Bob Dole was a Republican giant in the Senate. His ability to work across the aisle is unmatched today. – Yahoo News

John W. Carlin

This past week has been a time of reflection with the passing of Sen. Bob Dole. I was fortunate to be able to work with Sen. Dole, during my eight years as governor of Kansas.

He always was there to listen to the evolving challenges facing the state and ready to reach out a hand to support moving Kansas forward. My being a Democrat was not even a consideration. His values and commitment to getting things done and working through partisan differences repeatedly delivered what was needed for the American people and his fellow Kansans.

Perhaps Sen. Dole is most remembered for his fierce advocacy on behalf of disabled people. Himself disabled from injuries in WWII, he was the key to passing the 1990 Americans with Disability Act.

Protecting and supporting the rights of disabled Americans from discrimination on its face seems right, but the legislation had languished. It was in 1989 when Dole, along with Sen. Ted Kennedy and Sen. Tom Harkin (sponsor of the legislation), both liberal Democrats, came together as a team to get the legislation passed.

Reaching across the aisle was a hallmark of Sen. Dole's service.

I think of the millions of Americans who over the years have benefited from the federal food stamps program. That legislation assured the poor access to basic food and improving their overall health. That was only possible because our Sen. Bob Dole worked tirelessly with the then very liberal Democratic senator from South Dakota, George McGovern, to successfully get the legislation passed.

The passage had two dramatic impacts. It addressed food scarcity for people below the poverty level and simultaneously increased demand for agricultural products. Both served the interests of his constituents in Kansas.

I also think of all recipients of Social Security who have and will continue to have benefits secured by his work on the Social Security Commission that he chaired with Democratic Sens Daniel Moynahan, of New York.

In 1983, it was Sen. Dole who managed the Senate bill establishing Martin Luther King Day as a federal holiday. Many Republicans adamantly opposed the legislation to which he responded, No first-class democracy can treat people like second class citizens.

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Can you picture any Republican leader today (exception maybe Liz Cheney) saying anything comparable?

But for me the moment that stands out the most was when Dole, long retired, returned to the Senate floor in a wheelchair in 2012. He came to support final approval of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities treaty. In an embarrassing rebuke of Dole, the Republicans defeated the resolution, with both of the Kansas senators (Pat) Roberts and (Jerry) Moran joining in the defeat.

After the vote, he sat by the door and let each senator know they had not done the right thing that day. This was, for me, the time when partisan politics veered off the track.

Do not misunderstand, Bob Dole was also very partisan. I remember clearly in the mid-1970s helping Congressman Dr. Bill Roy campaign against Dole seeking his first re-election to the Senate. Dr. Roy lost that very bitter race when the Dole campaign launched a late abortion attack.

There is no question he was a passionate Republican, and a very partisan one bringing him much success. As the chair of the Republican National Party from 1971 to 1973, he led the charge for the Republicans during Nixons re-election in 1972.

Sen. Dole often said that after an election we had 18 months to do the peoples business and then six months for partisan actions before the next election.

Today, we do not have even seconds between one election and the next. Sen. Dole's legacy of serving the people and reaching across the aisle to secure the best interests of the country has been missed.

These values and traits, unfortunately, have not been carried forward by the Republican leaders who succeeded him in the Congress. The results are painful and threaten our democracy and the future. Sen. Bob Dole fought for both in war and peace time.

John W. Carlin was governor of Kansas from 1979-1987.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Former Kansas Gov. John Carlin remembers Bob Dole as Senate giant

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Bob Dole was a Republican giant in the Senate. His ability to work across the aisle is unmatched today. - Yahoo News