[laughter] i grew to love my brother in christ, robert joseph dole.as to meet elizabeth. elizabeth is one of the most ethically congruent people i know. to know you is to love you. i know the many phone calls, and how i have been blessed by our friendship, your spirituality. it rubbed off on bob. [laughter] i used to have rendezvous with bob in this very cathedral. so many memorial services, he was here. sometimes, pushed in a wheelchair, but i would, at the end of the service, bolt around the side of the cathedral for our rendezvous. we really got to know one another well, particularly when we were -- i was able to work with him on the world war ii memorial, and learned so much from this great patriots. as i listen to the readings, i thought about him. what an appropriate reading for the old testament? isaiah 40-31. "be that weight on the lord, shall renew their strength. they shall mount up with wings as eagles, run and not be weary, walk and not faint." i used to wonder, did we get that right? it seems it should be run and not faint, walk and not b

dole's long time colleague, personal friend and as president. and we -- as we recognize the life and service of the honorable robert j. dole. thanks to the leaders and members of our congressional community here with us this morning, we all come to pay tribute and on their behalf i extend a special welcome to senator dole's loving and dedicated wife and partner in service, elizabeth -- senator elizabeth dole, and his dear daughter, robin. it's sad for all of us. as speaker of the house, it's a special source of pride for us in the house that senator dole began his congressional career in the house of representatives. and it is fitting that as we gather in the capitol rotunda home to american heroes memorialized in marble and bronze, to pay tribute to an extraordinary patriot. once before we gathered here in the rotunda, in his name, in 2018, it was my personal and official honor to join our colleagues and the leadership to help bestow upon him the congressional gold medal. the highest honor congress can bestow. on that day, as we do on this sad day, we recognized senator dole among the pantheon of patriots, honoring his dut

i grew to love my brother in christ, robert joseph dole.onorable robert dole had left, was to meet elizabeth. elizabeth is one of the most ethically congruent people i know. to know you is to love you. i know the many phone calls and how i have been blessed by our friendship. your spirituality dwarfs my own. but it rubbed off on bob. i used to have furtive rendezvouses with bob in this very cathedral. so many memorial services, he was here. sometimes pushed in a wheelchair. but i would, at the end of the service, bolt around the side of the cathedral for our rendezvous at the fore. we really got to know one another well, particularly when we were -- i was able to work with him on the world war ii memorial. and learned so much from this great patriot. as i listened to the readings, i thought about him. what an appropriate reading for the old testament, isaiah 40:31. they that wait on the lord shall renew their strength. they shall mount up with wings as eagles. run and not be weary. walk and not faint. i used to wonder, did we get that right

[laughter] i grew to love my brother in christ, robert joseph dole.onorable robert dole had left, was to meet elizabeth. elizabeth is one of the most ethically -- ethically congruent people i know. to know you is to love you. i know the many phone calls and how i have been blessed by our friendship, your spirituality dwarfs my own. but it rubbed off on bob. [laughter] i used to have certain rendezvouses with -- rendezvous with bob in this very cathedral. so many memorial services he was here. sometimes pushed in a wheelchair, but i would at the end of the service bolt around the side of the cathedral for our rendezvous. we really got to know one another well, particularly when we were -- i was able to work with him on the world war ii memorial and learn so much from this great patriot. as i listened to the readings, i thought about him. what an appropriate reading. for the old testament, isaiah 40: 31. they that wait on the lord shall renew their strength. they shall mount up with wings as eagles. run and not be weary. walk and not faint. i used to wo

i, robert dole cracking up do solemnly swear and then a theatrical pause. i'm sorry, wrong speech. once the laughs died down there came the self-deprecating punchline. i thought i would be here this week receiving something from the president but i thought it would be the front door key. there was no contradiction in any of it, no paradox. bob's life and career were very, very consistent. the virtues and the values that led bob dole to raise his right hand, and list in the army and fight until he couldn't raise that hand any longer with the same virtues and values that compelled him to raise his left hand for a different oath in the kansas state capitol a few years later. then across the rotunda and here, the same virtuesd and values in the 1960s about a citizens duty and empathy towards those who needed help. with bob dole, what you saw is what you got in from his comrades in the tenth mountain division to hisn constituents at kansas to the whole senate and the entire country, what we got was extraordinary. i cannot summarize in one speech the full life or legacy of our friend, bo

