West Central Reporter

U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Peoria) took to Twitter to pay his respects upon the passing of former U.S. senator and Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole.  

“Senator Bob Dole was a man of tremendous integrity who committed his life to serving our country,” LaHood tweeted. “He will be remembered as a war hero for his service in WWII and a true statesman during his time in the Senate. My prayers are with the Dole family.”

Just four months after announcing he’d been diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer, Dole died in his sleep earlier this month. He was 98.

A decorated World War II veteran, Dole overcame disabling injuries he suffered while in service to serve nearly four decades in the Senate and to ultimately challenge President Bill Clinton for the White House in 1996.

During his time in Washington, Dole earned a reputation as one of the most influential legislators and party leaders in the Senate, finding a way to balance the need for compromise with a caustic wit that knew few barriers. On the legislative side, he became known for shaping foreign and domestic policy, farm and nutrition programs and rights for the disabled.

Dole made three runs at the White House before turning his later years to the cause of wounded veterans, their fallen comrades at Arlington National Cemetery and remembrance of the fading generation of World War II vets. In 2005, he published a memoir about his wartime experiences and recovery, “One Soldier’s Story.”

Dole’s political career began when he was elected to the Kansas House while he was still a student at Washburn University. After first being elected to the U.S. Senate in 1968, he went on to be re-elected four times.

In 2017, Congress voted to award the veteran lawmaker its highest expression of appreciation for distinguished contributions to the nation, a Congressional Gold Medal. That came a decade after he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Two years later, fellow lawmakers again moved to honor him by promoting him from Army captain to colonel, in recognition of the military service that earned him two Purple Hearts.

In Dole’s honor, President Joe Biden has ordered that U.S. flags be flown at half-staff at the White House and all public buildings and grounds.

As word of Dole’s passing spread, Biden recalled in a statement that one of his first meetings outside the White House after being sworn-in as president was with the Doles at their Washington home.

“Like all true friendships, regardless of how much time has passed, we picked up right where we left off, as though it were only yesterday that we were sharing a laugh in the Senate dining room or debating the great issues of the day, often against each other, on the Senate floor,” he said. “I saw in his eyes the same light, bravery, and determination I’ve seen so many times before.”