from
Oregon.
Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, it is a privilege to come to
the Chamber and speak of Bob Dole and also his
distinguished wife, our colleague, Elizabeth Dole, both
great public servants. . . . Mr. President, I was not in
the Chamber 10 years ago when Senator Dole resigned his
seat. I was, in fact, on the campaign trail in the midst
of an election campaign that he had helped to recruit me
to run. I remember watching those proceedings and seeing
the bipartisan affection in which Senator Dole was held. I
later met him many times on the campaign trail as he
pursued the Presidency and was impressed by his courage in
the face of very discouraging poll numbers and the high
probability that he would not win and how hard he fought
for us and others who were running to fill seats in the
U.S. Senate. Elizabeth was at his side, and together they
made a tremendous campaign and did honor to our country
and to the Republican Party by the way in which they
prosecuted a very difficult campaign cycle. It reflected
honor upon our country.
It is important that as we celebrate his resignation and
his career that ended 10 years ago, we take occasion to
reflect on his remarkable accomplishments. He served 27
years in this body, 11 of those as Senate Republican
leader. Bob Dole's remarkable record of accomplishment as
a Senator is well known. It is not an exaggeration to say
that his fingerprints could be found on nearly every major
piece of legislation that passed Congress during the 1980s
and the first half of the 1990s.
It was Bob Dole who reached across party lines to work
with Senator George McGovern to create the Food Stamp
Program. It was Bob Dole who worked with Senators Harkin
and Kennedy to bring about the Americans with Disabilities
Act. It was Bob Dole who worked with the late Senator Pat
Moynihan to save the Social Security Program.
I rise today not just to pay tribute to Bob Dole's
legislative accomplishments; rather, I rise on this
occasion to celebrate what he has done in the decade since
he left this body.
There can be no question that over those 10 years, Bob
Dole has continued his lifelong commitment to serving his
country, a commitment that began as a young soldier in the
hills of Italy during the Second World War. Indeed, for
many Americans, Bob Dole is the living symbol of what Tom
Brokaw has termed ``America's Greatest Generation,'' the
generation of Americans who saved freedom during World War
II. My generation is the beneficiary of Bob Dole's
generation, the world we inherited, a world in which
America assumed world leadership. My generation has been
greatly blessed by patriots such as Bob Dole.
Perhaps Bob Dole's greatest contribution to the past
decade was his chairmanship of the National World War II
Memorial. Quite simply, that beautiful memorial would not
grace our National Mall now had it not been for the
persistence and leadership of Bob Dole.
Bob Dole also volunteered for service after the attacks
on September 11, when he joined with former President Bill
Clinton to serve as co-chair of the Families of Freedom
Scholarship Fund, which assists the educational needs of
families of those who lost their lives in the World Trade
Center, the Pentagon, and United Flight 93.
During his time in this Chamber, no Senator spoke more
loudly and more eloquently about atrocities occurring
around the world--specifically in Bosnia--than did Bob
Dole, who raised his voice loudly. He has continued his
vigilance by serving as chairman of the International
Commission on Missing Persons, traveling to the Balkans to
provide closure to families of those who were victims of
the genocide that occurred under Slobodon Milosevic.
In January 2003, President Bush appointed Bob Dole as
honorary co-chair of the President's Council on Service
and Civic Participation. He has worked to connect
countless Americans with service opportunities in
communities, schools, and workplaces.
Bob Dole has also continued his commitment to ending the
scourge of hunger, working with his former colleague,
George McGovern, to advocate the expansion of School
Breakfast Programs in the United States. They have also
teamed to promote the expansion of the School Lunch
Programs across the world through their Global School
Feeding Initiative.
Bob Dole has also devoted a great deal of his time and
energy to the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, which
is located at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS.
The institute is one of America's premier university-based
political science and international affairs research
institutes, dedicated to reestablishing politics as an
honorable profession and to promoting greater student and
civic involvement in the democratic process.
Along with all of these activities, Bob Dole is one of
America's most popular public speakers, inspiring
audiences with his courage, his humor, his love of
America, and always with that trademark wit. He has also
authored three books since leaving the Senate--two on
political humor, and the most recent, ``One Soldier's
Story,'' which tells the remarkable story of his recovery
from the wounds he suffered during the Second World War.
