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 our 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 here. [applause] i should have asked senator dole to come up and join us on the platform, but somehow or other i thought he should sit in the leaders seat right there with elizabeth. I want to welcome you all again to the sixth presentation in the leaders lecture series. This has been an exciting series. We have had some 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 certainly been an enjoyable, i know, and worthwhile program. And we are delighted tonight to have our friend, our colleague and one of americas favorite sons back with us. Before i officially turn the podium over to senator dole, let me call on my colleague, my good friend, senator daschle, to speak on behalf of bobs Democrat Friends over these many years. Senator daschle. [applause] thank you. 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 years ago at the south dakota state fair, i saw a young man wearing a tshirt that said play hard, play fair. You could use those same four 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 the time that history would surely judge him as something more. History would judge him as a good leader, a good senator, and 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. And if theyre forced to overcome adversity along the way, your pride is, frankly, even greater. For those reasons, and many others, i was proud to be able to serve with bob in the senate for 10 years. I am proud today to be able to call him a friend. It was during the 18 months that 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 a majority in both the house and the 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 the 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 to his pragmatism, to his quick wit and selfeffacing humor, and to his love of this 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 always something very clear to me. But there is something even more important to him than party, and 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. I will always remember his farewell speech, in which senator dole recalled that working with George Mcgovern to try to ease hunger in america was one of the 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, against 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 always impressed when senator dole would come to my office for a meeting the 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. I quickly realized it was one more demonstration of bob doles grace and humility. He was sure enough of himself that he didnt need the trappings of an office. But i must say, i later learned that it was in coming to my office that he could always determine when the meeting was over. Thats a smart leader. He is more than just a man. For me, he continues to be a living, breathing 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 of our colleagues here tonight who served with bob dole and others who cant be with us. Before i go forward and actually introduce bob or present him, because he doesnt need any introduction to this group i think its important that i recognize one of his truly greatest assets, some would say clearly his greatest asset, a lady who has served her country very well and honorably also the lady of the south, of north carolina, who had a tremendous influence in administrations of our former president s, as secretary of transportation, secretary of labor, who served at the white house, but many people will remember her the most for her service at the red cross and for the many times she has flown into various parts of this country when people were hurting, when there was disaster, when people were in need, and she was there assuring those people that the red cross and the American People, in fact, through the red cross and through various government agencies, would be there to provide help. She is a great lady. She has done a tremendous job in her leadership roles, and also as the spouse of bob dole. Ladies and gentlemen, elizabeth dole. [applause] you know, there are some positions of authority and prestige in this country that have lifetime tenure, the supreme court, of course, and in late in other places such as the papacy and british royalty. We have never really had it in the United States senate. But im sure that if bob dole had chosen, he could have had lifetime tenure as the republican leader in the senate. In fact, he holds the record in length of service as the republican leader sometimes in the minority, tom, and sometimes in the majority. He was truly loved by his colleagues on both sides of the aisle. On many occasions, he expressed that love and received it from his colleagues on both sides of the political aisle here 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 his successor, but because of what he had to say, the beauty and emotion of that moment and the outpouring of respect that everybody in the chamber and in the gallery had for him. It was really a beautiful sight. The love and appreciation for his leadership in so many legislative roles, which tom so well expressed in his remarks, will make that a memory in my mind as long as i serve here. But i do have one problem, bob. When you left, you didnt leave the operators manual to this place. You took it with you. Although i think, from our earlier discussion, you did give it to tom daschle, because sometimes i think tom got the operators manual when you left. Bob has all the attributes that you need to be a national leader. As i thought about bob and his life, beginning in russell kansas, and all that he has been through over these many years in local Elective Office as a 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, both in the minority and the majority, as i said, as chairman of the finance committee, as chairman of his national party, as the nominee of his party for Vice President , and as a nominee of his party for president what a life. But when you look at bob dole and you think about what he has done, the leadership he has provided for this country, he reminds me of what we have talked so much about lately, the greatest generation. If you think about it, who are these people, who was the greatest generation . It is our fathers and our uncles and those men and women who lived through the depression, led us through the war, world war ii, fought in that war, came back home and got educated, 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 naziism 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 to try to emulate. Most of us will never be able to do it all. You started young, and you did some things that endured, some things that the rest of us will never have to endure, frankly, because you did. He didnt reach that top office he sought, the presidency. But in a way, i think there is higher position in the minds of american men and women. It is a role that only so few have achieved in our country. When you