As I walked through the rotunda to honor Senator Dole, I thought about the story of Dole standing and saluting Senator Inouye at his Lying in State. It’s a story better than Hollywood that speaks to the best of Congress – and feels so different from where we are today. THREAD 
Senators Dole and Inouye met each other as they recovered from their wounds in WW2 in a Michigan army hospital, a building that is now named after them. Both were seriously injured during combat in Italy. aarp.org/home-family/vo… 2/8
Dole and Inouye kept each other company in the hospital. Inouye taught Dole how to play Bridge. Dole shared with Inouye his aspirations for political office including Congress and both ended up serving together in the Senate for nearly 30 yrs. 3/8
When Inouye died, Senator Dole said “I made sure to walk up to Danny’s casket. He dedicated and nearly gave his life to our nation. He deserved one more standing salute.” I was so moved that I wanted to find out how Inouye felt about Dole. I found a moving interview. 4/8
Interviewer: How do you think [Dole] should be remembered?
Inouye: As a good honest man, that he believed in his cause, but he was also a man, the way I look at him — I don’t know if others do — he silently suffered.
dolearchivecollections.ku.edu/collections/or… 5/8
Inouye: As a good honest man, that he believed in his cause, but he was also a man, the way I look at him — I don’t know if others do — he silently suffered.
dolearchivecollections.ku.edu/collections/or… 5/8
The interviewer went on to ask Inouye what he meant about Dole, “Do you think that suffering is unknown?”
Inouye: Not too well known, and I think it gave him strength…I admire silent sufferers. 6/8
Inouye: Not too well known, and I think it gave him strength…I admire silent sufferers. 6/8
I never had the chance to meet Dole and I don’t know the full story between these two heroes and the extent to which they suffered. But the level of respect they had for each other was extraordinary and telling of their character. 7/8
May we learn from their great example and remember that being good leaders starts with being good people that treat others with respect and decency. May they both rest in peace and serve as a reminder of how we can disagree and still work towards a greater good. END
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