Mr. President, Bob Dole has often said that he takes
inspiration in the State motto of his beloved Kansas,
which is: ``To the stars through difficulties.'' There can
be no doubt that Bob Dole reached those stars in serving
his country as a soldier and as a public servant. He has
proved time and again over the past decade that he
continues to reach for the stars as a private citizen.
I know all Senators join me in saluting Bob Dole and
thanking him for the positive difference he has made over
these past 10 years. Part of that difference was
supporting his wife Elizabeth and her campaign to win a
seat in the Senate. Together, they are a remarkable
American couple and have made a remarkable difference for
the betterment of our country and even the world.
Mr. President, I yield the floor.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from
Mississippi is recognized.
Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I thank those who have come
to the floor today to help honor our former colleague in
the Senate, Bob Dole. I don't know of anyone who has had
more of an influence on my career in the Senate than Bob
Dole, although Howard Baker, who was the Republican leader
when I first arrived in the Senate in 1978, also had a
great deal to do with my career here.
I don't know who coined the phrase ``compassionate
conservative,'' but Bob Dole was the epitome of a
compassionate conservative. His legislative record is
replete with examples of his leadership to help ensure the
formulation and implementation of policies by our Federal
Government that recognized the needs of those who were
unable to care for themselves, or were unable to make
progress economically, without the assistance of the
government.
He authored the Americans with Disabilities Act and
helped lead the way for many Americans by his example of
how one can overcome disabilities. My friend Gordon Smith
mentioned his authorship of the book ``One Soldier's
Story.'' That should be required reading for every
American. It was a heart-warming yet heartbreaking account
of his experiences in World War II in combat and his long
road to recovery from the painful and life-threatening
injuries he sustained in battle.
You can also look to examples of when he was a leader in
the Agriculture Committee on which I had the good fortune
to serve as a new member, at a time when he was one of the
true leaders in formulating agricultural policy for our
Nation. He worked easily across the aisle with Herman
Talmadge, the chairman of the committee at that time, and
with George McGovern, another leader on the committee from
South Dakota. They worked together to help craft
improvements in the School Lunch Programs and other
feeding programs that assist Americans who are unable to
provide for their own nutritional needs. Think about that.
This was at a time when the Federal Government was pretty
well leaving these responsibilities to State and local
governments, charitable organizations, and the Nation's
schools to formulate their own response to these
challenges.
But we became a Nation whose record of support for
dealing with these problems has become a model for the
world. As a matter of fact, he and George McGovern created
a worldwide nutrition assistance program that today makes
food and nutrition benefits available to the poorest of
the poor in Africa and many other countries throughout the
world.
He was a leader in establishing a modern veterans
benefit program and ensuring that a Cabinet-level position
was available to help administer this program to be sure
that all veterans, those who had disabilities or those who
deserved pensions and other benefits because of their age
or experiences in war, would have those benefits and could
be a part of our national citizenship in every sense of
the word.
I recall very vividly when we elected Bob Dole as our
leader in the Senate on the Republican side. He was a
master at getting things done, at working out problems, at
bringing people together who had disparate views on
subjects that we needed to take action on and deal with.
He worked hard. He knew everybody's personal interests and
disposition. I was amazed at how he could stand before the
Senate and stay there until the late hours of the evening,
working out the intricacies of a tax reform bill, which he
helped craft as chairman of the Finance Committee, in
charge of tax policies for our country.
He was a Senator's Senator in every respect, a warm-
hearted, humorous, delightful companion, who enriched the
lives of all who served with him in the Senate. I suppose
the highlight for me in my relationship with Senator Dole
was the nominating convention, when he was selected to be
the Republican Party candidate for President of the United
States. I was very excited about that. It was a wonderful
decision. I could not think of anybody who would be better
as President of the United States than Bob Dole. I
remember the night that the convention nominated him and
he walked out on the stage to accept the nomination. It
was really quite an event. Also, that night, I recall
while they were counting the ballots on the floor, he
invited Chuck Grassley from Iowa, our colleague in the
Senate, and me to be with his family up in the suite in
the hotel in San Diego to watch the last votes being
counted, and then to proceed into the convention hall to
accept the nomination.
Mr. President, we miss Bob Dole's leadership in the
Senate. We are delighted, though, the Senate is taking
time to recognize the great service that he rendered
during his career here.
Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, I am in the Dole seat for
Kansas. When Senator Dole left, I ran for his seat and was
fortunate enough to be elected. I worked with Senator Dole
for many years, when I was secretary of agriculture for
Kansas. I first met him when I was Kansas State president
of the Junior Farmers of America. I have had a wonderful
relationship with Senator Dole. He is an outstanding
American, and he is an outstanding Kansan. He deserves
tribute.
We in the Senate are certainly blessed and honored each
time we have the opportunity to rise on our feet on this
floor and address this august body. At this moment, I feel
particularly blessed and honored to be able to recognize
my predecessor, Senator Robert Joseph Dole.
Today, we rise to mark the decade anniversary of Senator
Dole announcing his retirement to this body. On June 11,
1996, Senator Dole, as the Republican nominee for the
Presidency, announced that he would resign his seat in the
U.S. Senate. And some asked, Why would he retire with 2
full years left in his term and only 6 months left in the
campaign? ``I thought that was what was best for Kansas.''
For while he was many things--a legislator, a statesman, a
decorated war hero, a leader--Senator Dole believed in his
State and he believed in service to his State and he
thought this was the best for his State, and that he would
run just as a man, an ordinary citizen. It was a
tremendous tribute to his service and his believing in the
service of this body, that if you couldn't be here full
time to do this work, he thought it would be better that
he would leave it and bring somebody else in so that he
could pursue the Presidency full time.
The motto of our State is ``Ad astra, per aspera.'' That
is a Latin phrase meaning ``to the stars through
difficulties.'' Perhaps, considering our State's motto,
one could consider it also the motto for Bob Dole.
He was born in 1923 in Russell, KS. Bob Dole was a
teenager during the worst environmental disaster of my
State's history--that was the Dust Bowl. He was 11 years
old on April 14, 1935, which was referred to as ``Black
Sunday.'' On that day, a wall of dust covered the prairie
of western Kansas, turning day into night. Some thought it
was the end of the world. During those years, childhood
friends of Bob Dole recalled postponing basketball games
in the middle of them, four or five times during the game,
just to sweep the piling dust off the floor.
Some fled the dust. Others were withered by it. Bob Dole
was formed by it. Years later, he would recount that
``growing up on the edge of the Depression-era Dust Bowl,
I was taught to put my trust in God and not government,
and never to confuse the two.''
Per aspera.
As a young man, Bob Dole rose to meet the greatest
challenge his great generation would face--World War II.
Bob was a second lieutenant in the Army's 10th Mountain
Division. He served in the mountains of Italy, where he
and his unit faced some of the fiercest and challenging
fighting of the war. Bob fought bravely. He was wounded.
He fought again. He crawled from the security of his
foxhole during intense fighting to assist a critically
wounded radio operator, and in the process was shot in the
back by a Nazi machine gunner. This time few thought he
would survive. Bob Dole was hospitalized for a total of 39
months. He gave up the use of his right arm.
Ad astra--to the stars.
For his wounds, Bob was awarded two Purple Hearts. For
his valor, Bob Dole was awarded the Bronze Star with an
Oak Cluster.
Ad astra--to the stars.
Returning to his native Kansas, Bob turned to his
family, to his neighbors, and to his friends for support.
Later, he remarked:
I was sustained by neighbors, who were anything but
stingy with their love and encouragement. I learned then,
if I hadn't already known it, that there is no such thing
as a wholly self-made man or woman.
He picked up where he left off and earned his
undergraduate and law degrees from Washburn University in
Topeka, KS. From there, Bob Dole began his political rise
to the stars.
Ad astra.
Bob served in the Kansas State House as the Russell
County attorney, and on January 3, 1961, Bina Dole's
little boy was sworn into the 87th Congress of the United
States. Within a decade, Dole had distinguished himself as
a legislator and was sent by his fellow Kansans to serve
here in this body.
And here in this Chamber, Bob Dole continued to serve
the people of Kansas and this great Nation. He served them
as chairman of the Finance Committee. He served them as
the minority leader of the Senate. He served them as
majority leader. He served them for nearly three decades,
until exactly one decade ago today, when he retired.
Today, Bob Dole's service is neither over nor forgotten.
Having been recognized with the Presidential Medal of
Freedom--a civilian honor, to match his military honors--
he has continued to serve. He served as chairman of the
International Commission on Missing Persons in the former
Yugoslavia and the National World War II Memorial. He even
gets a great deal of constituent casework of people
contacting to ask if he could help out with this or that--
and of course he does. He spearheaded the World War II
Memorial effort, and what a beautiful memorial to the
Greatest Generation it is.
