Biden, congressional leaders lead tribute to Bob Dole at Capitol rotunda

Joe Biden, U.S. President: “We meet here at the very heart of American democracy, the Capitol of the United States of America, to receive a hero of that democracy for a final time. Robert Joseph Dole. He belongs here, in this place, in this Temple of Liberty, to liberty and temple to possibilities. Bob Dole loved this Capitol. It’s where he served the nation, shaped by the figures that surround us.”

“Well, you know, Bob and I like many of us here, we disagreed on a number of things, but not on fundamental things. We still found a way to work together. We genuinely, we genuinely respected one another as colleagues, as fellow Americans. It was real. It wasn’t fake. And we became great friends. Because Bob deserves a final word, I’d like to read a portion of his final message that he left to the country, that I hope we all listen to in the days and weeks, months to come. And I quote Bob Dole: ‘I cannot pretend that I have not been a loyal champion of my party, but I’ve always served my country best when I did it, so first and foremost as an American, where we prioritize principles over party, humanity, over personal legacy. When we do that, we accomplish far more as a nation. By leading with shared faith in each other, we become America at its best.’”

Sen. Mitch McConnell, Minority Leader: “Bob was blessed with long live to watch his legacy take effect, but that was no accident. Bob liked to joke that he planned for longevity by closely studying our most senior colleagues. He had a whole comedy routine about how he had tried to copy Strom Thurmond’s eating habits. ‘When Strom takes a shrimp, I take a shrimp. If he eats a banana,  I eat a banana.’ But the real engine behind Bob’s 98 remarkable years was his love, his love for Elizabeth and for Robin, for public service, for Kansas and for America. Today we honor the amazing life that love created.”

Sen. Chuck Schumer, Majority Leader: “The scriptures say that we should quote rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope. Today we pay tribute to a remarkable leader. Over the course of his life, knew more than his fair share of suffering, who turned that suffering into endurance, whose endurance became central to his character and whose character whose essential goodness leaves us with hope, hope that we will continue to see good men and women in this country like the one to whom we say goodbye today. To pay tribute to Senator Bob Dole is to honor someone who redefined and elevated what it means to serve country.”

Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House:  It’s hard to think of anyone who was more worthy to have a flag draped over his coffin because of his great patriotism to our country. On both sides of the aisle, on both sides of the Capitol across the country, Senator Dole was widely respected for his legendary service on the battlefields of World War Two. His inspiring resilience after recovering from grievous war wounds. His principled leadership in the hallowed halls of Congress, House and Senate. And his tireless advocacy as an elder statesman. Over the course of his storied career, he earned a reputation as a fighter for hardworking American families, a leader who could be trusted as a man of his word.”