and no elected official, no offense to my friend and colleague who knew senator dole so well, senator robert, no offense to pat, but no one could compete with bob dole's wit. my guess is that as an injured soldier spending months in a bed in a v.a. hospital where incidentally, he shared a -- the hospital with daniel inouye who was also gravely injured and later these two soldiers who survived battle and rehabilitation became fast friends, one a republican, one a democrat. the republican-democrat thing didn't mean that much. it was the shared service, the sacrifice that these two world war ii heroes brought them together and maintained that friendship. bob dole exhibited that wit. in fact, i had so many people after bob dole's 1996 run for the presidency, he appeared on shows in the evening, late night talk shows. i don't know, hundreds of times people would say i've only seen bob dole, that side of him, he probably could have been elected president. he had the capability of causing people to smile and it could take the edge out of a difficult circumstance because of his wit. we're going to s

and then as a young robert dole those injuries sustained in 1945 on a battlefield in italy. and $1800 and then on the corner of the drugstore where they were used to offset the cost of recovery. but during the three-year hospital stay but then enforce the doctors and literally underwent dozens of surgeries and with that strapping muscular athlete from the high school as an athlete. his weight dropped 122 pounds. but then listening to his recovery inne the hospital and a source of inspiration and from the classic walk on with hope in your heart and you will never walk alone. americans know bob dole's record of public service fighting hunger in the united states the ada is more for veterans and includes construction of the world war ii memorial. so the united states senate and then to visit all 100 kansas counties to say thank you. but then senator dole quietly sat on the south side of the world war ii memorial to think the veterans but then to pay homage and respect. all of this he did with humility and charm and wit and as we and the capital the famous salute george h.w. bus

walks up to the podium, looks around, and he begins, i, robert j. dole, the crowd is cracking up, do solemnly swear and then a theatrical pause. oh, sorry, wrong speech. once the laughs began to die down there became the self-deprecating punchline, i thought i'd be here this historic week receiving something from the president, i thought it would be the front door key. the thing is, madam president, there was no contradiction in all of it, no paradox, bob's life and career were very, very consistent. the virtues and the values that led bob dole to raise his right hand, enlist in the army and fight bravely until he could not raise that hand any longer, were the same virtues and values that compelled him to raise his left hand for a different oath in the kansas state capital a few years later. and then across the rotunda in the u.s. house and then here in the senate, the same virtues and values that animated bob's pointed speeches in the 1960's about a citizen's duty animated his great empathy toward those who needed help. with bob dole, what you saw was w

lord, we will miss the honorable robert joseph dole.s patriotism, courage, integrity, and wit. continue to be for his beloved elizabeth and precious robin a refuge and strength. now bless us all and keep us. make your face shine upon us and be gracious to us. lift the light of your countenance upon us and give us your shalom, your peace. we pray in the name of the one who said i am the resurrection and the life. amen. >> ladies and gentlemen, please remain at your seats until escorted to pay your respects by the sergeants at arms staff. >> dana: and that was a beautiful ceremony. you just heard the benediction by the senate blackman barry black and karl rove you've been listening and watching along with us. a fitting tribute today? >> absolutely. and let's be certain what this moment is. it's not merely to mark the end of the life of robert dole, but to mark also the end of the greatest generation and their involvement in the politics of our country. this moment began to draw to a close a few short years ago with the death of george h.w

march . >>> the steps of the washington national cathedral, the casket carrying the late senator robert doleenator herself, and daughter, robin, behind her. we should notes corting senator bole is general mark mill lie, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, a measure of the honor aforded to the late senator robert dole. we saw a brief prayer and invocation on the stairs of the cathedral, and there is the interior there where so many, erica, so many lines of government, the senate, former military commanders, presidents have been laid to rest. >> and today it will be senator bob dole who will be honored. see the former vice president there, mike pence. suzanne malveaux is with us. suzanne, this funeral, this moment, will also mark a lot of what we've talked about blome in the last several day, and that is his push to work across the aisle, his friendships across the aisle. >> reporter: that's right, erica. this is a very special place for senator bob dole, the national cathedral. you might recall that he and elizabeth dole got married here at the national cathedral nearly 46 years ago. t

