[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 85 (Tuesday, June 11, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6060-S6061]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO SENATOR BOB DOLE

  Mr. KEMPTHORNE. Mr. President, 15 months ago I told Bob Dole I would 
enthusiastically support his quest for the Presidency of the United 
States. We see in his quest for the Presidency that he now has left the 
Senate of the United States. I think all of us have so many emotions 
that we are feeling today. I know the Nation, the Senate, and I would 
regret the day when the clerk would call the roll and the name of Bob 
Dole would no longer be called. That day has now arrived.
  It would be easy to dwell on the truth that the Senate will lose a 
man that history will hold in a place of great honor. Rather, I think 
it is more important that we celebrate Bob Dole's victories, his 
leadership, his humor, and his ability to get things done.
  Mr. President, I want to discuss for a moment, then, a personal 
experience that I had with Senator Dole. It was with great pride and 
honor when Senator Dole designated my legislation to stop unfunded 
Federal mandates, S. 1. As we all know, the significance, of course, is 
that this denotes a majority leader's stamp of approval in his priority 
on legislation. A majority leader does not want his bill that he has 
designated ``No. 1'' to fail.
  Having said that, it is all the more remarkable that he chose my 
legislation because I had only been here 2 years. I had no track 
record. It would have been far safer for Senator Dole to choose some of 
the seasoned veteran Senators, such as Senator Domenici, Senator Roth, 
or Senator Hatfield, to carry this type of legislation. Not only did he 
choose my legislation, but he then designated me to be the floor 
manager, a responsibility I had never, ever done before.
  I say this not in any way to somehow bring attention to myself, 
because I say this with all humility, to make it clear that Bob Dole 
was not taking the normal course of action. It was indicative of his 
leadership of reaching out to others who may not have had all of the 
credentials, all of the experience, but who do have a passion to get 
something positive done.
  He transfers his belief in a person so that that person will not ever 
want to let Bob Dole down. I believe that is what he will do for all of 
America. He will tap that spirit in others and help them to reach new 
heights. It is one thing to have the ability to do something yourself, 
as Bob Dole has that great ability, but it is a greater achievement to 
instill in others that same can-do spirit and then go and do it. But 
you must have someone who believes in you.
  Bob Dole believes in people. Bob Dole believes in America. He 
instills in others that desire to reach within yourself and to do 
something great. It is a high honor to be elected by your fellow 
citizens to serve in the U.S. Senate. To then have been able to serve 
while Bob Dole was here magnifies that honor.
  When we had the debate on Senate bill 1, Senator Robert C. Byrd 
described the new majority leader, Bob Dole, to his Democratic 
colleagues by saying, ``The leader over there is tough. Wait and see. 
He will use the rules on me, and I respect that, and I admire that.''
  Well, yes, Bob Dole is tough. He is tough, but he is also wise. When 
duty calls for him to be bipartisan, the man knows how to be 
bipartisan. But he also knows when it is time to be partisan, and he 
can be partisan. He is tireless. How many times have we been here on 
the floor of the U.S. Senate at midnight, and many of us are starting 
to find that our energies are sagging, and there is Bob Dole, crisp, 
with his humor that props us up, keeps us going. There is Bob Dole, who 
has a solution.
  I am going to miss hearing Bob Dole telling Senators to work it out, 
work it out, work it out. If it could not be worked out, he would 
always say, ``Do you have the votes? Let us vote.'' For my part, Bob 
Dole taught me the importance of working with and listening

[[Page S6061]]

to all Senators and of seeking solutions that do not abandon principle. 
I want my children, Heather and Jeff, to learn from Bob Dole that they 
can overcome any adversity--any adversity that comes their way. I 
cannot think of a more honorable man that I would entrust the future of 
my children to.
  Finally, a word to Elizabeth and Bob Dole. I hope you leave the 
Senate with a deep and abiding satisfaction of mission accomplished, 
job well done. My wife Patricia and I will keep you in our prayers in 
the coming months, and we will ask for God's peace and protection for 
your family. We look forward to working with you--you, who I believe 
will be the next President and First Lady of this great country.
  With that, Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  Mr. HATFIELD addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oregon is recognized.
  Mr. HATFIELD. Mr. President, I join my colleagues today in wishing 
our majority leader a senatorial farewell. His contributions are well 
known, his integrity is unquestioned, and his service has been an 
example for each one of us on both sides of the aisle.
  I want to just comment about the service factor in his life and how 
we are all drawn to those who serve--whether it is a Boy Scout who 
walks a hobbling grandmother across the street, or a community clothing 
drive, raising money for charity, or a PTA member spending hours at 
local meetings. Service we admire, service we respect, and service from 
our elected officials we always expect.

