week, the old scripture came to memory, for i have fought the good fight. i have finished the race. i have kept the faith. bob dole finished his race. he fought the good his race. he fought the good fight. he kept the faith. and now i imagine him in the heavens, no longer limited by his earthly wounds, able to run again with speed and lightness and grace or maybe, better yet, to rest in peace and satisfaction for a life well-lived. thank you, senator bob, and thank you, senator elizabeth, for the honor of knowing you. to dear robin and the extended dole family, my deepest condolences and thank you for the privilege of a lifetime to speak here today. and now i ll introduce a great friend of senator dole s and a great friend of this museum and this place, mr. tom hanks.
now at the world war ii memorial. thousands upon thousands of young lives, memorialized here of which bob dole was almost one. this monument is made of stone. his life was a flesh and blood monument to the values that we revere here. i have to marvel that of all people it should be me here today talking about senator dole. we met only a few years ago and yet, somehow he and mrs. dole, senator elizabeth, took me under their wing, embraced me, and befriended me. they would call to ask about the kids, to chat about the big game. over the years they might send treats or an admired book, or a note of encouragement. during the pandemic, we even once had a face time with my then three and five-year-old and the dole dogs. that was wild. when i told senator bob that the pandemic had forced me to anchor
and to the love of that life, dearest elizabeth. i know how deeply you grieve your beloved, how sweet was the company you kept for nearly 50 years. how you will miss the humor and charm of your dearest companion. i also know of your deep faith and of his, and that connection between you is eternal and unbroken. it is how you will hold hands with him until you meet again. over the summer, i called to wish the doles a happy birthday. they re both july babies. and i was just about to leave for tokyo to cover the summer olympics. senator bob told me, keep your eye on the quarter miler. his old track event, the 440 yard dash. 98 years old, long-confined to a wheelchair, he still remembered his best time that kansas racetrack was not far from mind. as i thought about that this