you come as senator dole's long time colleague, personal friend and as president, and as we recognize the life and service of the honorable robert j. dole. thanks to the leaders and members of our congressional community here with us this morning, we all come to pay tribute and on their behalf, i extend a special welcome to senator dole's loving and wise and dedicated partner in service, elizabeth, senator eliz elizabeth dole and his dear daughter, robin. it's sad for all of us. as speaker of the house, there's a special source of pride for us in the house that senator dole began his congressional career in the house of representatives and it is fitting that as we gather in the capitol rtunda to pay tribute to an extraordinary patriot. once we gathered here before in the rotunda in his name in 2018, it was my personal official honor to join our colleagues and the leadership to help bestow upon him the congressional gold medal. the highest honor congress can bestow on that day, as we do on this sad day, we recognize senator dole among the pantheon of patriots honoring his duty, he always talked a duty to our nation with courage,

i grew to love my brother in christ robert joseph dole.ruent people i know. to know you is to love you. i know the many phone calls and how i have been blessed by our friendship, your spirituality da dwarves my own, but it rubbed off on bob. i used to have fervent rendezvouses with bob in this cathedral, and so many memorial services he was here, sometimes pushed in a wheelchair, but i would at the end of the service bolt around the side of the cathedral for our rendezvous at the fore. we really got to know one another well, particularly when we were -- when i was able to work with him on the world war ii memorial and learned so much from this great patriot. as i listened to the readings i thought about him. what about an appropriate reading. for the old testament isaiah 40:31, they that wait own the lord shall we new their strength. they shall mount up with wings as eagles. run and not be weary. walk and not faint. i used to wonder did -- did we get that right? it seems that it should be run and not faint. walk and not be weary, but the p

robert joseph dole. he belongs here in this place, in this temple of liberty, temple to possibilities. bob dole loved this capitol. it's where he served the nation, shaped by the figures that surround us. washington, jefferson, who set us on our path, abraham lincoln, another man who in the heartland of the country from whence he came, bob's hero, dwight david eisenhower, martin luther king jr., who bob helped pass legislation honoring the great civil rights leader with a federal holiday. bob stood up and got that done. gerald ford, who served here and with whom bob sought the vice president of the united states. in a sense, bob belongs here. he, too, was a giant of our history. that's not hyperbole. it's real. of wit and grace, of principle and persistence, of courage and conv conviction. i had the great honor to serve with bob as many of you around this casket have. i served with him for 25 years. he did have great wit. they once asked him why in god's name did he vote to continue to fund amtrak. he sa

dole's daughter. very close small family and let's listen to some of the music as we get underway here in the funeral service for senator robert j. dole. ♪♪♪ [choir singing] ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪ [bell tolls] [bell ringing] >> i am the resurrection and i am life, says the lord. whoever has faith in me shall have life. even though they die. and everyone who has life and has committed himself to me in faith shall not die forever. as for me, i know that my redeemer lives. and that at the last he will stand upon the earth. after my waking, he will raise me up. and in my body, i shall see god. i myself shall see and my eyes behold him who is my friend and not a stranger. for none of us live to himself and no one becomes his own master when he dies. for if we have life, we are alive in the lord. and if we die, we die in the lord. so then whether we live or die, we are the lord's possession. happy from now on are those who die in the lord. so it is as the spirit, for they rest from their labors. >> good morning, i'm randy, the dean of washington national cathedral. on behalf of the bishop of the diocese of washington and the presiding bishop

for president biden's eulogy, that at the end of the day, robert dole, bob dole saw himself as a patriotwmakers to think on over this weekend. >> well, just one note, final note of all the people in that cathedral, the many hundreds, maybe thousands, more than a thousand people, and i know the rules because i was there last -- just last sunday. it was one person notably not wearing a mask. ted cruz, sitting next to amy klobuchar, which is just against all the rules of the cathedral, and of the u.s. senate. but thank you so much for being with us. for watching this very special edition, a tribute to bob dole. a special edition of "andrea mitchell reports", and our news continues with "mtp daily" right now. >>> hello. thank you, andrea. this is the time slot for "meet the press daily". bob dole is going to be honored at the world war ii memorial in d.c. he was instrumental in getting it built. he had to fight for years to get this memorial built. a memorial that should have been in the town sooner than it did, but thanks to bob dole, it is here now. and it follows a funeral service at the