Also, I believe Bob served as the spokesman for a number
of different commercial causes which have continued. And
his humor continues unabated as well.
I remember when serving as secretary of agriculture in
the State of Kansas that Senator Dole would address a
number of farm audiences--sometimes from the back of a
pickup truck. He would see a number of members of that
audience who would often loosen up their belts and their
overalls because they knew they were going to be in for an
entertaining speech, a lot of times about 30 minutes or 25
minutes of jokes and one-liners and 5 minutes of politics.
They loved it. He loved it. They loved him. He loved them.
It was a beautiful symbiotic relationship that Bob Dole
had with his State, with my State of Kansas.
He also continues to serve as a trusted adviser and
friend to guys like me. I have been honored to be able to
serve in his seat. It is difficult to follow somebody of
his legendary status and his ability as a legislator, his
ability as a leader, and the contribution that he has made
to this society, to this Nation, and to this world. Yet we
try--and try with his advice.
He is an important American of distinction. He is
someone who truly deserves to be recognized. He is one who
has touched many lives individually and millions of lives
collectively. He is the epitome of the Greatest
Generation, the generation that served the rest of mankind
to beat off fascism, Hitler, and communism, and to give us
the freest world that we have known.
There are still wars to be fought, still battles to be
fought, and we pick up the flag and carry it each and
every day, but we owe so much in tribute to legendary
leaders such as Bob Dole.
Senator Dole, on behalf of our country and our State,
certainly from me personally, I say, thank you and God
bless you.
Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I am pleased to join with my
colleagues in paying tribute to one of our Senate's finest
leaders, Senator Bob Dole.
Ten years ago, after representing his home State of
Kansas in the House of Representatives for 8 years and in
the Senate for over 27 years, Majority Leader Dole
resigned from the Senate. He did so in order to engage
fully all of his attentions to his Presidential campaign.
The Senate lost one of our greatest leaders that day, but
Bob Dole continues to be a national leader to this day.
I traveled with him a great deal during his campaign,
and it was a thrill for me. I was given the honor of
introducing him at the 1996 Republican Convention--quite a
humbling privilege for someone who considers himself far
less distinguished than the man I was introducing formally
to the Nation as the Republican candidate for the
President. He may not have won that election, but he ran
an honorable campaign and worked as hard as anyone I have
ever seen on the campaign trail. Bob helped teach me the
meaning of dedicating one's life to a cause greater than
one's self-interest, and for this I will always be
thankful.
Everyone knows that Bob is a decorated veteran through
his sacrifice in World War II and that he faced a very
hard road to recovery upon his return--a road that many
selfless men and women today are similarly facing upon
their return from the war in Iran and Afghanistan. Like
Bob, they, too, are American heroes and they need and
deserve to be reminded of that fact as often as possible.
Bob Dole's distinction among his peers could have rested
with his military service. But instead, he chose to
continue serving his country and was as effective as he
was, in my view, largely because of his experience as a
war veteran. For example, his Senate leadership was
essential to the efforts of Presidents Reagan and Bush to
win the cold war. He built majority coalitions to help
restore the readiness and modernization of our Armed
Forces which had been so badly neglected in the previous
decade. Thanks to his vision, America is better prepared
to defend herself and others from those who want to cause
us harm.
While Bob may no longer be daily in the public eye as he
enjoys life in the private sector, he still continues to
focus his energy on issues of importance to our country.
He co-chaired the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund
with former President Clinton, helping to raise money for
the families of the victims of 9/11 to pursue secondary
educations. Bob also continues with his efforts on behalf
of the disabled. And, of course, since leaving the Senate
10 years ago, he is also now enjoying the obligations of a
Senator's spouse.
Bob Dole is an American hero, and I am privileged to
call him my friend.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
AUTHORIZATION TO SUBMIT TRIBUTES TO SENATOR ROBERT C. BYRD
AND FORMER SENATOR BOB DOLE
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent
that Senators be permitted to submit tributes to Senator
Byrd and former Senator Dole for the Record until Friday,
June 16, and that each be printed as a Senate document.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so
ordered.
Friday, June 16, 2006
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I today salute a hero for
all Americans, a leader for his party, and my friend,
Senator Robert Joseph Dole.
This week marks 10 years since Senator Dole retired from
this Chamber, a day I remember well. Senator Dole left as
the longest serving Republican leader in Senate history.
