Dan Coats: “Today Senator Dole becomes citizen Dole. He has every right to be proud of that hard, courageous decision. We in the…”

“Today Senator Dole becomes citizen Dole. He has every right to be proud of that hard, courageous decision. We in the Senate have every reason to be sorry for it. Senator Dole leaves a legacy of lasting influence. He led this body to historic accomplishments, including the rescue of Social Security and the first balanced budget in a generation. He led his party, 2 years ago, to historic victory. And now he has accepted one more opportunity to serve--one more chance to lead. This is the common thread that runs through an uncommon life--leadership. He has provided a definition of the term. Senator Dole has mastered the art of consensus. He knows when a breakthrough depends on one well-placed word. He knows how to cool tempers and emphasize agreement. He knows how to turn the chaos of this process into tangible achievements. These are rare and important qualities. But this is only half of the story. I have seen another side of Senator Dole's leadership. He once put it this way: I believe there is a place for honest negotiation in politics. It is an essential part of Democracy. Every political movement, and every public official, however, must locate a place where compromise ends--a core of conviction where we keep our conscience. There comes a time when even practical leaders must refuse to bend or yield.”