Senate Floor Speech
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
June 16, 2006 -- Page: S6007

THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF SENATOR ROBERT DOLE'S RETIREMENT FROM THE SENATE

MRS. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I was first elected to the Senate in 1993 in a special election to fill the remainder of Lloyd Bentsen's term. Bob Dole, like my predecessor Lloyd Bentsen, is a member of the ``Greatest Generation'' --the generation of men who never wavered in answering the call to duty, fighting in distant lands to protect the free world, and returning home to build the greatest Nation on Earth. Bob Dole epitomizes the ``Greatest Generation,'' not only for his heroic service in battle, but also for what he did when he came home, ultimately serving in the U.S. Senate.

When I first arrived in Washington, Nancy Kassebaum of Kansas was the only other female Republican Senator. Fortunately, our leader Bob Dole understood the unique and important voice women brought to the Senate. He graciously welcomed me from the first day, and I enjoyed working with him as he ascended from minority leader to majority leader. He was great in both roles, and I appreciate the leadership and support he provided in my early days.

One of my first discussions with Bob was committee assignments. I told him I wanted to serve on the Armed Services Committee, as there are more military members serving in Texas than any other State. I hoped to carry on the great tradition of helping our men and women in uniform like so many Texas Senators before me. He understood why this committee assignment was important to me and realized the unique perspective I would bring to the national discussion. I was the first woman to sit on this committee in over 30 years. Today, there are three women serving on the Armed Services Committee, including Bob's wife, Senator Elizabeth Dole, who was elected after Bob retired from her home State of North Carolina.

On the 10th anniversary of Bob Dole's retirement from the Senate, I am proud to honor him for his many accomplishments and tireless service to our country. While we all regretted to see him go, we are grateful for the legacy he left behind, and I hope we can carry it forward for generations to come. He was a giant during his time in this institution, and when the history of the Senate is written, I am confident that he will be fondly remembered as one of our great leaders.