[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 85 (Tuesday, June 11, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6048-S6057]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE TO SENATOR BOB DOLE
Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I thank my colleague from Nebraska for his
kind remarks about our friend Bob Dole, which were very eloquent. I
think he expressed it beautifully for a lot of Democrats. I think
everyone in this body has tremendous esteem and affection and love for
Bob Dole. He is one of the all-time great Senators. There is no
question about it. He will go down in history as one of the all-time
great Senators.
Mr. President, 20 years ago, when I was first sworn in as the junior
Senator from Utah, Bob Dole was among the first of my Republican
colleagues to come up and put his arm around me, and helped guide me
and helped me to learn the ropes.
I rise today to thank him for that, and for his extraordinary
leadership in the years since. When the citizens from Kansas elected
Bob Dole as their Senator, they chose a man who epitomizes the
qualities of mainstream America, a team player, a war hero who
demonstrated tremendous courage and perseverance both on the
battlefield and afterward, a hard worker and an honest and decent man,
a man whom all Americans can look up to.
By now, most of us are aware of the wounds Lieutenant Dole suffered
on that April morning in 1945. That was about the same time that my
brother was killed in the Second World War. Bob Dole could have been
killed too, and almost was.
We have also heard about his amazing and long recovery. But less is
known about how Bob Dole was injured. Richard Ben Cramer's book, ``What
it Takes,'' tells us how:
Dole got his men down to the low stone wall. Dole could
have stayed in the middle [of the platoon]. But he knew his
job, and he did it. He was out in front, with the lead squad.
They were pinned down quick. They were pinned down in the
field, when a farmhouse on the left opened fire: a Jerry
machine-gun nest . . . the men in the field were hamburger.
Dole had to get that machine gun. The lead squad was going
to have to flank that house and get that nest of Krauts
[sic]. Sergeant Carafa assumed he'd be going out with the
squad, but Dole said, ``Sergeant, I'll take 'em.''
Bob Dole saw many men die trying to knock out that machine gun. It
was that morning, trying to take it out, that he was wounded. Bob Dole
could have let someone else go out with the squad. Bob Dole could have
stayed behind and provided cover. Bob Dole could have stayed in the
middle. Instead, Bob Dole was out in front.
Bob Dole has been out in front ever since. He became a skillful
legislator. He knew how to get things done around here. But he also
knew that duty required him to take action when it wasn't always in his
own best interest or when he saw public policy going down the wrong
path.
Take, for example, his leadership on addressing the crime issue.
Throughout his career, Bob Dole consistently supported legislation to
fight crime and help the victims of crime. From the Organized Crime
Control Act of 1969 to the 1996 Antiterrorism and Effective Death
Penalty Act, Bob Dole has fought to bring accountability to the
criminal justice system. But, in 1994, Senator Dole stood up for what
he thought was right and opposed the so-called Crime Control Act of
1994 because it was a pork-laden, big dollar, Great Society social
spending boondoggle. Some of our colleagues thought we had lost our
minds when we opposed a so-called crime bill in an election year. But
Bob Dole did it because it was the right thing to do.
He worked tirelessly for comprehensive habeas corpus reform. He
worked to crack down on frivolous inmate lawsuits and was at the
forefront of reform when, in 1984, he cosponsored the Sentencing Reform
Act, which brought truth-in-sentencing to the Federal system.
Mr. President, Senator Dole has been a leader and a fighter for civil
rights from the beginning of his career. Senator Dole knows full well
that prejudice and artificial barriers can hold a person down. As a
Member of the other body, he voted for landmark legislation including
the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. He was
a leader in the effort to extend the Voting Rights Act in 1982. In
1967, then Congressman Dole voted for the Age Discrimination in
Employment Act. In 1990, Senator Dole supported the expansion and
clarification of this law to protect older workers from the loss of
their employee benefits.
Senator Dole led the passage of the Martin Luther King holiday bill.
It was a bill I voted against, and I consider it the worst mistake I
have made in my 20 years here. I thought that we should not add another
holiday due to both the public and private sector costs involved. But,
frankly, in hindsight, I made a mistake.
Bob Dole, however, did what was right, and he brought that bill up
and helped to pass it.
He played a key leadership role in enacting the landmark Americans
With Disabilities Act. I worked hard on that bill, and I know what he
did. I was in the late night meetings. As the ranking Republican on the
Labor and Human Resources Committee, I was in the leadership meetings.
I have to tell you, without Bob Dole, that bill would not have passed.
The ADA extended civil rights protections and opportunities to millions
of Americans with disabilities. I can remember when it passed, he and I
had tears in our eyes because it was such a monumental day.
Yes, Bob Dole has been there for the big fights, let me tell you.
Bob Dole recognizes that rights inhere in individuals, not groups. In
1995, he introduced the Equal Opportunity Act, which prohibits racial,
ethnic, and gender preferences in Federal employment, Federal
contacting, and federally administered programs. He sparked a healthy
and timely national debate on affirmative action. In his view, every
American should be treated with equal rights under the law, without
preference based on race, ethnicity, or gender.
[[Page S6049]]
Bob Dole helped build the Republican Party that we have today. He
helped build the Republican majority we have today. There were no
litmus tests under Bob Dole's leadership. He successfully knit together
Senators from Alaska to Virginia to form a working team whose sole
purpose was to achieve the goals for America that we all held in
common--goals that I personally believe we hold in common with the
American people.
We are going to miss Bob Dole in the U.S. Senate. I suspect even his
worthy adversaries on the Democratic side have come to admire his
determination, skill, and faithfulness to the people he represents. I
believe there is unanimous agreement in this body that Bob Dole served
with honor and distinction as one of the greatest Senators in the
history of this Federal Republic.
I have to say something here that I am sure Bob Dole does not know,
but I am going to say it publicly because it means so much to me. My
brother died shortly before Bob Dole got wounded in the Second World
War. My brother was very dear to me. I was only 10 years old when he
died. When we received the news, I immediately got a white streak of
hair on the right side of my forehead because it was such a shock to
me.
He was killed in the Ploiesti oil raid, which, of course, was the
pivotal oil raid of the European war because it knocked out all of the
Vienna-Austrian oilfields that Hitler depended on. But Jess' death was
a tremendous shock to us.
When I came to the Senate, Bob Dole put his arm around me. He looked
like my brother, to a large degree. My brother had the same color hair,
was about the same height, about the same build. My brother was a
football player as well. He looked a lot like my brother. I have always
considered Bob Dole, for good or bad, to be my brother.
I have tremendous respect and admiration for this man, this fellow
who has given so much to his country and who, if everybody in America
knew him--knew him like we do--there would be no question that he would
be the next President of the United States.
I have to say I love Bob Dole. Elaine does, too. We love his wife
Liddy. She is a tremendous human being. As both chairman and ranking
member of the Labor Committee, I worked with Liddy Dole, who served as
President Bush's Secretary of Labor. I have to tell you I appreciated
those days and appreciated her kindnesses to me and her great work for
the country.
Today, Bob Dole is leaving the Senate to pursue a different calling.
Yet it still is the calling of public service. He did not have to leave
the Senate. Nobody could have pushed him out of here. It would have
been safer to stay. But we have already learned that Bob Dole does not
stay safely in the foxholes. That is not what we expect of our leaders,
and Bob Dole, in my opinion, has what it takes.
Whatever the future may hold for Bob and Elizabeth Dole, I just want
to wish them both happiness and Godspeed.
Mr. President, I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Kempthorne). The President pro tempore of
the Senate, the distinguished Senator from South Carolina, is
recognized.
Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, in recent years, many in the media, the
public, and even some Members of Congress, have come to regard those
who seek positions in the public sector with some amount of contempt
and mistrust. Most of us in this Chamber know such characterizations
are not only unfair and inaccurate, but do much to harm the sanctity
and reputation of a body dedicated to debate and providing for the
Nation.
The large majority of those who become Government officials are
honorable individuals, but there are a handful of Senators in
particular whose conduct and dedication to service are above reproach,
and who stand as living contradictions to those who believe that this
is an ineffective and partisan body. These Senators are men and women
of principle who are dedicated to the noble cause of working to benefit
all the people of the United States. Today, it is with great regret
that I mark the departure of a man who sets a standard for service to
the Senate and the Nation that is truly unmatched--the majority leader
and Senator from Kansas Bob Dole.
I doubt it came as a surprise to anyone in Russell, KS, when Bob Dole
first ran for elected office in 1951. The bright young war veteran and
attorney had already established a well-deserved reputation for courage
and hard work when he declared his candidacy for a seat in that State's
House of Representatives. It was these two simple attributes that not
only help Bob Dole to win that election, but have helped to guide him
through life of challenges, hardships, and accomplishments.
The heartlands of the Kansan prairies are where Bob Dole learned
about being tough and not giving in when in the same situation the
average person might simply give up the fight. While this is a region
of simple beauty, kind people, and strong values, during the time of
Bob Dole's youth it was also a place that was rife with hardships for
those who lived there. It was a place where hard work was not a virtue,
it was a necessity for survival, especially during the Nation's most
severe economic crisis, the Great Depression.
In his hometown of Russell, KS, Bob Dole also learned about things
such as patriotism and a commitment to serving the Nation. He was
taught that these words represented more than mere ideas or ideals,
they were part of the responsibilities of citizenship in this great
land. During World War II, Bob Dole served his country as an officer in
the Army, and when he was ordered to lead an attack on a German-held
hill in Italy, Lt. Bob Dole never had any question about his duty. It
was this dedication to duty, a commitment to serving the Nation, and
pure, unadulterated courage that sent Lieutenant Dole up that hill, and
it was those same qualities that not only saved his life after being
gravely wounded by hostile fire, but gave his life purpose in the years
following his near life-ending injuries.
As he lay in a hospital bed, it took a man of fortitude,
determination, and courage to face 39 months of surgery, convalescence,
and rehabilitation. It took courage, fortitude, and determination for
Bob Dole to face the fact that his dream of becoming a doctor and
helping others had ended. It took courage, fortitude, and determination
for him to make the decision to not make his disabilities a handicap,
but to force forward with life and to dedicate himself to serving
others through public service rather than medicine. It took a man of
fortitude, determination, and courage to learn again how to do all the
things that you and I take for granted; to go back to school in order
to finish his undergraduate degree and earn a law degree; and, to begin
his career. Simply put, it took grit to survive what Bob Dole survived
and to essentially start life anew.
Since entering politics and public service, Bob Dole has never looked
back and he has never faltered in his duties. He has approached each
position he has held with enthusiasm and has earned a reputation for
thoroughness, fairness, and honesty. These qualities, along with those
outlined earlier, endeared him to his fellow Kansans who sent him on to
positions of progressively more importance and responsibility. From the
Kansas Legislature, he served as Russell County attorney, and then as a
U.S. Congressman for four terms before coming to the U.S. Senate in
1968. It is here that I met Bob Dole and immediately took a liking to
this serious-minded fellow veteran who had a pragmatic approach to the
issues before the Nation, and a fire in him to serve.
Over the next 28 years, I became quite fond of Senator Dole as a
colleague and a friend. I was pleased to watch him grow into his
position as a Senator and to become one of the leading spokesmen for
our party not only in this body, but throughout the Nation. His
abilities as a public servant did not escape many, including President
Gerald Ford, who selected Senator Dole to be his running mate in 1976.
The longer Bob Dole served in the Senate, the more prominent and
critical his role became in the legislative process. His razor sharp
mind gave him an encyclopedic familiarity with legislation and
legislative procedure, both which he put to good use as he ascended the
ladder of Senate leadership. Furthermore, his years of experience as a
Member of Congress gave him an insight into the affairs or the Nation
that could be matched by a few with
[[Page S6050]]
whom he served, and made him a valued advisor to fellow Senators, and
to Presidents. In short, Bob Dole was, and continues to be, a man of
tremendous abilities and background whose experience allows him to have
an impact on the governing of the United States that is unique and
nothing short of beneficial.
It seems hard to believe that Bob Dole is leaving the Senate. After
almost 30 years of prominent and dedicated service, he seems as much a
part of this building as the statute of Armed Freedom which sits atop
the Capitol and guards the District and the Nation. More important and
significant than merely enduring the rigors and battles of the Senate
for almost three decades is that during his life and in his tenure in
Congress, Bob Dole has made a difference in the history of the United
States. Among other things, he has stood tall for a budget that will
not saddle future generations with an unfair debt; he has fought hard
to give our men and women in uniform the resources they need to keep
America free and safe; he remained firm on the need for drawing the
line against the crime and criminals that prey on innocent Americans;
he did not flinch in working to contain our former Communist enemies;
and, he has worked hard to ensure that the United States maintains the
most dynamic economy in the world. Time and time again, Bob Dole has
been on the right side of the issues, working to create legislation and
policy that is beneficial to the citizens of this Nation, and leading
this body toward a vision of an America that is safe, wealthy, and full
of opportunity as long as there is a United States. It is with no small
regret that I say I will miss my colleague, my leader, and most
importantly, my friend, Bob Dole. I wish him well and thank him for his
service, and for the example he has set for selflessness, patriotism,
and humility.
Mr. President, I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order
for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, today a giant in the annals of the U.S.
Senate, Senator Robert Dole of Kansas, the Republican leader, has
chosen to leave this great institution to pursue and, I believe to win
the Presidency of the United States. The Senate will never be quit the
same; for Senator Dole has that rare and admired quality of making
things happen, getting things done, and moving this tradition-layered
institution forward.
All of Bob Dole's adult life had been spent in service to the
American public and today he has not ended that service. He is just
entering the final phase of his public service--campaigning for the
highest office in the land.
Mr. President, for the past 16 years, I have been privileged to
represent the people of the State of Alaska in the Senate. And
throughout my tenure in the Senate, Bob Dole has been a friend to the
people of Alaska and a leader who has always been sensitive to the
special needs of our young State.
Bob has traveled extensively in Alaska. And he understands that
unlike States that entered the Union in the 18th and 19th centuries,
Alaska, which has only been a State since 1959, is far more dependent
than other States on decisions made in Washington.
Almost 70 percent of Alaska is owned by the Federal Government.
Fifty-four million acres of Park Service land is in Alaska--68 percent
of all Park Service land in the Nation. Fifty-seven million acres of
designated wilderness is located in Alaska. That's over 60 percent of
all wilderness lands in the country.
And 76 million acres of Fish and Wildlife Service land is in Alaska--
That's 85 percent of all Fish and Wildlife Service land in the United
States.
The purpose in providing these statistics is to reiterate to my
fellow Senators that almost any economic activity that is done in
Alaska can only get started if the Federal Government does not stand in
the way. Bob Dole has always understood that.
Bob Dole also understands that our natural resources can be developed
in a responsible manner using our best technology without harming our
environment.
Bob Dole does not sell America's technology and ingenuity short--he
believes that it is better to harvest our abundant resources in an
environmentally responsible manner rather than sending our dollars and
jobs overseas by importing resources.