patriot, bob dole has created a record of achievement to stand forever as a tribute to the strengths and values that made america great. [applause] [applause] >> thank you very much. i robert j dole. [laughter] [applause] do solemnly swear. [laughter] sorry. wrong speech. [laughter] but i had a dream. [laughter] that i would be here this week receiving something from the president. but i thought it would be the front door key. [laughter] mr. president and mrs. clinton and mr. vice president and distinguished guest. knowing can claim to be equal of this honor but i will cherish it for as long as i live because this occasion allows me to honor others who are more entitled than looking at a fellow soldier who helped me a long time ago. and at every stage of my life to witness the greatness of this country even playing a small role i have seen american soldiers praying hope in every corner of the road to segregation and communism turning back model threats to human freedom and i stood in on of courage and decency. the virtue so rare and history and so common in this precious place. i can vividly remember the first time i walked into the capital as a member of congress it was a

robert dole was one of the most recognizable and most powerful politician of the 20th centu rim born in a modest home july 22nd. he was taken up with his life methodist church, the boy's scouts and athletics but in -- his studies were interrupt bid the second world war. a month into that conflict, he was seriously wound. it was an experience he would write about. >> for a moment i didn't know if i was dead or alleve. i was unable to feel my arms r. he was in and out of hospital first three years. he never regained h the use of his right arm. he attend law school in topeka. 18 years later, he was elected in the u.s. senate. americans got their first look at that time ambitious law maker in 1976 when president gerald ford chose him as has vice presidential running mate. although, they were unsuccessful, the senator rose to be senator majority leader in 1985. his name became popular in the nomination. he miss it a second time in 1988. but he finally won the top spot in 1996. but running against an incumbent president bill clinton during a time of peace and prosperity turned time-out be

and no elected official, no offense to my friend and colleague who knew senator dole so well, senator robert, no offense to pat, but no one could compete with bob dole's wit. my guess is that as an injured soldier spending months in a bed in a v.a. hospital where incidentally, he shared a -- the hospital with daniel inouye who was also gravely injured and later these two soldiers who survived battle and rehabilitation became fast friends, one a republican, one a democrat. the republican-democrat thing didn't mean that much. it was the shared service, the sacrifice that these two world war ii heroes brought them together and maintained that friendship. bob dole exhibited that wit. in fact, i had so many people after bob dole's 1996 run for the presidency, he appeared on shows in the evening, late night talk shows. i don't know, hundreds of times people would say i've only seen bob dole, that side of him, he probably could have been elected president. he had the capability of causing people to smile and it could take the edge out of a difficult circumstance because of his wit. we're going to s

dole balcony. [applause] bret: the robert j dole balcony is a tribute to the service he made within the halls of congress but also to his membership in the dwindling group of americans who served their country in world war ii. >> 16 and a half million world war ii veterans, there are only half million of us left. and we lose about a thousand a day. >> in early 2021, dole shared that he had been diagnosed with stage 4 lunge cancer. in a statement he said, quote, while i certainly have some hurdles ahead, i also know that i join millions of american who is face significant health challenges of their own. days later he was visited by newly inaugurated president joe biden at his watergate apartment. the two had a bipartisan friendship and served in the senate together for almost 25 years. months before his cancer announcement, dole spoke remotely to the national press club about reaching across the aisle and his hopes for america. >> i had a great ride. i mean, i made so many, many friends, democrats and republicans and when i was the leader, i reached across the aisle a lot because i believe the most contro

the time came for bob's remarks bob except to the podium, looks around and he begins i robert j dole, the crowd asserted cracking up, do solemnly swear then a theatrical pause. oh sorry, wrong speech. once the audience died down there was a self-deprecating punchline. i thought i would be here this historic week receiving something from the president but i thought it would be the front door key. the thing is madam president there was no contradiction in any of it no paradox, bob's life and career were very, very consistent. the virtues and the values that led bob dole to reese's right hand and enlist in the army and gravely until he could not reset hand any longer. with the same values that compel him to reese's left-hand for a different oath in the kansas state capital a few years later. then across the rotunda in the u.s. white house and in the senate the same virtues and values that made bob's speeches in the 1960s about a citizen's duty he made his great empathy towards those who needed help. with bob dole what you saw is what you got. from his comrades in t the tenth division to

