Dick Lugar: “as Bob Dole leaves the U.S. Senate today, we are participating in a celebration unlike anything we have witnessed in the…”

“as Bob Dole leaves the U.S. Senate today, we are participating in a celebration unlike anything we have witnessed in the Senate for many years, and are unlikely to see again in this century. The abundant flow of affection in the midst of applause and tears are testimony to our recognition of Bob Dole's investment in the Senate, our recognition of the hold his leadership has on our perceptions of the Senate, and the meaning of statesmanship, public service, and patriotism. Senator Bob Dole of Kansas was easily reelected to a fifth term in the U.S. Senate. After 8 years of service in the U.S. House of Representatives, he is in his 28th year of Senate service. On most days in the U.S. Senate and in most battles, Bob Dole has been the voice and the very visible, energetic leader of the Republican Party. Bob Dole is the personification of hard work, constructive intelligence, personal loyalty and the determination to succeed against all odds. His life has been filled with honors and recognition for significant achievements. But perhaps the defining moments of his life were those he spent on a mountainous Italian battlefield.”