Mr. President, Bob Dole has served as the Republican leader for more
than 11 years-longer than any Republican leader in history. He has had
to juggle and balance the interests of States as different as Florida
and Alaska in order to get legislation from the drawing boards to
President's desk.
Throughout all of the time I have known Bob, he has never sacrificed
what is important to Alaska's 600,000 citizens in order to get a piece
of legislation adopted. In fact, it was Bob Dole's leadership that
ensured that for the first time last year, Congress authorized oil
exploration in ANWR.
And when Bob Dole moves to the White House next year. Alaskans can be
assured that the roadblock to our economic development will finally be
removed. He knows that America's economic security cannot be assured so
long as we are dependent on foreign countries for more than 50 percent
of our energy needs.
Mr. President, Alaskans will miss Senator Dole's leadership and
sensitivity to our State's needs. I will miss him as a person and
friend that I have grown accustomed to talking with every day. Bob
Dole's destiny will take him to even greater challenges and
responsibilities next year. And I know he will always keep Alaska's
special needs in mind whenever he makes decisions on economic policy.
Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order
for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, we have just said goodbye to the majority
leader, who has just retired. He has left the Senate with great support
from those of us who have known him and really do have a great love for
Bob Dole.
I have known him since he was a Member of the House. I was not a
Member of the House, but I knew he was there in the House. Bob Dole and
I came to the Senate at the same time. As he leaves today, I am, as he
just said, the sole survivor of the class of 1968. He has been a great
friend of mine. I have been on the floor before to say how I felt about
Bob Dole.
I have also remarked about the fact that he has also been a great
friend of the State I represent. He assisted us greatly in the passage
of the Alaska Native Land Claims Settlement Act, which paved the way
for the trans-Alaska pipeline. He assisted me many times in matters
pertaining to the oceans--the Fishery Conservation Act, which protects
the fisheries off our shores. He voted with us on the Alaska Lands Act,
on issues that we tried to change in that bill in 1980. He and
Elizabeth Dole were very helpful in assisting us on the Alaska Railroad
transfer. As a matter of fact, as I have told many of my friends, their
Christmas card that year was the photograph of the Secretary of
Transportation and her husband standing at the back of the
superintendent's car on the Alaska Railroad. That was Elizabeth's trip
to Alaska, and Bob was traveling with his wife in her official
capacity. He was of great assistance to me at the time that we had the
terrible disaster of the Exxon Valdez oilspill. I could go on and on
and talk about things that Bob has done with me.
What I really want to talk about, though, today is Bob Dole as a
leader. As he said to some of us today, he believed that, as the
leader, he tried to reach out to those of us here in the Senate who
might disagree with him, and reach out to Americans. Recently, we had a
report of a poll in my State that showed Bob Dole is more popular than
almost any of us who are elected officials in Alaska. He is well known
in the north country because they know that he has gone out of the way
on the campaign trail to go as far away as Alaska. I am one of those.
[[Page S6051]]
There are not very many of us remaining here now who saw service in
World War II. Part of my role has been to work as chairman of the
Defense Appropriations Subcommittee to assure that we keep the mandate
we received from the Constitution to provide for the common defense.
Bob Dole has never, ever voted against those of us who believe in a
strong defense. He joined all of us who worked together in the Reagan
years to see to it that we could rebuild our national defenses--really
our total military capability--at the time that the Soviets were going
into an enormous military monolithic Communist dictatorship. He was
quite successful in getting the Senate to help President George Bush at
the time of the Desert Storm victory. He knows the value of defense.
One of the issues he is talking about now, as he leaves us, is our
missile defense system.
He has told us himself today about his role in the Disabilities Act.
He has worked with us in child nutrition, and he certainly has been
responsible for the family tax credits coming back to where they should
be. We hope to really increase those in the future. As was remarked
here on the floor by our leader, he has reduced the tax rates in our
country from a maximum of 90 percent to a maximum of just over 30
percent--for most Americans, 28 percent.
But I am really full of memories today as we have seen our leader
leave us because, as he mentioned in his statement, in 1984, I, too,
was a candidate to become the leader of the Senate. After several
votes, it came down to a contest between Senator Dole and
myself. During the counting of the vote, he came over and congratulated
me and thought that I had won. To the contrary. He won the election by
a narrow vote. At that time, I asked for recognition and asked Senate
Republicans to vote unanimously for Senator Dole because it was clear
we needed a united Republican group in the Senate to move forward. In
retrospect, I think that was probably one of the smartest moves I ever
made and one of the best votes I cast--to assure that Bob Dole was
elected the leader of the Republican side unanimously. He has shown us
what he can do.
I want the Senate to know how much he demonstrated his philosophy of
reaching out. After that election, he asked me to come see him, and he
told me that he had some things in mind. For instance, one of the
things he wanted to do was have the Senate more involved in the
oversight of the arms control negotiations that were going on at that
time. He asked me to chair the arms control observers group which he
created at that time. He got the support of the minority, and we
created a bipartisan group that played, I think, a very successful role
in working on arms control negotiations.
He also came to me--I think this is probably not too well known in
the Senate--and said that he was disappointed that the move to bring
television to the Senate had failed, and he asked me if I would work
with others in the Senate to bring that about. It was at that time a
privilege, really, to represent the leader in meeting with Senators
from the other side and on our side of the aisle. There were some
Senators who changed their positions when they realized that the new
leader was very sincere and wanted to have the American public know
what was going on in the Senate.
I think that the Senate has been changed by television coverage in
the Senate--some good and some bad, but mostly good. I believe it has
demonstrated for the country what is ahead of us if Bob Dole is
successful in his new quest, because he does reach out for people. He
makes sure that everyone involved around him has a meaningful role and
listens. He listens to advice. If there is one thing that I think can
be assured in the days ahead, it is that candidate Dole is going to
listen to America and America is going to listen to candidate Dole. For
myself, I can think of no better thing for the country than to know
that we go to the beginning of the new millennium with a new President.
So I hope, Mr. President, that this day, this decision that my good
friend has made to leave this Senate, which he loves and we all love,
proves to be the right decision for him and for the country. I know
that he has not left our hearts because those of us who know him will
be with him all the way along the trail.
As the statement made by Theodore Roosevelt was read today in our
meeting, as we gave him the bust of Teddy Roosevelt, Bob Dole has known
both victory and defeat, and he has shown his courage and his ability
to stay the course. I believe he has what it takes. I hope he will know
victory in the days ahead.
Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, I rise to salute the energy,
intelligence, and personal strength of a man who is leaving a
remarkable career in the U.S. Senate, the majority leader, Senator
Robert Dole.
Many of my colleagues have worked with Senator Dole far longer than
I, but it didn't take me long after I arrived here in 1993 to develop a
healthy respect for his skill as a legislator and for his ability to
lead his Republican colleagues. Moreover, it quickly became clear to me
that Senator Dole is a man shaped and defined by his ability to meet
challenges without flinching and to overcome them.
He has been accorded well-deserved praise from both sides of the
aisle, and his colleagues on the other side have demonstrated their
respect for his abilities by making him the longest-serving Republican
majority leader in the Senate's history.
Mr. President, Senator Dole's government career since he joined the
Senate in 1968 is widely known and respected. He has played a pivotal
role in the passage of several pieces of important legislation,
including, for example, the landmark Americans With Disabilities Act in
1990.
For many years, Senator Dole was a supporter of legislation to
protect civil rights. For example, his efforts were crucial in the
passage of the renewal of the Voting Rights Act in 1982.
His imprint is also on the Food Stamp Program, on Social Security,
and other important measures.
One legislative achievement that may not get much notice, but which
helps some of our Nation's most vulnerable people, is Senator Dole's
support for the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, or PACE.