  Majority Leader Dole is no exception. Kansans expect him to represent 
their interests. Republicans expect him to lead the party, and 
Senators--well, we expect him to guide us through the joys and trials 
of partisan politics. So, as a U.S. Senator, I have often expected him 
to serve me as well. Long before leaving this Senate, Bob Dole had my 
admiration. Long before he led this Senate, he had my respect, and I am 
led to believe that long before he was decorated as a war hero, I would 
have wanted Bob Dole as my friend.
  The issues we debate during the 104th Congress we have debated 
before. Like a pendulum, important issues swing away from us, and 
eventually they swing back. Every so often, we see a leader who is able 
to stop the pendulum, who is able to lead us into a solution that gives 
the pendulum a bit of a rest. For the causes of the disadvantaged and 
disabled Americans, Senator Dole has proven to be such a leader. And 
for the need to reduce our deficit, he has few equals.
  As chairman of the Appropriations Committee, I have seen the work 
that he has done. I have seen the money come in and, with greater 
detail, I have seen the money go out. Senator Dole's legacy is his 
willingness to fight for the welfare of today while just as eagerly 
vying for the welfare of our children and our grandchildren for the 
future.
  So, in 1968, he joined the ranks of this body, and in 1996 he leaves. 
I shall not wish him a happy retirement, for no matter what lies ahead, 
he will not retire. I expect his service will always continue. I wish 
him well. Antoinette and I both pray that Bob and Elizabeth's future 
will be strewn with God's blessing.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  Mr. COVERDELL addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Georgia.
  Mr. COVERDELL. Mr. President, not far from the Capitol, on 
Constitution, across from the Navy Memorial, is a building that houses 
the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United 
States and other major artifacts of our beginning. On the outside of 
the building, it says, ``The Past is Prolog.''
  As I have heard the eloquent statements throughout the day and 
throughout the past several weeks about our majority leader, this has 
come to mind, because the future is always guided and shaped by the 
past.
  Bob Dole is a man of this century. Bob Dole's life experience is that 
of a giant figure in American history. The experiences of his life are 
immeasurable. The knowledge that has been accomplished by it would be 
hard to calculate. The capacity that it represents has a far and long 
reach. So when the Senator from Kansas came at midday and gave us his 
farewell address, you could measure some of the energy and reach and 
capacity of this world figure, of this American figure, by the response 
that he received on both sides of the aisle, and throughout America, I 
am sure.
  I have always said that whenever I think of Bob Dole, I think of the 
heart and soul of America. I think we saw that expressed over these 
last several days. He truly is the embodiment of everything that we 
have come to think of as America--the fortitude to overcome adversity, 
perseverance, patience, strength, agility, entrepreneurship, problem 
solving, getting things done. He leaves with the love of his family of 
colleagues, all who have wished him a safe and secure journey. He 
characterizes what is yet before him as ``one more mission.'' I think 
that statement properly casts what lies before him, but it also reminds 
us of what he has endured. He is a man who has endured and built the 
American mission. He brings to his task, as I have said, immeasurable 
resources.
  I believe, as Senator Simpson alluded, that as Americans come to know 
him as his colleagues do, they will readily embrace this man and his 
mission and his love for America. I loved it when he gave that famous 
address as he announced that he would retire from the Senate. He said, 
with no disrespect to the Congress, that his life had not been about 
the Congress. He said, ``My life has been about America.'' Gratefully, 
it still is. So I join those in wishing him a safe journey and 
Godspeed.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I ask that the time be charged equally. 
Senator Exon will be right along. He is going to speak next.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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