look back in history, of course, the adamses, john and john quincy, Grover Cleveland and jimmy carter were president s, and then they achieved a role or a position in the minds and the 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 truly is respected for that, but for who he is, the stands he is willing to take the positions he is willing to advocate, sometimes that are not popular, sometimes against the great majority opinion sometimes against his own party, but always true to himself and to 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 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 to this leaders lecture series senator bob dole. [applause] thank you. [applause] i am overwhelmed with the great tributes by the two leaders. I dont know where they were when i needed them. [laughter] it is a great honor to be here and to 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 who have come and gone. [laughter] and some are still here. [laughter] this is a great honor. I am pleased, of course, my wife elizabeth is here and my former chief of staff, sheila burke joanne coe, former secretary of the senate joyce mccluney, former Deputy Sergeant of arms my kansas delegation; and, of course, my good colleague, the most popular statesperson in kansas, Nancy Kassebaum baker. And the fellow shes with is howard baker. [laughter] and a lot of friends, as i say. In fact, one of our friends, Larry Harrison you may remember larry, he worked in the mens restroom area for years died just last night of cancer. Trent mentioned coming home. Theres an old saying that home is where the heart is. Even though i have been gone from this building for nearly 4 years i havent been back but two or three times a part of my heart will always remain here. So, as the other speakers have been honored, i am very grateful for this opportunity. The voters of kansas granted me the privilege of serving in the capitol for over 35 years 27plus in the senate. And 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 retook the majority, but he was kind enough not to take the office. Hubert humphrey once said about his own speeches that i didnt 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 i miss the tradition of this place, particularly this majestic room, where one can almost hear the passionate eloquence of such giants as clay, calhoun, webster and thurmond. [laughter] 1859, is that right . Yes. I miss the chance to debate on a daily basis the issues of our times. There are times not many when i even miss the quorum calls. But 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 the place run. So gathered here this evening are senators and former senators and probably one or two who want to be a senator, those who worked on my staff and those who helped all of us in many, many ways in the capitol. But as i look around the room and look in the gallery, all i see is friends. In fact, as i reflect on my years in the senate, what first comes to mind is not legislative battles won or lost, but friendships that were forged. Thomas jefferson, who was inaugurated president in the room just below us, once said that, friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life. And thanks to a benevolent arrangement of things, the greater part of life is sunshine. Much of the sunshine in my life stems from the people in this room and many others here in spirit or memory. While i do miss the senate, i have no regrets about the decision to leave. For one thing, i have discovered 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. And who knows . There are those who speculate come next january you just might be looking at the husband of the president of the senate. [applause] you have to think about that for a while, elizabeth. [laughter] seriously, i have looked forward to this evening ever since receiving the invitation from the majority leader, trent lott. I commend him for his vision in beginning the leaders lecture series. In preparing to come up here because its kind of intimidating to come up here with all the power that i see in this room, i first read very carefully the lectures of the five previous speakers. I strongly recommend it. Anybody who hasnt read those and was not able to attend, or maybe watch them, would have a better understanding of the senate and its unique role if they just took 30 minutes or 40 minutes to read each of those. I am especially honored to be in the company of the five leaders who have preceded me to this lecture. Each in his own time has taught us important lessons about life and about leadership. From president bush, i learned that words exchanged in the heat of the campaign neednt impair close friendships. Indeed, they can and must be set aside in order to realize what is best for america. From george mitchell, i learned anew something that Adlai Stevenson had in mind when he called principled partisanship the lifeblood of democracy. However fiercely partisan we might have been when debating politics, we were fiercely nonpartisan when applying the rules of the senate. As it happens, senator mitchell and i are now in the same law firm, and we take some pride in the fact that it took us only 15 minutes to gridlock the entire operation. [laughter] from howard baker, i learned that one of the most important qualities a leader can possess is patience. He never confused civility with weakness, nor generosity of spirit with surrender of principle. From my friend robert byrd, i learned a lot of roman history. None of it have i been able to use, but i learned a lot of it. [laughter] we all continue to learn that this institution can only survive if it operates by rules. And no one knows the rules of the senate he loves more than robert byrd. And from Mike Mansfield, i learned to value Straight Talk as truthful as it was 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, or maybe. Pretty soon they were out of questions. The program had barely started. Of course, Mike Mansfield didnt have to say much. As the late Warren Magnuson pointed out, if youve got the votes, you dont need a speech. If you need a speech, you dont have the votes. And since senator mansfield led majorities of 64, 66, and in one Congress Even 68 senators, he rarely needed a speech. In fact, while some people count sheep as they go to sleep, i used to count senators. I would lie awake at night trying to get to 51 or to 60 and i would occasionally dream about how much easier it would have been with majorities like those mansfield had, or l. B. J. s 6535 margin in the 86th congress, or the 61 votes robert byrd had in the 95th congress, or even George Mitchells 57 in the 102nd and 103rd congresses. I know senator lott, with 55 would like more, but senator bakers high was 54, and mine was 53. The last time there were 55 republican senators was in 1929, which is pretty impressive considering there were only 48 states. [laughter] and strom was then a democrat. Now, age may or may not bestow wisdom, but, a