. >> reporter: robert dole, a son of kansas, impaired by war, tested by politics, lifted by his commitment to country. kelly o'donnell, nbc news. >>> the u.s. detected its first case of the omicron last week and has spread through the nation at least 17 states have positive cases. and new travel restrictions went into effect to curb the spread of the omicron variant >> reporter: a last-minute scramble to get to the u.s. before new travel restrictions go into effect >> it's just really challenging. so much so that i don't know if we'll be able to do it >> reporter: all visitors must now show a negative covid test the day before boarding, some canceling their flights all together >> it's devastating. it really is we've had a huge leadup to it. >> reporter: a drastic atevenlt to stop the spread of omicron, found in 40 countries, including the u.s., where 17 states have reported positive cases. >> there is an indication of community spread >> reporter: the first case in minnesota, a man who traveled to new york city, says around 15 of his friends have also tested positive for covid it is not k

senator bob dole served in congress for more than 3 decades robert joseph dole was born july 22nd 1923 in russell kansas. his father ran a grain elevator his mom, a traveling saleswoman results sewing machines and vacuum cleaners after graduating high school in 1941. he enrolled at the university of kansas recruited to play basketball by legendary coach phog allen or. >> the united states entry into world war 2 interrupted senator dole's college years. he joined the u.s. army in 1942. he deployed to italy in 1944 a year later, he suffered severe injuries to his upper back and shoulder after getting shot. rescuers got to him after he laid in a foxhole for almost 9 hours medics at the time thought he might not survive. but he did it. the wounds left him with some physical limitations. he spent more than 3 years recovering. the attack left him with limited use of his right arm and hand. senator dole received 2 purple hearts and a bronze star. >> after recovering. he returned to college. this time at washburn university in topeka. he later graduated with an undergraduate and law degree. se

dole has a moment to say a few words. and he starts speaking and says, i, robert j. dole, do solemnly swear as though he is taking the oath of office as president and continues that nn that frame. the audience cracks up. he says, mr. president, this is not what i thought you would be presenting to me at this historic moment in time. i thought it was going to be i'd be arriving at the white house and you'd be presenting me the keys to the front door. his humor was often not just directed at others but at himself as well. eugene? i think we are waiting for the president of the united states. according to our schedule, this was supposed to begin at 11:02. i can imagine a lot of things, and not traffic because he has a motorcade. a lot of things that could have intervened. as we now think the motorcade is just arriving outside, i think my colleague garrett haake is outside. >> yeah. looking at these conversations -- >> can you see a presidential motorcade? >> andrea, we could hear the helicopters, but i'm told the motorcade arrived through the back. the president and the

. >> reporter: robert dole, a son of kansas, impaired by war, tested by politics, lifted by his commitment to country. kelly o'donnell, nbc news. >> so much of bob dole's legacy was shaped by his time as a soldier. while in politics and especially afterwards, he always fought for those who served. andrea mitchell takes a look back. >> reporter: at the world war ii memorial in washington on many a weekend, an old soldier reporting for duty. >> thank you for your service. >> reporter: former second lieutenant bob dole in the final years of a lifetime of public service, having led the fundraising campaign to build a memorial honoring all those who served in a war that forever changed his life. >> whether you're in the army, navy, marines, merchant marines, but, you know, if i'm in town i'll be here. and during the week sometimes i come on wednesday and thursday. saturday is generally the big day. >> reporter: the young dole was a star high school football player in a small hometown of russell, kansas, planning to become a surgeon. called to active duty in 1943, he was 21 years old with the 10

