    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book I)]
    [May 15, 1996]
    [Pages 740-741]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Letter to Senator Bob Dole on the Announcement of His Retirement From
    the Senate
    May 15, 1996

    Dear Mr. Leader:
        As I mentioned when we spoke by phone earlier today, you have served
    your country in so many ways, and you should be proud of your 35 years
    in Congress. On behalf of a grateful America, as you retire from the
    Senate, I thank you for your service.
        During the fall campaign, you and I will engage in what I believe is
    one of the most important jobs in our democracy, as we lead a great
    national debate about how best to move our country into the future. I
    look forward to participating with you in that discussion.
        Until then, I believe that the coming weeks and months can be a
    moment of genuine bipartisan achievement in meeting the challenges we
    all face together. Before you go, I look forward to working with you and
    Speaker Gingrich, and afterwards with your successor, to move ahead to
    give our people a balanced budget, welfare reform, an increase in the
    minimum wage and the Kassebaum-Kennedy health care reform.
        As you know so well, it is when we work together that we can truly
    make progress for our country and for the people who sent us here.

    [[Page 741]]

            Sincerely,

                                                                Bill Clinton

    Note: This letter was made available by the Office of the Press
    Secretary on May 15 but was not issued as a White House press release.