and here's what his patriotism teaches us in my view, as bob dole himself wrote at the end of his life, and i quote him -- "i cannot pretend that i have not been a loyal champion of my party, but i've always served my country best when i did so first and foremost as an american." first and foremost as an american. that was bob dole. that was your husband. that was your dad. always as an american. he understood that we're all part of something much bigger than ourselves, and he really did, i felt. he really understood it. compromise isn't a dirty word. it's the cornerstone of