Senator Dole and I share an interest in this innovative long-term care
program, which is a nationwide effort to integrate services for certain
elderly Medicare and Medicaid patients. PACE has managed to provide an
extensive array of services while saving money, both laudable goals.
On another issue--committing United States forces to Bosnia--Senator
Dole and I were in disagreement, but even though we were on opposite
sides of the final vote to send American troops there, I recognized his
efforts to work for bipartisanship and to take a risk to support what
he regarded as the necessary action in this area.
Mr. President, it is unfortunate that, during an election year, the
Senate is so often consumed by partisan tensions and maneuvers.
Nevertheless, the U.S. Senate is an institution where it is possible to
reach across the aisle and find common ground.
Senator Dole has devoted many, many years to the Senate and to
working on issues of enormous public interest. He has earned the
respect and admiration of all of his colleagues, Republicans and
Democrats alike.
Mr. President, Bob Dole will be long-remembered in the U.S. Senate,
and this Chamber will simply not be the same without him.
Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, today the Senate loses one of its true
legislative craftsmen. When I came to the Senate, Bob Dole had already
earned a reputation as a legislator, a Republican who could cross the
aisle to work with Democrats to solve problems and reach compromise.
This is the essence of the Senate. I soon learned that the reputation
of the Senator from Kansas was well earned. Over the years my respect
for his ability to craft a legislative solution has grown. We will all
miss his skill.
We will also miss Bob Dole for his sense of humor. The Senate can be
a place of high drama, high pressure, and sometimes high dudgeon. Bob
Dole, who has himself shown a real bite from time to time, and who is a
tough fighter for his point of view, more often than not is able to
defuse the situation, and sometimes disarm his opponents with a quip or
a flash of his wit which leaves them laughing.
But, most of all, Mr. President, Bob Dole will be remembered in the
Senate
[[Page S6052]]
as a man of his word. There is no greater compliment which one Senator
can pay to another.
In this body, a Senator is only as good, only as reliable, only as
effective, as his or her word. Senator Robert Dole has earned the
respect of all who have served with him in this Senate.
Mr. COHEN. Mr. President, there are few true heroes in this country,
but one who has lived in our midst for many years is Bob Dole, who has
accomplished so much in his life and is going off to accomplish more.
He was a hero in war who now and forever will bear the scars of his
service to his country. And he is a hero in peace--a man who can
maneuver through the legislative trenches with grace and daring,
avoiding minefields and pitfalls, running the gauntlet while dodging
bomb blasts from his opponents.
He leaves us today to enter a new battleground, where, I have no
doubt, he will prevail with the same creativity and tenacity that had
made him such an able Senate leader.
Bob Dole has the experience, the temperament, and the judgment to be
President. He is a man of honor and courage who understands the
workings of Government at the highest levels but has never lost his
understanding of common men and women. That's because he is a common
man, who through the sheer force of his intellect and industry has
reached uncommon heights.
There are, of course, many stories that could be told to illustrate
the spirit and fortitude that has brought Bob Dole to such heights, but
two of my favorites date to 1952, the year he was elected county
attorney in Russell, KS, and began his political career.
One night after Bob was elected, a man named Huck Boyd was driving
through Russell after midnight and saw the light still on at the county
courthouse. Huck Boyd was editor of a weekly newspaper and thought
there might be a break-in, so he pulled over to investigate. It turns
out that Bob Dole, the new county attorney, was still working at his
desk. And it also turns out that Huck Boyd was Kansas' member of the
Republican National Committee, and was so impressed by this hard-
working young man that he started talking him up throughout Kansas as a
future political superstar.
But the quote I like best comes from the story of the 1952 county
attorney election itself. Two young men who had come back from World
War II were running--Bob Dole and Dean Ostrum. Dean was a bright young
man who had enjoyed many of life's advantages and was the son of
perhaps the best lawyer in Russell. Bob Dole didn't have all the
advantages of life, had seen more adversity in 29 years than most
people see in a lifetime, and was the son of Doran Dole who worked in a
local creamery. As the campaign wore on, Bob outthought and outhustled
his opponent, won by 200 votes, and launched his political career. The
quote I like is from Dean Ostrum years after the campaign was over:
``How long was my day? I don't know, but it wasn't as long as Bob
Dole's I'm sure of that.''
Forty-four years later that statement still rings true. No one I know
has ever outworked Bob Dole.
One of the reasons I believe so strongly in Bob Dole's candidacy is
because we share common views and values. We believe that consensus and
compromise make for good government. We believe that rigid ideas and
hardened positions drive people apart and lead to stalemate and
paralysis. We believe in Ronald Reagan's theory of the big tent--that
the Republican Party is a caring and compassionate organization that
welcomes people of all backgrounds, a party that does not demean
minorities by ridiculing their ancestry, a party that speaks of hope
and promise and does not exploit fears and anxieties.
We believe in a strong national defense, that America cannot be the
world's policeman, but neither can we afford to become a prisoner of
world events. Some want to walk away from the world, but Bob Dole knows
the world won't walk away from us.
We believe that the best protection for American industry and workers
is to open up our minds through education, training, and competition--
not by shutting down our ports. We believe we must prevent illegal
immigration but not punish those who seek the blessings of America by
complying with our laws.
Bob Dole, like Ronald Reagan before him, has dedicated his life in
public service to tearing walls down around the world and not putting
them up around America.
We also share a common belief that for government to operate most
effectively--or in this day and age some might say to operate at all--
it is necessary for policymakers to understand that goals cannot always
be achieved at once. Progress must often come in small steps. Bob Dole
understands that principle better than most and he has the judgment,
gleaned from years of experience, to know when those steps can be taken
safely--or when one more step will send us hurtling over a dangerous
precipice.
Bob Dole understands that power and responsibility must be returned
to the States. We have a $5 trillion debt that is gobbling up our
children's economic future, and we know we have to slay this monster or
it will surely slay us.
The man who stood for so many years beside us in the Senate does not
appear to be wearing armor. But he is. It's made of a composite
stronger than anything that can be manufactured by campaign
strategists, pollsters, or spin-meisters. It's made of a belief in God,
country, family, honor, and duty.
I have known Bob Dole for more than 20 years as both a friend and a
leader. He is a man of good heart and good humor who calls forth the
better angels of our nature.
As President of the United States, he will make America safe and
sound for us and our children. As President of the United States, he
will help make the world safe for America.
Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, as Bob Dole leaves the U.S. Senate today,
we are participating in a celebration unlike anything we have witnessed
in the Senate for many years, and are unlikely to see again in this
century. The abundant flow of affection in the midst of applause and
tears are testimony to our recognition of Bob Dole's investment in the
Senate, our recognition of the hold his leadership has on our
perceptions of the Senate, and the meaning of statesmanship, public
service, and patriotism.
Senator Bob Dole of Kansas was easily reelected to a fifth term in
the U.S. Senate. After 8 years of service in the U.S. House of
Representatives, he is in his 28th year of Senate service. On most days
in the U.S. Senate and in most battles, Bob Dole has been the voice and
the very visible, energetic leader of the Republican Party.
Bob Dole is the personification of hard work, constructive
intelligence, personal loyalty and the determination to succeed against
all odds.
His life has been filled with honors and recognition for significant
achievements. But perhaps the defining moments of his life were those
he spent on a mountainous Italian battlefield.
The troops he led as an Army infantry lieutenant were exposed to
deadly enemy machine gun fire. He led the charge to eliminate the enemy
emplacement. He absorbed withering fire which tore his body and almost
ended his life.