In fact, the beginning of his leadership tenure coincided
with my first term in the Senate, starting in January
1985.
Even then, it was clear that Senator Dole was and is not
just another Senator, but a national fixture in American
politics. Author Michael Barone, writing in his ``Almanac
of American Politics,'' has this to say about our friend
from Kansas:
Senator Bob Dole is one of the large political figures
of our time, in the middle 1990s towering over everyone
else in the political landscape, even the president . . .
for Bob Dole is not only one of the most successful
politicians of the second half of the 20th Century but
also one of the most enduring.
Powerful words about a powerful leader. Many of my
colleagues have already recounted Senator Dole's extensive
political career, his record of legislative
accomplishment, and his leadership of the Republican
Party, here in the Senate and as the Republican candidate
for both President and Vice President of the United
States. Beginning with his chairmanship of the Republican
National Committee in 1971, Senator Dole was a prominent
player on the national stage for a quarter-century.
Senator Dole's heroism on the battlefield is well known
and revered by us all as well. In 1945, a young Lieutenant
Dole from Russell, KS, found himself on the hills of
Italy, fighting the Nazis. Suddenly pain exploded in his
back. Paralyzed by his war injury, Bob Dole spent 4 years
in hospital wards, relearning how to do simple tasks, like
button his shirt. To this day his right arm remains
largely paralyzed.
I believe the determination and focus Senator Dole must
have had to recover from that injury explains his success
in politics and with the American people. After struggling
to regain control of one's body, lining up a vote on a
difficult bill might be a little less daunting. I have
heard Senator Dole say before that no honor that has come
his way has ever surpassed the pride he felt at wearing
his country's uniform.
As a Republican leader, Bob Dole was about results, not
symbolism or showmanship. President George H.W. Bush, for
instance, cited him as instrumental in the passage of the
Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990. Out of office, he
has continued to serve his country, fundraising for worthy
causes and raising awareness of the dangers of prostate
cancer.
Senator Dole is also famous for his dry, Midwestern wit,
which has lifted many of us here in the Senate in times of
despair as well as levity. This is a man who, after losing
the Republican Presidential nomination in 1988, assured an
audience that he ``went home and slept like a baby. Every
couple of hours, I'd wake up and cry.''
My colleagues and I continue to be graced every day in
this Chamber by the presence of another prominent Senator
Dole, the Senator from North Carolina. Elizabeth, I wish
to express how happy we all are Bob has found you, and you
have found Bob. You remind us of him every day, and we
hope that you will tell him how much we all respect and
miss him, and how pleased we are to honor his service.
Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, last Sunday marked the 10th
anniversary of Senator Bob Dole's retirement from the
Senate. Bob Dole served the people of Kansas and the
people of the United States of America as a Member of
Congress for more than three and a half decades. He was
outspoken on many issues, but, above all, I will always
admire his tireless, passionate advocacy on behalf of
people with disabilities.
The first speech that Bob Dole ever made on the floor of
the Senate--on April 14, 1969--was about the challenges
faced by Americans with disabilities. That date was the
24th anniversary of the day he was gravely wounded in
World War II. In fact, every year that he was in the
Senate, on or about April 14, Bob Dole made a statement on
the floor about the challenges faced by individuals with
disabilities. But Bob Dole did much more than just talk
about expanding access and opportunity for people with
disabilities. He was an outstanding leader in bringing
about change for the good.
Most important, I will always be grateful for Senator
Bob Dole's leadership in helping to pass the Americans
with Disabilities Act in 1990. Both he and I remember the
day that it was signed into law as one of the proudest in
our entire legislative careers.
It is hard to believe, but it has been nearly 16 years
since we passed the Americans with Disabilities Act. Just
as many predicted, ADA has taken its place among the great
civil rights laws in our Nation's history. Today, the
impacts of ADA are all around us. Drive-through
restaurants have visual displays allowing the deaf and
hard of hearing to place their orders. Banks have talking
ATMs, now, to assist those with visual impairments. Cities
have installed curb cuts and ramps to allow wheelchair
users easier access. And on and on. Just as important,
because of ADA, we have seen an enormous change in
attitudes. These changes that we see today, that we feel
today, would not have been possible without the hard work
and dedication of Senator Bob Dole in working
cooperatively to help get the ADA passed.
