The life of former Sen. Bob Dole, R-us-regions., is again being honored in the nation’s capital Friday, with ceremonies at the Washington National Cathedral and the World War II Memorial.
Dole’s casket departed the U.S. Capitol Rotunda where his body was lying in state and traveled across the city to the cathedral, where President Biden paid tribute to Dole as a “genuine hero.”
Former Republican Kansas Sen. Pat Roberts, former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, R-S.D., and his daughter Robin Dole also spoke.
“We disagreed, but we were never disagreeable with one another – not one time that I can think of,” Biden said. “I found Bob to be a man of principle, pragmatism and enormous integrity.”
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President Biden speaks during the funeral service for former Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas, at the Washington National Cathedral, Friday, Dec. 10, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
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President Biden greets Sen. Elizabeth Dole, accompanied by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Mark Milley, left, as she arrives at the funeral for her husband, former Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas, at the Washington National Cathedral, Friday, Dec. 10, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
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President Biden touches the casket of late Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole as he walks to speak during a funeral service, at the National Cathedral in Washington, Dec. 10, 2021. (REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)
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The memorial service for the late Sen. Bob Dole at Washington National Cathedral in Washington, on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Biden, a frequent Amtrak passenger as a senator, told a story about Dole voting against defunding the railroad service. Dole was asked later about why he voted that way, according to Biden.
“It’s the best way to get Joe Biden the hell out of here at night,” Biden quoted Dole as saying.
“Excuse my language,” the president added.
Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Bill Clinton and former Vice Presidents Mike Pence and Dick Cheney are a few of the notable figures who attended. The chaplain of the U.S. Senate, Reverend Dr. Barry C. Black, delivered a homily.
National Cathedral is where Dole and his wife Elizabeth Dole, who went on to serve as a Cabinet secretary under two presidents and as a senator, were married in 1975.
Dole’s remains were then escorted to the World War II Memorial, a site on the National Mall that Dole helped to bring into existence. He sustained serious injuries while fighting Nazi Germany in 1945 in the U.S. Army.
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A military honor guard carries the flag-draped casket of former Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas, down the East steps of the Capitol in Washington, Friday, Dec. 10, 2021, after lying in state. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
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Elizabeth Dole, second left, accompanied with Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Marine General Mark Milley and Robin Dole, watch a military honor guard carry the flag-draped casket of former Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas, from the Capitol in Washington, Friday, Dec. 10, 2021, after lying in state. (Greg Nash/Pool via AP)
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From left, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of N.Y., Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Calif., watch as the casket of former Sen. Bob Dole, R-Kan., is carried down the East steps of Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, Dec. 10, 2021, where Dole was lying in state. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
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The flag-draped casket of former Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas, is carried into the Washington National Cathedral for a funeral service, Friday, Dec. 10, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Dole was awarded two Purple Hearts, the Bronze Star and an Oak Cluster for his military service. In 2013, Dole told Fox News he wanted to be remembered as a “veteran who gave his most for his country.”
He left the Army as a captain and was promoted to colonel by Congress in 2019.
SEN. BOB DOLE: REMEMBERING HIS LASTING LEGACY
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley, actor Tom Hanks and NBC “Today” show co-host Savannah Guthrie gave remarks at the World War II Memorial event.
Dole’s body, with Elizabeth Dole and Robin Dole, departed Washington to fly to Kansas, where more events are scheduled.
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Former President Bill Clinton arrives to attend the funeral of former Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas, at the Washington National Cathedral, Friday, Dec. 10, 2021, in Washington. Before Clinton are from left, former Vice President’s Dan Quayle, Dick Cheney and Mike Pence. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
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From left, former Vice President’s Dan Quayle, Dick Cheney and Mike Pence arrive to attend the funeral of former Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas, at the Washington National Cathedral, Friday, Dec. 10, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
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FILE PHOTO: The west front of Washington’s National Cathedral. (REUTERS/Jason Reed/File Photo)
Biden and congressional leadership honored Dole Thursday as a “giant of our history.”
“America has lost one of its greatest patriots,” Biden said at the U.S. Capitol.
Biden urged unity as a way to honor Dole.
“Like many of us here, we disagreed on a number of things, but not on any of the fundamental things. We still found a way to work together,” Biden said. “We genuinely respected one another as colleagues, as fellow Americans, It was real. It wasn’t fake.”
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Lying in state is one of the most solemn American traditions, reserved only for select prominent individuals. Dole is only the 33rd person in U.S. history to lie in state in the Rotunda. Since the turn of the century, only Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, and former Presidents George H.W. Bush, Ford and Reagan have lain in state in that location.
Fox News’ Chad Pergram contributed to this report.
