Joe Biden reaches out to hold the hand of Sen. Bob Dole's widow Elizabeth as she arrives at the funeral of her late husband: President is joined by the first lady, Bill Clinton and Mike Pence
President Joe Biden and former President Bill Clinton are among hundreds of mourners paying tribute to the late Kansas Republican Sen. Bob Dole at memorial services in Washington, DC, today.
Biden reached out to hold the hand of Elizabeth Dole, the late senator's widow, as she made her way down the aisle before the start of the service a Washington National Cathedral.
Dole's flag draped casket was carried in by a military honor guard as the congregation stood.
Joining senior leaders of Congress at the invitation-only ceremony were former Vice President Mike Pence and actor Tom Hanks.
Notable by his absence was former President Donald Trump, even though Dole was the only living former Republican president to endorse his 2016 run.
Biden, former Sen. Pat Roberts, former Sen. Tom Daschle and Dole's daughter, Robin Dole, are expected to offer tributes. Lee Greenwood will perform.
Dole died on Sunday at the age of 98 after announcing he had stage-four lung cancer earlier this year.
He served almost 36 years in Congress, more than a decade as GOP Senate leader and was his party's presidential nominee when he lost to Bill Clinton during the 1996 election.
President Joe Biden reached out to Bob Dole's widow Elizabeth as she arrived for the funeral service on Friday morning
A military honor guard carried the flag-draped casket of Dole from the U.S. Capitol in Washington ahead of a funeral service
Dole served almost 36 years in Congress, more than a decade as GOP Senate leader and was his party's presidential nominee when he lost to Bill Clinton during the 1996 election
Former President Bill Clinton is among the mourners for Dole's funeral service at the Washington National Cathedral
Former Vice President Mike Pence arrives at the Washington National Cathedral
His casket began the journey from the Capitol building on Friday morning to the Washington National Cathedral for an invitation-only funeral service.
Hundreds of people filed in to the Washington National Cathedral for a private service on Friday morning.
It will be followed by an event on the National Mall.
Senate Dole's motorcade and casket will pause at the World War II Memorial on the National Mall, where actor Tom Hanks and Savannah Guthrie of NBC's 'Today' show will deliver remarks.
Organizers said Sen. Elizabeth Dole will lay a wreath in honor of her late husband while the U.S. Army Band will perform 'patriotic melodies.'
His body laid in state in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol from Thursday evening in a tribute similar to those given to presidents.
In addition to his sharp, often sarcastic tongue, among Dole's best-known attributes were his pragmatic brand of politics and self-deprecating wit — representing the sense of common civility and compromise of a bygone era.
Dole ran for president three times and served in the Senate from 1969 to 1996. Dole was awarded two Purple Hearts from the U.S. military during World War Two for wounds suffered in combat
Hundreds of mourners turned out on Friday morning for a funeral service for Dole. It was the first of two events
Former U.S. Vice Presidents Dan Quayle, Dick Cheney and Mike Pence sit beside each other
Military Honor Guard members carry the flag-draped casket of former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole to the a funeral service at the National Cathedral in Washington
'As divided as we are, the only way forward for democracy is unity — consensus — the only way,' Biden said Thursday.
'We may follow his wisdom and his timeless truth and reach consensus on the basic fundamental principles we all agree on.'
Dole's body will later travel to Kansas, where weekend events include a public viewing at St. Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church in his hometown of Russell. He will later be interred at Arlington National Cemetery.
'No question, Bob Dole left this world a much better place because of his legacy of leadership and service,' said Mike Ford, chair of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation and the late President Ford's eldest son.
'As we read the obituaries and see the responses to his passing, my family is struck by the genuine affection expressed across the political spectrum.
'His warmth, wit, and wisdom will be sorely missed.'
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