. >> robert dole, a son of kansas, impaired by war, tested by politics, lifted by his commitment to country. >> we'll have more on bob dole's remarkable life later in the show. >>> turning now to the coronavirus pandemic and growing concerns over the omicron variant. more and more americans become eligible for booster shots. some retail pharmacies like cvs and walgreens are struggling to keep up with the vaccine surge and demand. some are waiting days and weeks to get the booster shot. nearly 200 million americans are vaccinated. that's good news. meanwhile dr. anthony fauci says the u.s. is reviewing its travel ban on several african nations and hopes to lift the ban soon. it was put in place a week ago after omicron was detected in america. >> it was to give us time to figure out just what is going on. now as you mentioned as we're getting more and more information about cases in our own country and worldwide, we're looking at that very carefully and on a daily basis. >> the u.s. surgeon general caused the u.s. restrictions temporary. >> these are meant to be temporary measures. nobody wa

bob dole, robert j dole gives us hope for a brighter and better tomorrow. we say thank you. i can't say it to my dad, bob dole, and i can't say it to you, except in this symbolic way, but we can say it to all those who served our country. we say this today, senator dole, i respect you, i thank you for your service, and we love you. thank you. >> elizabeth, robin, all the teen dole members here. governor kelly, leader mcconnell, secretary chao, all of my fellow senators in congress members and their spouses, people of russell, kansas. much has grown on kansas planes, crops and pastures stretch as far as the eye can see. great elevators, skyscrapers and the whisper of the wind substitute signs and traffic. what truly makes the prairie special the people. churches that seem entirely too big for the tiny towns that tower over are filled. and neighbors are checking in on each other sharing food last, a cup of coffee and maybe a few beers. perhaps it's because senator dall reminded me, roger, always remember where you're from. i thought allow -- i thought a lot about that this wee

. >>> one week ago today senator robert dole died in his sleep ending an extraordinary lif that lastedthan 98 years. dole's passing came nearly 77 years after by all rights, he should have died as a 21 second lieutenant in the united states army who was shot and temporarily paralyzed by the germans while fighting in the mountains of italy during world war ii. he survived miraculous si and was the personification of what tom brokaw named the greatest generation. this week admirers from across the political spectrum said good-bye to senator dole and to an era of american politics. our chief foreign affairs correspondent andrea mitchell who covered dole for many years has our sunday focus. >> reporter: the nation's political leaders brought together for one shining moment, to honor a war hero and elder republican statesman bob dole. nancy pelosi leaning over to chat with her political nemesis, mitch mcconnell. bill clinton turning to talk to former vice president dan quail. even the political odd couple of polar opposites, amy klobuchar and ted cruz in deep conversation. a brief echo of t

this is what the editorial board of the wall street journal says about robert joseph dole today. history can be cruel to candidates for president who lose, but bob dole's contributions to american life far exceeded his failed campaigns for the white house. indeed, richard norton smith, we will play this clip later, but in his final speech on the senate floor, bob dole said, i would know more distance myself from the senate then i would for the united states herself. do you think bob dole ever regretted leaving the senate to run in 1996? >> i will tell you what he told me. he said later on that he never should have run in 1996, that he's year was 1988. of course, he won the iowa caucuses. for a few days, it looked like bob dole was going to be the republican presidential candidate. it'll collapsed over 48, 72 hours, and then new hampshire basically undid his hopes i think he missed the senate, to be sure, i think he left the senate. it was a very different senate though, you have to remember. i remember the first time we ever met, i had been working for a book for a kind of republ

today the time has come to say farewell to my mentor and a brother in christ, robert joseph dole. the lord has called him home as a loyal servant. until we meet again, enjoy eternal paradise that has a better view to keep watch over washington and your beloved sunflower state. it's fair to say that he beat -- may you enjoy the warm sunshine on your face and life everlasting. and may the yoke of hardship born upon your shoulders with and grace, with time and war be taken now by our lord, god and savior. always at the end of the day on the campaign trail, whether it was getting on an airplane to fly to the next stop or in a car going to the motel or a car going to a restaurant we always heard him at the end of the day may be four, five campaign stops saying free at last. well, now free at last. godspeed, my friend. you made a difference in my life. you made a difference in our country. your service and sacrifice will be celebrated for generations to come. a. >> madam president, it's an honor to be here this afternoon to address my colleagues in the senate and an honor that you sit i