His heroism was recognized promptly. But his ability to force feeling
and movement into his wounded body, to restore some hope that he could
feed himself, dress himself, and function as a working, contributing
man, took years of agonizing treatment, therapy, and persistence beyond
comprehension.
Bob Dole is intellectually and physically tough because his very life
and being have depended upon that toughness. But those same fateful
experiences have undergirded his compassionate championship of all
handicapped Americans who have counted upon him to extend a strong hand
back to pull them into the fullness of life in America.
From his early days in Russell, KS, Bob Dole has understood the
struggle of many families to keep food on the table. He has been the
Senate champion for thoughtful nutrition programs, including
comprehensive knowledge about food stamp distribution and a host of
food programs for the working poor of our country.
I first met Bob Dole when he was Chairman of our national party, and
later as our Vice Presidential nominee in 1976. In the days following
that election, I called Bob Dole to thank him
[[Page S6053]]
for his leadership and to ask for his help in fulfilling my first
Senate campaign pledge, namely, to seek a seat on the Agriculture
Committee. Even at a time of his own personal discouragement, he was
characteristically helpful to me. I was seated at the end of the
minority side of the table as the most junior member. I have witnessed
for 20 years the mastery of Bob Dole as a farm legislator.
His energy level is astonishing. His capacity to entertain new ideas
and his generous ability to boost other people have strengthened my
enthusiasm for this remarkable Kansan.
He deserves the opportunity to serve our Nation as its President. The
Nation deserves his Presidency, which could be a term of remarkable
achievement based on his innate courage and wisdom, and his universal
experience with public persons and public issues.
I will be one who strives to help him realize new dimensions of
leadership, because I have witnessed his integrity and I have
confidence in his judgment. For the moment, I believe it is most
important simply to recognize that to applaud Bob Dole is to applaud
the vitally important concept that good people arise in America to
assume great responsibilities. Our country is stronger because this
Senator always saw his duty and inspired so many Americans to follow
him.
Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I join in wishing the majority leader
well--but not too well--as he takes his leave of the Senate.
He and I have differed on many occasions on many issues during the
many years we have served together. But we have also been able to find
many opportunities to work well together on many different issues of
both foreign and domestic policy, and I have great respect for his
ability as a Senator and Senate leader.
Of course, I liked it better when he was minority leader instead of
majority leader.
In fact, we have worked closely on many significant issues over the
years. I think particularly of the Americans With Disabilities Act in
recent years. Senator Dole was a strong supporter from the beginning.
He stepped in early and often, and prevented many abrasive
confrontations on that bill. As a result, it was enacted with broad
bipartisan support in Congress, and has become one of Senator Dole's
and Congress' most notable achievements.
Senator Dole and I also worked well together on other civil rights
bills, on voting rights bills, on child nutrition legislation, and a
range of other issues. In addition, we served together on the Senate
Judiciary Committee for 6 years at the end of the 1970's and the
beginning of the 1980's, and I was consistently impressed with his day-
to-day ability on the issues and his tireless energy and dedication.
I also have many warm memories of the daily radio debates we did
together for 4 years in the 1980's on our program called ``Face Off.''
We were usually, but not always, facing in opposite directions on the
issues, but Senator Dole's intelligence and wit always shone through,
and helped make the daily analyses both enlightening and enjoyable.
Often, even in the most contentious debates in the Senate, his
excellent sense of humor was particularly effective, and he used it
skillfully to defuse the tensest moments.
Now, Senator Dole leaves the Senate with a record of many
accomplishments that have served the Senate well, the Congress well,
the State of Kansas well, and the people of America well.
I join Senators on both sides of the aisle who have found it a great
privilege, a great honor, and a great education to work with Senator
Dole over the years. We admire his leadership and statesmanship, and we
value his friendship. We respect him, and we will miss him very much in
the months and years ahead.
Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I rise today, as have my Senate colleagues,
to pay tribute to the distinguished Senate majority leader, Senator
Robert Dole of Kansas.
Mr. President, the great American patriot Henry Clay, who also served
as a Member of the House and the Senate, once said, ``Of all the
properties which belong to honorable men, not one is so highly prized
as that of character.''
He was right. As imperfect beings, we all strive to cultivate
virtuous qualities--we endeavor to be kind; we are mindful to be
courteous; in trying times, we struggle to maintain a sense of humor,
but character, as the fiery turn-of-the-century evangelist, Dwight L.
Moody, once so bluntly defined it, ``is what you are in the dark.''
Character is not something one can put on, like a new set of clothes.
It is not something one trots out on special occasions, like courtly
manners. It is not something one can pretend to possess. Yet, despite
its ethereal quality, character is unmistakably apparent. It is the
steady hand in times of crisis, the quiet voice in times of stress. It
is courage in the face of adversity, strength of purpose, when all else
seems to fail. It is a ``property,'' as Henry Clay put it, whose value
is beyond measure, a characteristic no amount of money can buy.
Mr. President, Robert Dole is a man of character. A man who has
remained true to his convictions; a man unafraid to defend his beliefs;
a man who says what he thinks, and means what he says. He is a doer,
not a talker; a fighter, not an equivocator; a leader not a dodger.
Today he leaves the U.S. Senate and the battlefield he's loved so
well for so many years, the Senate floor. But he goes not gentle into
the good night. He leaves on one last mission. He leaves to engage
perhaps the most important battle he will ever fight--a battle not just
for the heart and soul of America, but--more importantly--for the
future of America. A battle that will lose or save America for the next
generation; a battle to accomplish what all generations except ours
have done before us--leave America a better place for our children and
our grandchildren.
Mr. President, it is a battle that must be fought; a battle that must
be won. And I can think of no one better to lead the mission than Bob
Dole.
Mr. COATS. Mr. President, today Senator Dole becomes citizen Dole. He
has every right to be proud of that hard, courageous decision. We in
the Senate have every reason to be sorry for it.
Senator Dole leaves a legacy of lasting influence. He led this body
to historic accomplishments, including the rescue of Social Security
and the first balanced budget in a generation. He led his party, 2
years ago, to historic victory. And now he has accepted one more
opportunity to serve--one more chance to lead.
This is the common thread that runs through an uncommon life--
leadership. He has provided a definition of the term.
Senator Dole has mastered the art of consensus. He knows when a
breakthrough depends on one well-placed word. He knows how to cool
tempers and emphasize agreement. He knows how to turn the chaos of this
process into tangible achievements. These are rare and important
qualities.
But this is only half of the story. I have seen another side of
Senator Dole's leadership. He once put it this way:
I believe there is a place for honest negotiation in
politics. It is an essential part of Democracy. Every
political movement, and every public official, however, must
locate a place where compromise ends--a core of conviction
where we keep our conscience. There comes a time when even
practical leaders must refuse to bend or yield.
For Senator Dole that core of conviction is basic and clear,
permanent and solid: safe streets, strong families, military strength,
fiscal responsibility, a decent public culture. These commitments are
nothing new and everything important. They are rooted deeply in the
soil of the midwest in the lessons of a small town in his experiences
of suffering and service. Bob Dole understands the secret strength of
America, because he embodies it.
Senator Dole understands that Americans value freedom and
responsibility, but must still care for one another in times of crisis
and need. He understands the fears at the edge of poverty, because he
felt them in his youth. He understands the price of liberty, because he
paid it himself. He fights strongly, because he believes deeply. We
have come to depend on this core of conviction, based on the lessons of
a life.
In his legislative career, Senator Dole has displayed both elements
of true leadership: consensus and conscience, flexibility and firmness.
He is
[[Page S6054]]
an example to all of us who work with him--who follow him--who respect
him. Leaving the security of the Senate is just another example of the
moral courage we have come to know the essence of leadership at the
moment of testing.
