Mike Levin: “today the Senate loses one of its true legislative craftsmen. When I came to the Senate, Bob Dole had already earned a…”

“today the Senate loses one of its true legislative craftsmen. When I came to the Senate, Bob Dole had already earned a reputation as a legislator, a Republican who could cross the aisle to work with Democrats to solve problems and reach compromise. This is the essence of the Senate. I soon learned that the reputation of the Senator from Kansas was well earned. Over the years my respect for his ability to craft a legislative solution has grown. We will all miss his skill. We will also miss Bob Dole for his sense of humor. The Senate can be a place of high drama, high pressure, and sometimes high dudgeon. Bob Dole, who has himself shown a real bite from time to time, and who is a tough fighter for his point of view, more often than not is able to defuse the situation, and sometimes disarm his opponents with a quip or a flash of his wit which leaves them laughing. But, most of all, Mr. President, Bob Dole will be remembered in the Senate as a man of his word. There is no greater compliment which one Senator can pay to another. In this body, a Senator is only as good, only as reliable, only as effective, as his or her word. Senator Robert Dole has earned the respect of all who have served with him in this Senate.”