that ceremony that bill clinton gave him the medal of freedom, bob dole takes the podium and he starts his speech by saying, i, robert j. dole, as if he was about to take the inaugural address, and the room cracks up. he was able to laugh at himself, he was able to laugh at our system. he was sometimes sharp with it, sometimes a little bit of an edge to it. he certainly had a reputation early on as being a partisan hatchet and we shouldn't romanticize that, but he recognized that politics was about people, about relationships that you could be in opposite parties and still have respect and an admiration for each other as public servants. he served in world war ii, gave so much to his country. you see the tributes today coming from both sides of the aisle. i remember from that would be the case with today's politicians. if you look back at what we're saying today about bob dole, will people say that about them in 20 or 30 years. >> that's so interesting. i seem to recall a time when he was on "meet the press," and he was reminded that he was like the one who had been on "meet the press" more times than anybody else. a

dole. aaron? >> robert, i know you worked for bob dole -- i'm sorry. for bob dole, but you also were friends for decades. what should we be remembering about your friend today? >> oh, gosh. there's so much. i look at that picture in the rotunda. of course, the memory that comes back immediately is just a couple years ago now, if you recall when president, the first president bush passed away, and the image a lot of americans have, probably the last time there you see, the last time they saw senator dole, when he came to the rotunda and with considerable assistance, hedged to his feet so that he could salute his former commander in chief. what people don't know, the story behind that picture is as remarkable as the picture itself, but when dole ran against bush in 1998, a bitter campaign and no love lost between the two camps, before it was over, and yet the moment bush was elected, as he was the first to say, bob dole became his most loyal supporter on capitol hill, and indeed they became very close friends. something that the second president bush all

today the time has come to say farewell to robert joseph dole. the lord has called him home as a loyal servant. until we meet again, enjoy the new balcony of eternal paradise. it's got a better view to keep watch over washington and your beloved sunflower state. it's fair to say that dole beach is now even closer to the sun. may you enjoy the warm sunshine upon your faith. and may the hardship borne upon your shoulders worn with grit and grace, weathered by ravages of time and war be taken now by our lord god and savior. always at the end of the day on the campaign trail, whether it was getting on an airplane to fly to the next stop or whether it was in a car going to the motel or a car going to a restaurant, we always heard dole at the end of a day of maybe four or five campaign stops saying, free at least, free at last. well, bob dole is now free at last. godspeed, my friend. you've made a difference in our lives. you made a difference in our country. your service and sacrifice

today the time has come to say farewell to my manner and brother in christ, robert joseph dole, the lord has called him home as a loyal servant. until we meet again, enjoy the new balcony of eternal paradise, it's got a better view to keep watch over washington, and your beloved sun flower state. it's fair to say that dole beach is now even closer to the sun. may you enjoy the warm sunshine upon your face and life everlasting. and may the yoke of hardship borne important your shoulders, ravages of time and war be taken now by your lord god and savior. always at the end of the day on the campaign trail whether it was getting on an airplane to fly to the next stop or whether it was in a car going to the motel or a car going to the restaurant, we always heard dole at the end of a day of maybe four or five campaign stops saying, free at last, free at last, well, bob dole now is free at last. godspeed, my friend. you made a difference in my life. you've made a difference in our country. your service and sacrifice will be celebrated for generations to come. ♪♪ ♪♪ >> how did america get up to i

astoday, the time has come to say farewell to my mentor and brother in christ, robert joseph dole. the lord has called him home as a loyal servant. until we meet again, enjoy the new balcony of eternal paradise. itng is gotten a better view of a watching over washington and your beloved son but our state. it is fair to say dole is even closer to the sun, meg you enjoyed the warm sunshine upon your face and life everlasting. i made the yoke of hardship born i on your shoulders, born with grit and grace, worn by a ravages of time and war, be taken now by our lord god and savior. always, at the end of the day on the campaign trail, whether it was getting on airplane to fly to the next stop, or whether it was in a car going to the motel or a car going to the restaurant, we always heard bill at the end of the day of maybe four c or five campaign stop saying, free at last, free at last. well, bob dole is finally free at last. godspeedgo my friend. you have made a difference in my life. you have made a difference in our country. your service and sacrifice will be celebrated for generation