On a bipartisan basis, we miss Bob Dole here in this
body. But the good news is that there is still a Senator
Dole in the Senate, and our friend Bob has found a richly
satisfying life after the Senate. Today, he continues to
serve the American people in a whole range of voluntary
capacities, proving President Reagan's dictum that ``you
don't have to be on the public payroll to be an
outstanding public servant.'' I salute my good friend, Bob
Dole, and I wish him all the best.
Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, of all my colleagues, I
suppose that in 1996 I was the one most hoping that Bob
Dole would not retire from the Senate. That was because I
was doing my best to defeat him in the New Hampshire
Presidential primary. If I had, Bob had told several
friends he was ``going back to the Senate.'' Well, Pat
Buchanan beat both of us by a few percentage points, and
Bob beat me. Within a few weeks, I was back in Tennessee
at a press conference endorsing Bob Dole and presenting
him with one of my red and black plaid shirts. ``I hope
it's his last one,'' Bob's friend Howard Baker was heard
to mutter, referring to my shirt.
I should have known better. In my first Iowa poll in
June 1995, pollster Whit Ayres said:
Governor, this is the professional challenge of my
career. The poll says, ``Dole 54, Alexander 3, margin of
error 4 percentage points.''
The end result in the caucuses 6 months later was a good
deal closer, but Bob Dole won because he had earned for
himself the unofficial title of ``President of Iowa.''
Iowans liked his spare talk, his good humor, his war
record, and his middle-America brand of politics.
So did and does the rest of America. Not everyone comes
out of a Presidential race more admired than when he or
she went in. But Bob Dole did. He ran three times, the
last time securing the Republican nomination. And, I would
judge, he is even more admired today than he was 10 years
ago when he retired from the Senate.
Bob Dole is an emblem of America's Greatest Generation.
He and our colleague Elizabeth are together one of our
country's most admired couples. When we think of him, and
of them, we think of what is best about public service in
America and about our country itself.
Mr. MARTINEZ. Mr. President, today I honor a great
American, a man who devoted his life to this Nation and to
the just principles he believed in. Born in Russell, KS,
Robert J. Dole would serve his country as a war hero,
risking his life for a fellow soldier fighting the forces
of fascism and nazism in Italy; as a Senator, a great
majority leader; my party's candidate for Vice President
and President; and today as an active private citizen
fighting for veterans and the causes in which he believes.
For his bravery in World War II, Bob Dole received two
Purple Hearts for his injuries, and the Bronze Star Medal
for his attempt to assist a downed radio man. Bob Dole
served in the House and Senate representing his home State
of Kansas. In 1971, President Nixon asked him to be the
chairman of the Republican National Committee, a post he
held for 2 years. Then in 1976, President Ford selected
Bob Dole as his running mate for the Republican
nomination.
Recognizing his leadership, Bob Dole rose to the
pinnacle of our leadership here in the U.S. Senate as the
majority leader. He was a tireless worker and effective
champion of conservative principles, a strong foreign
policy and personal freedom and responsibility.
One decade ago, Senator Dole resigned his post to devote
himself fully to his 1996 Presidential campaign. As my
party's nominee he crossed the country running on a
platform of lower taxation and smaller, more accountable
government. Unfortunately, he didn't win, but he developed
a good working relationship with President Clinton and the
two leaders have devoted their time and energy to many
notable causes over the years. Shortly after the 1996
election, President Clinton bestowed upon Senator Dole the
highest civilian award in government, the Presidential
Medal of Freedom.
To those who know him, Senator Dole is a regular
comedian. One story goes that on the campaign trail in his
home State of Kansas, he would spend an hour at each stop
telling jokes and only 10 minutes talking about politics.
Senator Dole was always able to demonstrate a quick wit,
while also showing that he was well grounded in decency.
Senator Dole continues today to serve the many veterans
of World War II who fought so valiantly to liberate Europe
and defeat the Japanese. Most recently, it was his
personal dedication and determination to see a monument
honoring the sacrifice of the World War II veterans that
led to the construction of the beautiful tribute to
selfless service that now graces the National Mall.
