Bob Dole: “During 1987 and 1988, I delivered a series of nearly 300 brief speeches on the Senate floor to commemorate the long…”

“During 1987 and 1988, I delivered a series of nearly 300 brief speeches on the Senate floor to commemorate the long history of this great institution. Each of these so-called Senate bicentennial minutes focused on a significant person, custom, or event associated with the Senate's development during its first two centuries. The inspiration for this project came from my fellow floor leader during that 100th Congress, Senator Robert C. Byrd. Beginning in 1980, Senator Byrd launched an unprecedented series of hour-long addresses to the Senate detailing this body's rich history. The 100-part series was completed in November 1989. In recognition of this extraordinary achievement, Congress agreed to publish these addresses in four richly illustrated volumes that today are universally known as 'Byrd's Senate History.' Senator Byrd has not only written about the Senate's history, he has also made it. He has set so many major records that he can justly be considered the Cal Ripken and the Michael Jordan of the Senate.”