Bob, thank you for your service. Simply, bob, thank you for your service. That encompassed so many different things. It did not say 1983 Social Security. It was just that people really thank him. Every once in aware in a while, there was a hi, pat too. Thank you for joining us. I appreciate that. Bob dole at the world war ii memorial, he is like a mother hen. The word gets out that bob dole is here and they all flock to him wherever he is. Then the stories start. Sometimes for the first time, the veteran tells a story he has never told anybody before. And it becomes a very emotional thing. Hes almost like the minister or the priest or something. People come up to him and want to tell him a story because they know he has been there and they know he is responsible for that memorial. That is quite a thing to watch. Very emotional. Thank you for being with us on American History tv. You bet. Thank you. [applause] my colleagues in the Senate Special family, former staff members, and guests, but especially our good friend, senator bob dole, and his lovely bride, elizabeth. Welcome home. It seems quite natural seeing you sitting here. [applause] i could have asked senator dole to come up and join us on the platform, but somehow i thought he should sit in the leaders seat right there with elizabeth. I want to welcome you all to the six presentation in the leaders lecture series. This has been an exciting series. We have had fantastic presentations from great leaders of the senate and of course Vice President bush was here. We look forward to hearing from other Vice President s and leaders of the senate in the months ahead. This has been an enjoyable and worthwhile program. We are delighted tonight to have our friend colleague, and one of americas favorite sons back with us. Before i officially turned the podium over to senator dole, let me call him my colleague and good friend senator daschle to speak on behalf of bobs Democrat Friends over these many years. Senator daschle. [applause] on behalf of the entire senate, we are so glad you are here. Welcome to the United States senate. We are glad you are back. A couple of years ago, the south dakota state chair, i saw a young man wearing a tshirt that said play hard, play fair. You could use those same words to describe our honoree tonight. When he announced he was leaving this institution, bob dole said he wanted to be judged as just a man. I said at a time that history would surely judge him as something more. History would judge him as a good leader, a good senator, a good american. His life over these last four years makes me more certain than ever that that is so. From his leadership on kosovo to his work against cancer, bob dole continues to make important contributions to this senate and to the nation. When you come from a small midwestern state, you take pride in the achievements of other midwesterners who make it to the top by working hard and playing fair. If they are forced to overcome adversity along the way, your pride is even greater. For those reasons and many others, i was proud to be able to serve with bob in the senate for 10 years. Im proud today to be able to call him a friend. It was during the 18 months he and i served as leaders of our parties that i got to know him best. The conditions for a good working relationship, at least from my perspective, could not have been much worse. It was january of 1995. Democrats had just done the impossible. We lost the majority, in both the house and senate. Not only was senator dole now the majority leader, a position i had hoped to hold, it was also widely assumed he would run against a democratic president following year. Add to that the general tumult of those times on the hill, and by all rights, he and i should have had a lousy relationship. The fact that we did not was due to bob dole. To his civility, his pragmatism, his quick wit and selfeffacing humor, and to his love of his country and to this United States senate. His sense of fairness and decency is a standard for which everyone in public life should aim. Senator dole loves his party. That was something very clear to me. But there is something even more important than party. That is principle. He showed that when he broke ranks with his party to support the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights act of 1965 and 1982. He showed it when he worked with someone i respected all of my public life, George Mcgovern, on landmark nutrition legislation. Ill always remember his Farewell Speech in which senator dole recalled working with George Mcgovern to try to ease hunger in america was one of his proudest achievements in his senate career. His commitment to principle was evident in 1991 when he and our colleague, tom harkin, arguably did more for the disabled than anyone in our nations history. It was then, when a guest political advice, he fashioned a resolution on bosnia that led to broad support for our troops being stationed there and which ultimately helped end the terrible suffering there too. I learned a lot from bob dole during the 18 months we served together as leaders. I was a was impressed when senator dole would come to my office for a meeting, a seasoned leader coming to the newcomer the majority leader coming to the minority Leaders Office. The first time it happened, i wondered if it might be a psychological trick to throw me off balance. [laughter] i quickly realized it was one more demonstration of bob doles grace and humility. Sure enough sign he did not need the trappings of office. But i must say i later learned it was in coming to my office he could always determine when the meeting was over. [laughter] that is a smart leader. He is more than just a man. For me, he continues to be a living, breathing, lesson reading lesson in leadership. It was an honor to serve with him and it is an honor now to welcome him back home. [applause] well done, my colleague. You certainly speak for so many colleagues here tonight that have served with bob dole and