I wish Senator Dole and his lovely wife, my colleague,
Senator Elizabeth Dole, more happy years together and many
happy returns to the U.S. Senate.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I was first elected to
the Senate in 1993 in a special election to fill the
remainder of Lloyd Bentsen's term. Bob Dole, like my
predecessor Lloyd Bentsen, is a member of the Greatest
Generation--the generation of men who never wavered in
answering the call to duty, fighting in distant lands to
protect the free world, and returning home to build the
greatest Nation on Earth. Bob Dole epitomizes the Greatest
Generation, not only for his heroic service in battle, but
also for what he did when he came home, ultimately serving
in the U.S. Senate.
When I first arrived in Washington, Nancy Kassebaum of
Kansas was the only other female Republican Senator.
Fortunately, our leader, Bob Dole, understood the unique
and important voice women brought to the Senate. He
graciously welcomed me from the first day, and I enjoyed
working with him as he ascended from minority leader to
majority leader. He was great in both roles, and I
appreciate the leadership and support he provided in my
early days.
One of my first discussions with Bob was committee
assignments. I told him I wanted to serve on the Armed
Services Committee, as there are more military members
serving in Texas than any other State. I hoped to carry on
the great tradition of helping our men and women in
uniform like so many Texas Senators before me. He
understood why this committee assignment was important to
me and realized the unique perspective I would bring to
the national discussion. I was the first woman to sit on
this committee in over 30 years. Today, there are three
women serving on the Armed Services Committee, including
Bob's wife, Senator Elizabeth Dole, who was elected from
her home State of North Carolina after Bob retired.
On the 10th anniversary of Bob Dole's retirement from
the Senate, I am proud to honor him for his many
accomplishments and tireless service to our country. While
we all regretted to see him go, we are grateful for the
legacy he left behind, and I hope we can carry it forward
for generations to come. He was a giant during his time in
this institution, and when the history of the Senate is
written, I am confident that he will be fondly remembered
as one of our great leaders.
Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, it was just about 10 years ago
that Bob Dole announced his retirement from the Senate. It
was 1996 and the Nation was in the midst of an intense
campaign for the Presidency. Bob Dole had decided to
resign his Senate seat for the good of his home State of
Kansas, his party, and his country. He knew he would have
to focus all his energies on his campaign for President if
he were to be successful, so he left Washington to answer
another call to serve his country and provide a choice to
the people of Kansas and the rest of the United States
when the election was held in November of that year.
We really shouldn't have been surprised. Answering the
call to serve his country was nothing new for Bob Dole and
he was proud to be able to do it. Over his life he had
been many things, a legislator, a decorated war hero, and
a leader both inside and outside of the Senate. Through
the years, Bob Dole had always answered the call to serve
his country when he was needed, and I have no doubt that
he will continue to do so for many years to come.
It's no secret. Bob Dole has made it clear all his life.
You want to know and understand him, you must first
understand Russell, KS--the people who live there and the
values and principles they hold dear. By coming to know
the people of Russell, you understand the philosophy that
Bob Dole has lived by his entire life. It's a philosophy
of hard work, and of always giving your best to whatever
you choose to do. It is a reflection of his father's view
of the world--``stewers versus doers.'' Needless to say,
you will always find Bob Dole in the ``doers'' group.
That is why the story of Bob Dole's life is thoroughly
intertwined with the story of Russell, KS. For it was when
he was growing up in Russell that Bob Dole committed
himself to the service of God, country and family. They
came to become his core values as he learned at a young
age that there are things worth fighting for and that is
what drew him to his service in the military.
Those who have chronicled those difficult years in our
history have called him part of our Greatest Generation.
Without any regard for himself, Bob Dole left everything
he called dear behind to face a challenge as great as any
generation had faced before. Pearl Harbor had been
attacked and the whole world had taken up arms in a battle
against an unspeakable evil that had been unleashed upon
the world. World War II had called him to action and Bob
Dole was a young man serving in the U.S. Army. He would
never be the same again in mind or body. Given the
circumstances, I don't think anyone would have returned
home from the battlefields of Europe and the South Pacific
and not have been changed forever.
As he bravely fought in the mountains of Italy, he was
wounded in action, but still he fought on. Then, he was
wounded again, this time far more seriously. The odds were
against him, but he somehow made it through those vital
first days. He then began what would be a lengthy
recovery. He had a long stay in the hospital and despite
the efforts of those who attended him, he had lost the use
of an arm.
When he was released from the hospital, he returned
home, and that special place of Russell, KS, again reached
out to him with open arms and provided him with the
support he needed to continue to recover from the wounds
he had suffered on the battlefield. Once again, the bonds
that tied him to the people of Russell and Kansas became
stronger. Those bonds helped Bob Dole to regain his
strength and begin to plan for the future.
