[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 85 (Tuesday, June 11, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S6057]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO SENATOR ROBERT DOLE

  Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, today has been a very interesting day for 
our former leader, Bob Dole. While the U.S. Senate suffers what I 
believe is a tremendous loss today with the departure of the majority 
leader, Senator Robert Dole, I can tell you it is a great day for 
America. I believe that. For, while Senator Dole leaves behind a legacy 
of extraordinary leadership and commitment to this institution, his 
departure promises the American people a much more important commitment 
to this country. But, perhaps more important, his departure gives the 
American people a better opportunity to learn more about a man that I 
and many of my colleagues greatly admire and have come to know. So I 
would like to spend just a few minutes to describe the man that I have 
come to know, with whom I have worked, and I hope the American people 
will come to know over the next few months.
  Bob Dole, Senator Dole, is a man of his word. You can trust him. He 
is a plain speaker and not one for flowery oratory. He believes in what 
he says. He means what he says. He does not try to be everything to 
everybody. He stands for a few important principles--not everything.
  Senator Dole is honest and he is very straightforward. He is loyal. 
He is a doer and he is not a talker. His values are constant; they do 
not change from day to day. He knows who he is, where he comes from, 
where he wants to go, and his word is his honor. He is a man who chose 
sacrifice over self, finding strength at an age when others sought the 
leisure of self-expression.
  Briefly, Bob Dole is a man of courage, a man of character, a man of 
integrity. These measures of the man are what sets Bob Dole apart and 
what has led his colleagues in the Senate to entrust him with 
leadership time after time.
  It will be these same characteristics that will distinguish for the 
American people who they should trust to lead them in the years ahead. 
While it may be easy for others to constantly change what they stand 
for in order to distinguish themselves on the issues, character, 
courage, and integrity are not mantles of convenience. They cannot be 
adopted at will, converted by choice, or otherwise assumed. They are 
bedrock principles.
  They are like a fingerprint, intractably a part of you, easy to trace 
and difficult to fake.
  Over the next few months it will be for the American people to ask 
the same question that the Senate has, who do they trust to lead this 
Nation? I believe the answer will be the same ultimately. It will be 
Senator Dole.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. DOMENICI. 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. DOMENICI. Mr. President, we will shortly be moving to the budget 
resolution, but I understand the Senator desires to speak up to 5 
minutes as in morning business on a statement regarding Senator Dole.
  Mr. DeWINE. That is correct. It could be 7 minutes.
  Mr. DOMENICI. I ask unanimous consent that he be granted 7 minutes as 
in morning business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The 
Senator from Ohio is recognized.

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