T.S. Eliot wrote, ``in my end is my beginning.'' This is the end of a
distinguished legislative career. It is the beginning of a new mission.
That mission takes Senator Dole beyond this body, and we regret it. But
I am convinced it will take him to the White House. Senator Dole--
citizen Dole--has only begun his service to this Nation.
Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I rise to honor and remember our
distinguished majority leader, our colleague, and our friend, Bob Dole,
as he prepares to leave the Senate.
When you work with or around Bob Dole, you soon realize: He has
consistent values and an unwavering commitment to them.
He's been in there fighting for a balanced budget--not because of
some green eyeshade interest in the numbers, but because he knows its a
moral issue.
He's been fighting for years, consistently, for a balanced budget
constitutional amendment because he understands this is a principle of
fundamental fairness, and he understands how the Constitution really
works, protecting the basic rights of the people by preventing the
Government from abusing its powers.
I've worked with Bob Dole on other constitutional issues, from
protection of second amendment rights to private property rights.
When Congress passes the 28th amendment--the balanced budget
amendment--some time in the near future, even though he will have left
the Senate, it will be, in part, a monument to Senator Dole's years of
hard work.
I remember many events, many battles, high points and defeats, as Bob
Dole and I have worked together for the balanced budget amendment.
When I was in the House, in the early 1980s, Charlie Stenholm, a
Democrat from Texas, and I started CLUBB--Congressional Leaders United
for a Balanced Budget.
Pete Wilson was our Senate Co-Chair and Bob Dole was a charter
member.
When we met with taxpayer groups, and stood on the steps of the
Capitol with mail bags full of hundreds of thousands of letters and
petitions from Americans everywhere--Bob Dole was always there with us,
promoting the balanced budget amendment.
CLUBB worked with taxpayer groups to schedule Members of Congress
around the country to meet with local leaders, State legislatures, and
others on behalf of the balanced budget amendment.
I remember back to 1985-86 and how it impressed me that, here was the
majority leader of the U.S. Senate, a man busy with every issue before
Congress--and he took the time and effort to travel whenever he could,
wherever he could, to bring the balanced budget crusade to Americans
everywhere.
And last year, after our constitutional amendment fell one vote
short, and then again this year, he showed that the Senate could break
with history and make history, could muster enough courage, under his
leadership, to actually produce a balanced budget.
Citizen, Senator, Majority Leader Bob Dole has worked, fought, and
spoken to the Nation for the balanced budget amendment because he cares
about the future of our Nation; because he cares about our children,
and what kind of opportunity we leave for them; because he cares about
having a country that provides for the security of our seniors and the
best possible jobs for our working men and women.
Many, many aspects of Bob Dole's life have demonstrated how much he
cares about people, especially the helpless, and about our country.
Much has been said about his record as a war hero and his war
injuries. And, of course, much has been said about his public service.
Unlike many in politics, he has not just sympathized with people's
pain, he has been there.
Doctors first said he would not live because of his war injuries.
Then they said he would never walk again.
But he did much more than walk--he soared on the wings of self-
sacrifice and service to others.
Because of the values he learned growing up in Russell, KS, because
of the lessons of life, he understands people and cares about people.
This understanding has shown through in his leadership here in the
Senate, where he has been perceptive about the strengths of his
colleagues and what things are important to them.
It has particularly struck me how he, as leader, has always looked to
match those strengths and interests with the tasks at hand to give his
colleagues leadership opportunities, and to accomplish something good
for the Nation.
The Senate will miss his leadership, his dedication, his integrity,
and how he cares about people.
And in the coming months the Nation will learn much more about those
qualities, and will call upon him for one more heroic mission.
Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I rise today to join my colleagues in
paying tribute to the Senator from Kansas.
The significance of this day should not be diminished by reference to
or discussion of the gentleman's future pursuits. They should more
importantly reflect the tenure and service that he has already given
his State of Kansas, the office of majority leader, the institution of
Congress, and this country as a whole.
Mr. President, I remember my first direct interaction with Bob Dole
in 1993 as we crafted fundamental entitlement reform to the
supplemental security income system. I could talk today of our work in
shaping the direction of our Nation's social policies, more recently
during a very intense debate here last fall on a comprehensive welfare
reform package. I was honored to have been of assistance to him in
managing the floor discussion, and it was during this debate that
Senator Dole's guiding hand was once again exhibited in maneuvering
this body through one of the more contentious and important discussions
of national policy.
As the youngest member of this body, however, it is with a different
perspective that I would like to focus my remarks today. Many of Bob
Dole's most significant experiences, especially his service in
defending this country in World War II, largely precede my 38 years.
His 35 years of service and leadership in Congress roughly bridges the
span of my life. And while I have only had the honor to serve under his
direct leadership in the Senate for a year and a half, I have
indirectly benefited from Bob Dole's sacrifices, courage, and
convictions for the better part of my life.
Today's speeches have been filled with personal reflections, tributes
to service, and legislative and policy histories that all have been
influenced by the gentleman from Kansas. As moving and genuine as these
reflections have been, time and history will truly capture and attest
to the magnitude of Senator Dole's service and the importance of his
departure.
Rapid change in the character and makeup of both Chambers has marked
my 6-year service in the U.S. Congress. Since my election in 1990, the
U.S. Congress has experienced not only one of the largest single year
turnovers since the 1974 elections, but has also ushered in a historic
change in the majority parties of both houses.
And in the midst of this profound change, individuals like the
Senator from Kansas have remained a stabilizing force to this
institution. As it is far too easy to get lost in the direction of our
own careers, we must not allow ourselves to lose sense of those who
have shaped the institution of Congress and those who have left a
lasting imprint on the direction of our Nation. History will
undoubtedly record Senator Dole as one of those people.
As the longest serving majority leader in the U.S. Senate, Senator
Dole possesses an instinctive ability to navigate the Senate's process
of forced compromise. While at times during this session these
abilities have served as a source of personal consternation, I readily
acknowledge that these are qualities that a leader must exhibit to
carry out the duties and responsibilities of this Chamber. These are
qualities that a leader must espouse to bridge the ideological
differences that manifest themselves in the direction of our policies.
Clearly, the history and service of Senator Dole's 35 years in
Congress is
[[Page S6055]]
an inspiration to all of us and a challenge as we, in his absence, try
to foster and maintain the integrity and direction of the institution
of the Senate.
The hallways of the Senate will long be filled with the images of
Senator Dole's presence and the echoes of his trademark late night
walks from this Chamber, through the Vice President's lobby, and to the
majority leaders office overlooking America's Mall of monuments to this
Nation--the view across what will now be known as the Bob Dole balcony.
Mr. President, it is indeed a distinct honor to congratulate and
thank the Senator from Kansas for his service to our country. I rise
with the distinction of being a U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania and the
honor of being a colleague of the Senator from Kansas. I rise with the
privilege of representing 12 million Pennsylvanians in the rich
tradition and history of Senators Hugh Scott, John Heinz, and Harris
Wofford, who have had the honor to serve with Senator Dole at this very
desk before me, and have been enriched by the shared service and
experiences. But most importantly, I rise as a personal beneficiary of
the Senator's sacrifice, his service, his steadfastness, and his
wisdom.
In closing, Mr. President, I stand today with the privilege of
speaking in some small way for those Pennsylvania voices in sharing our
blessing for the continued strength, courage, and conviction in life's
pursuits for Mr. Dole and his family.
Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, I rise for a final, heartfelt tribute to
Senator Dole.
