[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 68 (Wednesday, May 15, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S5049]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      THE RESIGNATION OF BOB DOLE

  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, the last 3 or 4 hours have been a time 
of very mixed emotions for many of us. A while ago when we were 
crammed, all of us Republican Senators, in Bob Dole's office, when he 
told us of his desires and wishes, I can say that was a room where 
grown men, more than one, had a few tears in their eyes, including our 
distinguished majority leader.
  I, for one, will miss him very, very much here in the Senate. But I 
think when we finally take stock of the U.S. Senate--we are now 208 
years old, but if we were to take stock, now, of the 208 years of the 
U.S. Senate, looking for the giants of the Senate, I am not the least 
bit reluctant to say that whatever short list one chooses as part of 
history, Bob Dole will be among the giants and the real leaders of the 
U.S. Senate. There is no doubt in my mind, if you take just the last 
100 years, that Bob Dole would once again show up in the top three, 
four, five U.S. Senators of this entire modern century.
  So, obviously, you cannot take somebody like that out of here and not 
have a big void. We will clearly miss his leadership and his marvelous 
ability to tell funny stories and get us off guard and get things done. 
But essentially his life has been one of real sacrifice for the 
country. Most Americans do not know that. They have to find out.
  Bob Dole dedicated weeks and months and years to getting his body in 
the position where he could conduct business and be a Senator after his 
tragic World War II accident on the front lines. In that, he learned 
about determination and about fortitude and about strength, and how 
much strength he really had. He has been giving since then, giving and 
giving and giving--not to the Senate, but to the American people. And, 
since he has made the decision that he wants to be President, I, this 
Senator, wholeheartedly support what he has chosen to do. I hope it is 
everything he plans it to be, and I think it will be.
  He will go to the American people not as the majority leader or 
Senator, but as a man from Kansas who has sacrificed more than once for 
this country and will try to do it one more time. I have nothing but 
great admiration and respect.
  My comments to him today are: The very best to you, Bob Dole. 
Hopefully, this decision will take you to the White House. If it does, 
it will be the greatest decision you ever made, and a great decision 
for America.
  But, indeed, there is no question the American people are going to 
get to find out who Bob Dole is and what he is all about. And if that 
is done, it will be a fair election. For if he cannot do that, if the 
people do not get to know him as he is, it will not be a fair election, 
not one where he will have the right kind of chance to be President.
  So those are my few remarks for today. In time I will say more about 
him, recalling some of the things we have done together.
  With that, I yield to Senator Grassley for his amendment.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Thompson). The Senator from Iowa.

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