Rod Grams: “I want to pay tribute to a man who, for 20 some years, while in the broadcast news industry, I used for sound bites and…”

“I want to pay tribute to a man who, for 20 some years, while in the broadcast news industry, I used for sound bites and sources of information. I have now had the pleasure, over the last 2 years, to work with him in the Senate and am now able to call him a friend. Bob Dole's name alone stirs up many images among the American people. Bob Dole--war hero, Congressman, Senator, party chairman, majority leader, Presidential candidate. Yet, when I think of Bob Dole, other words come to mind: midwesterner, mentor, colleague, and most of all, friend. I'm sure that all of us in this Chamber feel the same way, and today, we honor Bob Dole, our leader, our distinguished colleague from Kansas, our friend. As Bob leaves Washington to return home back to the heartland of our great Nation, I wanted to share some of my thoughts about this man whose life story and distinguished career reflects the very values we cherish most as Americans.”