In another unselfish act on behalf of his country, Senator Dole will
leave the Senate where he has so well served the people of Kansas in
order to better serve the American people as our next President.
Mr. President, by any definition, Bob Dole is a great man--a man
whose entire life has been dedicated to serving his country with honor,
with courage, and with integrity.
Bob Dole is an American hero. He fought to defend this country during
times of war. And throughout his career he has fought for policies to
ensure prosperity and security at home and peace around the world.
Mr. President, Bob Dole has remained dedicated to the same causes and
principles that led him into public service over 40 years ago. He is a
man certain of his core values, and anchored to his unwavering
principles of service to country, honoring individual freedom, and
bettering the lives of every American.
Mr. President, Bob Dole represents what's right about America:
integrity, courage, compassion, and patriotism.
Mr. President, it will be difficult to imagine the Senate without Bob
Dole's strong presence and skillful leadership. Bob Dole's monumental
legislative achievements--first as a legislator and now as leader--are
the direct result of his strongly held convictions, his forceful
advocacy, his skill at debate, and his respect and tolerance for other
Senators' views, perspectives, and experiences.
His native State of Kansas and the many noble causes he has
championed over the years have benefited from his legislative skills.
As his colleagues, we know--and history will record--that he has had an
indelible influence on this body, our Government, our people, and our
times that will be felt well into the next century. He will leave an
imprint deeper and stronger than few Senators in history can rival.
Mr. President, some personal comments on Senator Dole are unavoidable
at this moment. How could a Midwestern-Kansas conservative from a rural
and agricultural State become friends and have so much in common with
an ethnic second-generation Italian from Long Island?
In Bob Dole's own words:
Al D'Amato and Bob Dole--at first glance it seems like an
unlikely friendship. One was raised on his mother's pasta in
the heart of America's largest city. And the other was raised
on his mother's fried chicken on the plains of rural Kansas.
But when New Yorkers sent Al to the United States Senate in
1980, it didn't take me long to discover that we had a great
deal in common.
Both of us call them like we see them. Both of us believe
in the neighborhood values that made America great--values
like hard work and personal responsibility. Both of us don't
give up without a fight. And both of us have never forgotten
from where we came.
Mr. President, these insightful words are from Bob Dole's
introduction to my book. They reveal Bob Dole's basic decency, his
solid foundations, and his strong character. These are the qualities
that attract people to Bob Dole and the reasons he is so admired.
Mr. President, as my dear friend, colleague, and leader, Bob Dole,
departs the Senate to pursue the Presidency; he leaves with my
continued admiration and support. His unique and historic journey has
taken an unexpected but necessary turn. With his beloved Elizabeth
beside him in his quest for the Presidency, I know my friend has made
the right choice.
Mr. President, the Senate will miss Bob Dole and I will certainly
miss my friend.
Mr. MOYNIHAN. Mr. President, one of the stories Bob Dole likes to
tell in speeches and interviews has to do with the events in the first
2 weeks of 1983 when, quite literally, the Social Security system was
saved. As with many tales told on political campaign trails, it is not
one hundred percent accurate. We all recall that opening passage from
Huckleberry Finn in which Huck tells us that we will recognize him from
the book about Tom Sawyer which was written by Mr. Mark Twain, ``and he
told the truth mainly.''
Which Bob Dole does. The only part of the tale he leaves out is his
own role. It could not have happened without him. To the contrary, he
made it happen.
I was there. I so attest. It was January 3, 1983. A new Congress was
convening. I had just been sworn in for a second term. This was
agreeable enough, indeed, hugely so, but there was a cloud over the
occasion. I had gone on to the Finance Committee in 1977 and had worked
on the Social Security Amendments of that year, under the superb
leadership of Gaylord Nelson. We had realized the actuarial troubles
the Social Security Trust Fund would face with the curious demography
of the baby boom on the still-distant but recognizable horizon. We put
in place a number of F.I.C.A. tax increases to provide for this. And
thought our work was done. Then came the second oil shock and the great
inflation of the late 1970's. For the first time in our history price
increases ran ahead of wage increases. The Trust Funds sank to the
point of approaching insolvency. In 1981, the new director of the
Office of Management and Budget, David Stockman, warned the country to
expect the ``world's largest bankruptcy'' on a date certain in the near
future. It wasn't as bad as that, but Robert J. Myers, the former chief
actuary, knew it was bad enough and he passed this on. President Reagan
called for and Congress created a Commission on Social Security Reform,
headed by Alan Greenspan. We met all through 1982, but could come to no
agreement on what to do. The year ended, the Commission ended, an
inconsequential report was drafted.
But something had, in fact, happened. Bob Dole, a member of the
Commission, had listened. He always listens, as Senators know. But this
time he was listening to information quite at odds with all he had ever
heard. That Social Security was not a crazy New Deal Ponzi scheme
certain to go broke one day. That day being at hand. Which is what so
many members of his party were willing to believe. No; he learned,
largely from Myers, there were difficulties but they could be resolved
and should be resolved.
On that January 3 morning, Senator Dole had an op-ed article in The
New York Times. I ask unanimous consent that it be reprinted in the
Record.
There being no objection, the editorial was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
[From the New York Times, Jan. 3, 1983]
Reagan's Faithful Allies
(By Bob Dole)
Washington.--In this city, which makes history but prefers
headlines, today's hottest story is President Reagan's
problem with his allies on Capitol Hill. But those who
believe that they see a divisive split between the President
and Congressional Republicans ignore Ronald Reagan's many
achievements, misunderstand the role of Congress, and
exaggerate the tension between the Presidency and Congress
that has naturally existed since the Founding Fathers found
room for both in the Constitution.
It is important to understand that Presidents of both
parties have always had differences with their friends on
Capitol Hill.
[[Page S6056]]
Thomas Jefferson had to endure a Speaker of the House who was
not only a fellow Democrat but his own son-in-law and who had
the irritating habit of publicly charging members of the
Jefferson Administration with corrupt land speculation.
Abraham Lincoln found his military decisions criticized by
his own party's select committee on the conduct of the war,
and his nascent plans for Reconstruction roadblocked by the
so-called radical Republicans.
Theodore Roosevelt's pioneering efforts to regulate
commerce and preserve the natural splendors of the West ran
counter to the property-loving instincts of Republican
legislators.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt saw the wave of his personal
popularity crest in 1937, when disgruntled Democrats shot
down his plan to pack the United States Supreme Court.
Lyndon B. Johnson failed to unite Democrats behind the
Vietnam war and, in the end, abdicated. So did Richard M.
Nixon when many of his strongest supporters made clear their
distaste for his handling of Watergate. Earlier still, Mr.
Nixon watched as two Supreme Court nominees were torpedoed by
Republican Senators.
Jimmy Carter's term was rendered all but irrelevant by
Democrats of the Kennedy stripe. Now, after two years of
remarkable leadership, the equal of anything seen in this
city since the heyday of Lyndon Johnson's Great Society, it
has become fashionable to claim that Ronald Reagan's mastery
over Congress has become frayed and that his options for
future guidance have narrowed to little more than graceful
acquiescence.
Much of this is the product of journalistic boredom or
perhaps, Democratic wishful thinking. Those interested in the
sounds of genuine partisan division ought to pitch their
hearing to the tunes of Mondale and Glenn and Hart and
Hollings and Askew and Cranston.
What's more, those now debating responsibility for next
year's agenda all too easily overlook Ronald Reagan's
achievement in setting the decade's agenda. They forget that
the President has already engineered a major shift in
relations between the individual and his Government. And, in
their own preoccupation with current headlines, they obscure
a personal history of political resourcefulness and a gift
for compromise familiar to anyone who has examined Ronald
Reagan's Governorship in California.