others that cannot be with us. Before i introduce bob represent him, or present him because he does not need any introduction to this group, i think it is important i recognize one of his truly greatest assets, some would say clearly his greatest asset a lady that has served her country very well and honorably also. A lady of the south, from North Carolina that had a tremendous influence in administrations of our former president s, secretary of transportation, secretary of labor, served at the white house. But many people remember her most for her service of the red cross and the many times she has flown into varies parts of this country when people were hurting, when there was disaster, when people were in need she was there assuring those people the red cross and the American People through the red cross and through various Government Agencies would be there and provide help. Shes a great lady, and she has done eight truman this job a tremendous job in her leadership roles and also as the spouse of bob dole. Ladies and gentlemen, elizabeth dole. [applause] there are some positions of authority and prestige in this country that have lifetime tenure. Supreme court in other places, the papacy, british royalty. We never really had it in the United States senate. But i am sure if bob dole had chosen, he could have had lifetime tenure as the republican leader in the senate. And in fact, he holds the record in length of service as the republican leader. Sometime in the minority, and sometime in the majority. But he was truly loved by his colleagues, i believe on both sides of the aisle. And on many occasions he express that love and received it from his colleagues on both sides of the political aisle in the senate. One of the great moments i will always remember in my experience in the senate was bobs last day in the senate. Not because i would be successor, but because of what he had to say and the beauty and emotion of that moment and the outpouring of respect everybody in that chamber and in the gallery had for him. It was really a beautiful si ght. The love and appreciation for his leadership in the many legislative roles that tom expressed in his remarks will make that a memory in my mind as long as i surf your. Serve here. But i do have one problem, bob. When you left, you did not leave the operators manual to this place. You took it with you. Although i think from our earlier discussion, that you gave it to tom daschle because i think tom got the operators manual when you left. Bob has all the things you need to be a national leader. As i thought about bob and his life beginning russell, kansas and all he has been through over these many years and local elected office, as county attorney after he returned from world war ii, and then in the state legislature, in congress, in the house, in the senate, in leadership roles in the senate in the minority and majority, as chairman of the finance committee, as chairman of the spectral Party National party, as nominee of his party for Vice President and as nominee of his party for president. What a life. But when you look at abdul at bob dole and think about what he has done in the leadership you has provided for this country, he reminds me of what we have talked about so much lately, the greatest generation. If you think about it and say, who are these people . Who was the greatest generation . It is our fathers and uncles. Those men and women that lived through the depression, let us through the war led us through the war, war two, fought in that war, came back, got educated and provided leadership at the local level, and then came on to lead this country. This is the generation that fought the wars. This is the generation that defeated fascism and nazism and communism and all the isms. If you really think about it, bob dole epitomizes that generation. You have been a great credit to your country, bob dole. You have set an example for so many of us to follow and try to accumulate. Most of us will never be able to do it all because you started yelling and did some things and endured some things the rest of us will never have to endure, frankly because you did. He did not reach the top office, the presidency, but in a way i think there is a higher position in the minds of american men and women. It is a role that only so few have achieved in our country. If you look back in history, of course, the adams, john and john quincy, grover cleveland, jimmy carter, they were president and then they achieved a role or position in the minds and hearts of the American People that exceeded the Elective Office they had sought. I think bob has reached that position. Bob is loved and appreciated not so much for what he did, even though he is truly respected for that, but who he is. The stance he is willing to take, the positions hes willing to advocate that sometimes are not popular, sometimes a against majority opinion sometimes against his own party, but always true to himself and his own inner compass. Bob, i think you have achieved that role. Even though you are part of that greatest generation, the thing that really makes you special is the kind of human being that you are. You will always be remembered and loved and revered in this institution. You will always be appreciated by the American People. For those of us in this chamber, you will always be our colleague, our friend, our leader, and one of americas favorite sons. Ladies and gentlemen, join me in welcoming senator bob dole. [applause] thank you. [applause] i am overwhelmed with the tributes by the two leaders. I dont know where they were when i needed them. [laughter] but it is a great honor to be here and see some of my colleagues. Since i left the senate, there are 25 new senators. Since senator thurmond came to this chamber, there are 303 senators that have come and gone. Some are still here. [laughter] so this is a great honor, and i am pleased my wife, elizabeth, is here, my daughter robin my former chief of staff, sheila burke, former secretary of the Senate FormerDeputy Sergeant at arms, and my kansas delegation and of course my good colleague, the most popular states person in kansas, Nancy Kassebaum baker. The fellow she is with his howard baker. [laughter] and a lot of friends. One of our friends, larry harrison, you may remember larry. He worked in the mens restroom area for years. He died last night of cancer. As trent pointed out, you mentioned about coming home. There an old saying that home is where the heart is. Even though i have been gone from this building for nearly four years and have not been back but two or three times, a part of my heart will always remain here. And so is the other im very grateful for this opportunity. The voters of kansas have granted me the privilege of serving in the capital for over 35 years. 