we really appreciate your remembrances and so many members remembering senator robert dole. as his body lies in state in our nation's capitol. this is an honor we reserve for only the most deserving americans who have rendered such great service to our country. senator dole was rightfully earned -- has rightfully earned this honor. bob dole's life displayed courage at the highest order. he was wounded in northern italy. he carried his wounds for the rest of his life with grace, dignity, and great compassion. bob dole became a champion for veterans and those also living with disabilities. the shadow of senator dole's political career looms large. his tremendous influence on american political life over the last half century does not need to be restated for now i will just say this. that from a presidential campaign to the senate floor, bob dole was an unyielding opponent, a steadfast ally, a fearless leader and also a person with tremendous sense of humor. even in that generation, we call the greatest generation, bob dole stood above the rest. he was a paragon of courage, clas

biden said he and dole disagreed on a number of things but found a way to work together. >> robert joseph dole, he belongs here in this place, in this temple of liberty to liberty and a temple to possibilities. bob dole loved this capitol. it's where he served the nation shaped by figures that surround us. >> for 27 years, dole served as u.s. senator from kansas including two periods as senate majority leader. he was a world war ii hero. he was 98 years old. >>> i am anne makovec at the live news desk with the latest on the fight against covid. starting with breaking news when it comes to boosters this afternoon, fda and cdc have authorized pfizer's booster shots for teenagers. almost 4 million, 16 and 17- year-olds will be able to get boosters. pfizer says the booster increases protection 25 fold against the new variant adding teens can have lagging booster rates. right now only 26% of eligible americans have gotten the booster. 24% of those who can get the vaccine have not gotten a single dose. >> unless we really double down on what we are doing, we can see increased spike that goes ev

dole being remembered today. chad pergram with more in the capitol rotunda is the most hallowed cathedral in the american political experience. roberthe 33rd american so honored. a military honor guard hoisted his casket up the 34 steps on the east run of the capitol for the nation to pay its respects. >> robert joseph dole, he belongs here. in this place. in this temple of liberty, a temple to possibilities. >> dole became friends with a hawaii senator after they recovered after the words. dole rose from his wheelchair and walked to the casket to pay his respects when he laid in state in 2012. >> as bob approaches the pearly gates, let us take comfort that he can reunite with his old friend once again. >> although a somber day, his former colleagues recalled dole's sardonic humor. >> bob described his senate management challenges with his trademark wit. if i had known we were going to win control of the senate, we would have run better candidates. i swear bob could have made it as a stand-up comment. >> dole held many titles, but he was defined by his sacrifice to the nation during world war ii. dole said his favorite title was vet

elizabeth dolan bob dole focused on veterans for decades, she ran the foundation and the military families, and the end you'll talk to former senator pat robertskansas, bob dole was proud to be from his home state of kansas. jon: david spunt from the white house. senator dole left his mark on capitol hill and many who looked up to him as a sample of bipartisanship or honoring his legacy. alexandria hoff has more. >> the former senator offer bipartisanship and in death there is no i'll awarded by the accolades. she became widow and he wrote on twitter, rest in peace, you the last of the alliance of the senate vermont senator bernie sanders provided this and encouraged in his dignity and the senate and mike pence wrote bob dole was a truly great man with service to america and deeply missed by all of us in the privilege to know him. many are sharing the personal connection that they head to the former republican leader of the senate bob took me under his wing when i came to the senate and i couldn't have a better senator to learn from. he was a great friend and mentor. god bless. debbie scholz wrote in part, our country could use more like him r

senator bob dole served in congress for more than 3 decades robert joseph dole was born july 22nd 1923 in russell kansas. his father ran a grain elevator his mom, a traveling saleswoman results sewing machines and vacuum cleaners after graduating high school in 1941. he enrolled at the university of kansas recruited to play basketball by legendary coach phog allen or. >> the united states entry into world war 2 interrupted senator dole's college years. he joined the u.s. army in 1942. he deployed to italy in 1944 a year later, he suffered severe injuries to his upper back and shoulder after getting shot. rescuers got to him after he laid in a foxhole for almost 9 hours medics at the time thought he might not survive. but he did it. the wounds left him with some physical limitations. he spent more than 3 years recovering. the attack left him with li ited use of his right arm and hand. senator dole received 2 purple hearts and a bronze star. >> after recovering. he returned to college this time at washburn university in topeka. he later graduated with an undergraduate and law degree. sen