So, before Republicans start believing the fashionable
theory of a White House-Capitol Hill split, we ought to
remind ourselves that we are led by a persuasive chief
executive, that we enjoy strong, experienced leadership in
both houses of Congress and that the issues confronting us
present as much opportunity as peril.
Social Security is a case in point. With 116 million
workers supporting it and 36 million beneficiaries relying on
it, Social Security overwhelms every other domestic priority.
Through a combination of relatively modest steps, including
some acceleration of already scheduled taxes and some
reduction in the rate of future benefit increases, the system
can be saved. When it is, much of the credit, rightfully,
will belong to this President and his party.
Similarly, the mashed-potato circuit echoes to the
plaintive cries of born-again protectionists who address the
symptoms and not the illness plaguing our economy. Whether
through local-content legislation or export subsidies, they
would scuttle free trade and risk a global war, with tariffs
and other trade barriers as lethal weapons. Wrong as they may
be in their prescription, these new economic isolationists
have struck a responsive chord in a nation deeply worried
about present and future employment. Again, the trade issues
provide Republicans at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue with
the potential to reach out to working people, to demonstrate
not only verbal concern but practical solutions.
The nation's headline writers like to call President Reagan
The Great Communicator. Historians, I'm convinced, will label
him the Great Reformer. It is his willingness to question
this city's conventional (and costly) wisdom that Republicans
must emulate as we tackle priorities too pressing to put off.
No one is more eager to extend the Reagan revolution and to
avoid political trench warfare in the coming session than
Congressional Republicans.
The atmosphere within which the new Congress convenes will
be shaped by perceptions that, in politics, are sometimes the
equivalent of reality. And it is as a supporter of the
President's objectives that I express concern about
perceptions of his program. Clearly, they will not be
improved so long as the Congress, public and news media
discern an imbalance between human needs and military
hardware. When the Constitution mandated the Federal
Government to provide for the general welfare, it said
nothing about the generals' welfare.
The problem of perception might also be improved by a
closer partnership between the White House and its natural
allies on Capitol Hill. A modest but useful first step would
be more frequent and constructive give-and-take sessions with
G.O.P. leaders. For we, no less than his own department
Secretaries and other personnel, belong to the President's
official family. And we, no less than they, wish the next two
years to be as successful as the last two.
Certainly, tackling Social Security and trade issues will
engender controversy. But the alternative is momentum
surrendered and an anxious public disillusioned. This
President has always insisted that purely political
considerations will not affect his judgment. That is one more
reason why he is free to propose and achieve reforms on a
historic scale. By doing so, he insures that he will not have
to wait for history to express gratitude.
Those who say that the bloom is off the rose for Ronald
Reagan forget that the rose is a perennial. With a little
imaginative gardening now, it will blossom handsomely in
1984.
Mr. MOYNIHAN. Mr. President, note that paragraph about Social
Security. ``. . . The system can be saved.''
I had read it. I went up to Senator Dole on the floor and said,
``Bob, if you think that, and I think you are right, oughtn't we give
it one more try?'' He asked me if I could meet with him the next day.
Both of us were planning vacations, but this came first. At 4 o'clock
next, Tuesday, January 4, we met in his office. I give you now the
events of the next 13 days. They are written from my daily schedule,
but think Bob Dole all along.
Tuesday, January 4, 1983, 4:30 p.m.: Senators Dole and
Moynihan meet with Robert J. Myers re Social Security.
Wednesday, January 5, 2:00 p.m.: Senator Moynihan meets
privately with Alan Greenspan, Congressman Conable and Robert
J. Myers re Social Security.
4:30 p.m.: Meeting at James Baker's residence with Senator
Dole, Cong. Conable, Robert J. Myers and Alan Greenspan.
Friday, January 7, 8:30 a.m.: Meeting at Blair House re
Social Security.
2:30 p.m.: Senators Dole and Moynihan meet with Robert J.
Myers.
Saturday, January 8, 9:30 a.m.: All-day confidential
meeting at residence of James Baker--also with Richard
Darman.
Tuesday, January 11, 5:15 p.m.: Confidential meeting at
Blair House.
Wednesday, January 12, 3:15 p.m.: Meeting re Social
Security at Blair House.
Friday, January 14, 10:30 a.m.: Meeting with David
Stockman, Richard Darman and Robert Myers in Senator
Moynihan's office.
Saturday, January 15, 11:00 a.m.: All-day meeting re Social
Security at Blair House--Agreement reached.
Monday, January 17, 7:10 a.m.: Senators Dole and Moynihan,
and James Baker interviewed on ABC ``Good Morning America''
re Social Security.
Indeed, I have a handwritten note in my Economist Diary, ``Noon Jan.
3, 10:00 p.m., Jan. 15, 13 days.''
Thirteen days that changed the world for a good many Americans. They
were Dole days and should never be forgotten.
Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, though I cannot join my Republican
colleagues in wishing Senator Dole success in his next endeavor, I join
with Senator Daschle and all of my colleagues in wishing the
distinguished majority leader and his wife and daughter good health and
every happiness in the future. To leave his beloved institution after
such a long and illustrious public service career--for whatever
reason--is, I am sure, difficult, but there is no greater reward than
the legacy of honorable public service.
Though we may not have agreed on many issues in the time we have
served together in this body, there is one in particular we agreed on
and we worked together to make it happen. The Brockton, MA Little
League became a national model for the establishment of a challenge
division for little leaguers with disabilities, thanks to the efforts
of Senator Dole. He is a fellow veteran and a man of proven personal
courage and deep political conviction. He has been an integral part of
the history of this institution and he will be missed.
Whatever our politics, whatever our philosophy of Government, this
Nation, the democratic process, and the U.S. Senate are well served by
those who have both the courage to survive against the odds in the face
of extraordinary personal hardship, and the common sense to seek
reasonable compromise for the survival of the Nation. The distinguished
majority leader's life has indeed been one of personal courage and
political compromise. His record of public service speaks for itself,
and as he leaves here today, we wish him well. As colleagues, we must
put politics aside for a moment, remember the man and his career, and
say to the distinguished major leader: Thank you for the lesson in
service and democracy that you have given us.
``the measure of a man''
Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, today we recognize the departure of a
great friend and colleague, Majority Leader Robert Dole, from the U.S.
Senate. In honor of his departure, I ask unanimous consent to have
printed in the
[[Page S6057]]
Record a poem by Albert Caswell, a longtime guide for the U.S. Capitol,
which pays tribute Majority Leader Robert Dole.
There being no objection, the poem was ordered to be printed in the
Record, as follows:
The Measure of a Man
(By Albert Caswell)
What is the measure of a man?
Today, high atop the Senate we sit and understand.
What is the measure of a man?
It's not power, wealth, or looks, but how we conduct our
lives.
This alone, is what put us in the record books.
What is the measure of a man?
In the Senate this day, comes a great leader of character and
class,
Who climbed every mountain the Lord put in his path.
What is the measure of a man?
For against all odds, time and again, his back to the wall,
One Robert Dole, heart of a lion, has always stood tall.
What is the measure of a man?
Yet for all his strength and all his glory,
His warmth, kindness, and humor tell the story.
What is the measure of a man?
He walks in, stillness in the gallery, listen closely, hear
the silent tears.
Historians and friends sadly know, a man of his stature will
not come our way for many years.
What is the measure of a man?
For on this day, June 11, 1996, Robert Dole gives up his
greatest love of all,
To answer our nation's cry for leadership, he hears the call.
Today, we see and understand,
What is truly the measure of a man.
Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for
the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
____________________