Paying tribute to Sen. Bob Dole, an 'American giant'

Kent Nishimura
·2 min read
Elizabeth Dole touches the casket of her husband, former Sen. Bob Dole, R-Kan., as he lies in state in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool)
Elizabeth Dole touches the casket of her husband, former Sen. Bob Dole, in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol on Thursday. (Andrew Harnik / Associated Press)

At the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, President Biden and others gathered to pay tribute to former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, an “American giant” who served the country in war and in politics with pragmatism, self-deprecating wit and a bygone era’s sense of civility.

President Biden, a Democrat, called the Republican Dole “a man of extraordinary courage, both physical and moral courage — a war hero who sacrificed beyond measure, who nearly gave his life for our country in World War II. Among the greatest of the great generation.”

The funeral for Bob Dole at Washington National Cathedral.
The funeral for Sen. Bob Dole at Washington National Cathedral on Friday. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
President Biden after speaking at Bob Dole's funeral at the Washington National Cathedral.
President Biden after speaking at Bob Dole's funeral at the Washington National Cathedral. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
The funeral for Bob Dole at Washington National Cathedral.
The funeral for Bob Dole at Washington National Cathedral. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
Bob Dole's casket in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda as he lies in state on Thursday.
Bob Dole's casket in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda as he lies in state on Thursday. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden stand next to the U.S. flag-draped coffin of Bob Dole.
President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden pay their respects during a congressional ceremony to honor former Sen. Bob Dole in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol building, where he will lie in state. Dole, a veteran who was severely injured in World War II, was a Republican senator from Kansas from 1969 to 1996. He ran for president three times and became the Republican nominee for president in 1996. (Jabin Botsford / Getty Images)
The casket of the late Sen. Bob Dole in the Capitol Rotunda.
People line up to pay their respects to Bob Dole. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
A man bows his head as he kneels.
A man bows his head as he and others pay their respects to former Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas, who lies in state in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. (Matt McClain / Associated Press)
A woman seated in a wheelchair salutes the casket of Sen. Bob Dole.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), herself a wounded combat veteran, salutes the casket as she pays her respects to Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas. (Michael Reynolds / Associated Press)
A group of men and women in dark suits and face masks walks down a hallway.
Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff arrive at the U.S. Capitol for the ceremony to honor the late Sen. Bob Dole (R-Kan.). (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
President Biden and the flag-draped casket of Sen. Bob Dole.
President Biden pays his respects to former Sen. Bob Dole at the Capitol Rotunda. (Jabin Botsford / Getty Images)
People pay their respects to former Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas.
People pay their respects to former Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas. (Matt McClain / Associated Press)
The casket of the late Sen. Bob Dole (R-Kansas) sits in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.
The casket of the late Sen. Bob Dole (R-Kan.) sits in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.