Soon he heard the call to serve again. With the support
of the people of his home town, he left to work for the
people of Kansas in the State House and then in the U.S.
Congress. His leadership skills were quite apparent and he
compiled quite a record in the Senate. He progressed
through the ranks and served his party as minority and
then majority leader. Every day on the Senate floor, he
took a leadership role on a wide variety of issues that he
knew were important to the people of his home State.
Through the years he worked to ensure that our American
values be protected and preserved in all the proceedings
of Congress. It was a remarkable record of service that
continued until that day, 10 years ago, when he resigned
to pursue the call to carry the Republican banner for
President.
Although that final political campaign of his was not
successful, Bob Dole will always be remembered for a
lifetime of service to the United States. He has received
many honors for his service to the United States, and for
being a part of a noble cause that the Greatest Generation
took up for which so many fought and died. He never forgot
those with whom he served or the needs of our Nation's
veterans. In fact, it was those ties from so many years
ago that led him to join the effort to construct a
memorial for World War II to recognize those with whom he
served--especially those who never returned. His
leadership in that effort resulted in the dedication of a
beautiful memorial that will stand forever in the shadows
of the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument on the
Mall in our Nation's Capital.
Today, Bob Dole and his wife Elizabeth continue to be a
great team as she serves the people of North Carolina with
the same care and attention that Bob Dole has always
provided the people of Kansas.
Bob Dole has always said that his goal in life was to
defend and serve the America he learned to love in
Russell. I think the record shows that he succeeded in
that effort and, in so doing, left his mark throughout
much of the world as he fought in Europe to free the
oppressed, and, in the Senate, for the principles and
values he had learned to cherish as a young boy growing up
in Russell, KS.
Monday, June 19, 2006
Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute
to Senator Bob Dole, a person who is often thought of as
one of the most prominent political figures of our time.
Perhaps former Secretary of State Colin Powell described
Senator Dole best when he said he is, ``a plain-spoken man
of strength, maturity and integrity.''
This ``plain-spoken'' man from Oklahoma's neighboring
State of Kansas is legendary for his brave sacrifice to
our great country in World War II. In the war, he was a
platoon leader in the distinguished 10th Mountain Division
in Italy. He was awarded two Purple Hearts and a Bronze
Star after being seriously injured in battle, but his
service and sacrifice did not end there. After a long,
determined road to recovery, a renewed faith in God, and
loving support from family and friends, he began his
political career.
After earning his law degree, Senator Dole served in the
Kansas Legislature from 1951 to 1953. He came to
Washington to serve in the House of Representatives in
1961. He was then elected to the Senate in 1968. His
leadership skills gained swift recognition as he became
chairman of the National Republican Committee in 1971 and
Senate majority leader in 1984.
After Republicans lost control of the Senate in 1986,
Senator Dole continued serving his party as Senate
minority leader. In this capacity, he became known for his
``watch-dog'' tactics fighting against Democrat tax-and-
spend, big-government policies. Thanks to his help in
exposing the unrestrained behavior of the Democrats, the
American people voted to put Republicans back in control
of both Houses of Congress in 1994. After this
overwhelming victory, Senator Dole was once again voted to
the post of majority leader, making him the longest
serving Senate leader in the history of the Republican
Party.
I was privileged to serve with Bob Dole in this body
from 1994 to 1996 and work on different issues with him. I
supported him in 1996 when he was fighting tax increases
and other excessive governmental policies.
After leaving the Senate to run for an unsuccessful
Presidential bid in 1996, Senator Dole continued his
public service by becoming chairman of the National World
War II Memorial to erect a memorial on the National Mall
to honor the sacrifice of the brave men and women who
served in the largest and deadliest war in history. He
also served as co-chair of the Families of Freedom
Scholarship Fund to assist the educational needs of the
families of victims of the September 11 attacks.
Through media appearances, speeches, two best-selling
books, ``Great Presidential Wit, I Wish I Was In The
Book'' and ``Great Political Wit, Laughing (Almost) All
the Way to the White House,'' and his personal World War
II memoirs, ``One Soldier's Story,'' Senator Dole
continues to leave a legacy of the values and principles
that have made this great country what it is today.
Bob Dole is a man of character and integrity, and I am
proud to honor him with this deserving tribute today.