27 plus in the senate. My republican colleagues granted me the privilege of occupying the Leaders Office across the hall for over 11 years. I was a little nervous at one point when senator byrd came in to look it over after they reach of the majority retook the majority. But he was kind enough to not take the office. Hubert humphrey once said about his own speeches that i did not think they were too long, i enjoyed every minute of them. [laughter] well, in that spirit, i enjoyed every minute of my time in the United States senate. In fact, the question most often asked of me since leaving the senate is whether or not i miss it. To which there can only be one honest answer. The answer is yes. I miss the history and the tradition of this place particularly this majestic room where one can almost hear the passion and eloquence of such giants as clay and Calhoun Webster and thurmond. [laughter] 1859, is that right . [laughter] i missed the chance to debate on a daily basis the issues of our times. There are times when i even miss the quorum calls. What i miss most of all about the senate is the people in the senate. Not just my colleagues or former colleagues but the people who make this place run. Gathered here this evening our senators, former senators, and probably one or two that that want to be a senator, those that work on my staff, and those of us that helped all of us in many ways in the capital. As i look around the room and in the gallery, all i see is friends. As i reflect on my years in the senate what first comes to mind are not legislative battles won or lost but friendships that were forged. Thomas jefferson was inaugurated president in the room below us. He wants that friendship is precious not only in the shade but in the sunshine of life. Thanks to the benevolent arrangement of things, the graders greater part of life was sunshine. Much of the sunshine in my life stems from the people in this room and many others here in the spirit of memory. While i miss the senate, i have no regrets about the decision to leave. One thing i have discovered is that there is indeed life after the senate. I am enjoying the private sector as well as the occasional opportunity to make a difference in the public arena. Who knows . There are those who speculate come next january you might be looking at the husband of the president of the senate. [laughter] and seriously [applause] you have to think about that for a while, elizabeth. [laughter] i have looked forward to this evening since receiving the invitation from the majority leader, trent lott. I commend him for his vision and beginning the leaders lecture series. In preparing to come up here, it is kind of intimidating to come up here with all the power i see in this room, i first read carefully and reread the lectures of the five previous speakers. I strongly recommend anybody who has not read those or was not able to attend or watch would have a better understanding of the senate and its unique role if you just took 30 or 40 minutes to read each of those. Im especially honored to be in the company of the five leaders who have preceded me to this lectern. Each in his own time has taught us important lessons about life and leadership. From president bush, i learned Heated Exchange need not impair close friendships. They must be set aside to realize what is best for america. From george mitchell, i learned the news something Adlai Stevenson had in mind when he called printable partisanship the lifeblood of democracy. We were fiercely nonpartisan when applying the rules of the senate. Senator mitchell and i are now on the in the same law firm. We take pride in the fact it took us only 15 minutes to gridlock the entire operation. [laughter] from howard baker, i learned one of the most important qualities a leader can possess is patience. He never confused civility with weakness, more generosity of spirit with surrender of principles. From my friend robert byrd, i learned a lot of roman history. None i have been able to use but i learned a lot of roman history. [laughter] we all continue to learn this institution can only survive if it offerings by rules. No one knows the rules of the senate he loves more than robert byrd. From mike mansfield, i learned Straight Talk is as truthful as taciturn. Mike mansfield without question holds the record for the most questions answered in media appearances. The press would ask countless questions, and he would say yep nope maybe. Ready soon, they were out of questions and the program had better really had barely started. Mike mansfield did not have to say much. If you got the votes, you dont need a speech. If you need a speech, you dont have the votes. Since senator mansfield led majorities of 64 66, and even 68 senators, he rarely needed a speech. While some people count sheep when they go to sleep, i used to count senators. I would lie awake at night trying to get to 51 or 60. I would occasionally dream about how much easier it would have been with majorities like mansfield had were l. B. J. s or l. B. J. s majority or the 61 votes robert byrd had were George Mitchells and 103rd congress. I know senator lott with 55 would like more. But senator bakers h