Dole Bids Farewell to the Senate

Enveloped by affection from both parties, Bob Dole bade farewell to the Senate on Tuesday, wrapping up a 35-year congressional career and ushering in a “new season” he hopes will make him the 43rd president of the United States.

“It’s been a great ride,” Dole said in remarks laced with wit that often, but not entirely, belied the emotional pull of the moment.

Another candidate might have used the occasion, carried on national television, for a campaign speech. But not Dole. He turned his final minutes in the Senate into a celebration of his career, his friends in both parties and, above all, the institution he loves.

“The Bible tells us that to everything there is a season,” the presumptive Republican presidential nominee said to a standing-room-only Senate chamber as his wife, Elizabeth, and daughter, Robin, watched from the packed visitors gallery.

“It is now time for my season in the United States Senate to come to an end. But the new season before me makes this moment far less the closing of one chapter than the opening of another.”

Several times during his remarks, especially early on, Dole spoke haltingly, clearly struggling to maintain his composure.

In his 35-minute address, he recalled many of the legendary figures who have served in the Senate, Democrats and Republicans alike, and occasionally paused to reminisce directly with some of the current members seated around the chamber.

Among the “true giants” Dole cited were former Sens. Everett Dirksen (R-Ill.), Hubert H. Humphrey (D-Minn.), Phil Hart (D-Mich.) and Russell Long (D-La.).

“From them--and from you--I have learned a great deal,” Dole said. The central lesson, he added, is trustworthiness--an issue the Kansan has sounded repeatedly on the campaign trail.

“Your word is your bond,” he said. “And I hope that even if you disagreed with every vote I cast in my time in the Senate, you always knew that Bob Dole kept his word.”

When Dole recalled working with Democrats to enact the Americans With Disabilities Act, Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), one of the chamber’s more liberal members, smiled broadly and gave Dole a double thumbs-up. And when Dole was finished, senators swarmed around him amid a prolonged standing ovation.

Such displays of good feelings did not extend much beyond the Senate chamber, however.

Even before Dole spoke at noon, the Democratic National Committee said in a statement that Dole was leaving behind “a legacy of gridlock, extremism and failed leadership.”

And some House Democrats called a press conference to assert that Dole was quitting Congress to avoid being linked to House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) and the Republican majority.

But Dole rebutted that in his speech. “I want to set the record straight and disabuse anyone of the sadly mistaken belief that I leave in hopes of distancing myself from the Senate,” Dole said. “The truth is that I would no more distance myself from the United States Senate than I would from the United States itself.”

As Dole walked into the Senate chamber, accompanied by Gingrich, he was greeted by sustained applause, including from visitors in the gallery, where demonstration of any sentiment is usually strictly forbidden.

Scores of staff members lined the walls of the chamber, as did numerous House members and such former senators as Republicans Warren B. Rudman of New Hampshire and Dennis DeConcini of Arizona and Democrat Howard Metzenbaum of Ohio.

In a cursory review of his career highlights, Dole mentioned his efforts to kill attempts to terminate funding for the Vietnam War.

“I will always remember standing with our courageous soldiers in Vietnam,” including, he noted, two current members of the Senate--John McCain (R-Ariz.), a former POW, and Bob Kerrey (D-Neb.), winner of the Medal of Honor.

Dole also cited his work with former Sen. George S. McGovern (D-S.D.), the 1972 Democratic presidential candidate, to expand the food stamps program, and his role as floor manager of legislation that made Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday a national holiday.

He acknowledged making “my share of mistakes,” but he added that “for the most part, I have attempted to stand up for what I believed was right.”

Dole referred to what he has previously called his biggest legislative regret: the Senate’s failure to adopt a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced budget. The measure went down to defeat again last week.

“Whatever the future may hold for me, whatever office or station may be mine, I will continue to raise my voice” on behalf of the amendment, he said.

And perhaps in something of an ideological statement, Dole cited former President Dwight D. Eisenhower--and not Ronald Reagan--as “my hero.”

Before Dole spoke, a number of senators, including Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) and three other Democrats, paid personal tributes to the 72-year-old majority leader.

But with Dole embarking on a full-time quest to unseat President Clinton, political jockeying was never far from the surface. For nearly two hours before Dole spoke, one Republican after another took to the floor in a series of laudatory remarks that often sounded less like retirement tributes than campaign speeches delivered from a political convention rostrum.

Sen. John H. Chafee (R-R.I.), perhaps the strongest environmentalist among Senate Republicans, spoke highly of Dole’s record on the environment. Sen. Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) recounted what she said was Dole’s long record of supporting issues important to women. And Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), obliquely referring to Dole’s age and health, said: “I’ve never seen a guy with energy like he has.”

Several GOP senators also played to Dole’s perceived strengths. Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) spoke of character--an issue on which the Republicans believe Clinton is vulnerable. “What this country needs is moral leadership,” he said. “And it is truly lacking in the current White House.”

Many senators also spoke fondly of Dole’s biting humor, often evoking waves of laughter. And Dole himself did not disappoint, as he displayed his wit several times in ad lib remarks.

Recalling Senate filibusters, Dole turned to the presiding officer, Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.), who holds the record for the longest filibuster by an individual in history.

The 93-year-old Thurmond instantly and proudly supplied the answer that Dole was seeking: “24 hours and 18 minutes!” Thurmond replied loudly.

When the laughter subsided, Dole shot back: “And that’s why you’re seldom asked as an after-dinner speaker.”

Seated near Dole as he spoke was Sheila Burke, his longtime aide and now chief of staff. Burke struggled to maintain her composure throughout much of the speech. Afterward, many senators, including Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Carol Moseley-Braun (D-Ill.), gave her a warm farewell also.

Burke, a onetime Democrat who, unlike her boss, supports abortion rights, has been a controversial figure among some conservative Republicans who suspect her political leanings. But Dole has protected her from such criticism and said she will have a major--although as yet unannounced role--in his presidential campaign.

Just before Dole delivered his remarks, the Senate by voice vote named a balcony near his office for him. Asked later if the move surprised him, Dole quipped: “I thought I was going to get the building.”

So now Dole begins his presidential campaign full time, heading out of Washington for a three-day swing through Ohio, his native Kansas and Missouri. He is scheduled to visit California next week.

After Dole left the Senate chamber, he encountered an emotional scene on the second floor of the Capitol. Doorkeepers were poring over their autographed photos of themselves taken with Dole. A Senate elevator operator offered a few words of farewell. As Dole started to walk away, the man said, “one more thing.” He reached up, put his arm around Dole’s neck and gave him a big hug.

Shortly before Dole left the Capitol, Republican Sheila Frahm was sworn in as Kansas’ newest senator.

Times staff writers Sam Fulwood III and Janet Hook contributed to this story.