John Kerry: “Though I cannot join my Republican colleagues in wishing Senator Dole success in his next endeavor, I join with Senator…”

“Though I cannot join my Republican colleagues in wishing Senator Dole success in his next endeavor, I join with Senator Daschle and all of my colleagues in wishing the distinguished majority leader and his wife and daughter good health and every happiness in the future. To leave his beloved institution after such a long and illustrious public service career--for whatever reason--is, I am sure, difficult, but there is no greater reward than the legacy of honorable public service. Though we may not have agreed on many issues in the time we have served together in this body, there is one in particular we agreed on and we worked together to make it happen. The Brockton, MA Little League became a national model for the establishment of a challenge division for little leaguers with disabilities, thanks to the efforts of Senator Dole. He is a fellow veteran and a man of proven personal courage and deep political conviction. He has been an integral part of the history of this institution and he will be missed. Whatever our politics, whatever our philosophy of Government, this Nation, the democratic process, and the U.S. Senate are well served by those who have both the courage to survive against the odds in the face of extraordinary personal hardship, and the common sense to seek reasonable compromise for the survival of the Nation. The distinguished majority leader's life has indeed been one of personal courage and political compromise.”