Big names such as President Bush, Tom Brokaw and Tom Hanks may steal the show in July at the dedication of the Dole Institute of Politics building at Kansas University.

But Richard Norton Smith, the institute’s director, wants to keep the focus on the thousands of World War II veterans expected to converge on Lawrence for the events.

“We want everyone to come, and we want everyone to have a good time,” Smith said. “But more than anything else, we want veterans to be here. This is really their show. We want to say thanks.”

The dedication events will run Sunday, July 20, to Tuesday, July 22 — former Sen. Bob Dole’s 80th birthday. Plans are tentative, but Smith said one thing was certain: “It’ll be huge.”

Actor Hanks has been invited to be part of “Salute to the Heroes: An Evening to Remember,” a USO-style tribute to World War II veterans the evening of July 21 at the Lied Center. Hanks has become an activist for World War II veterans after starring in “Saving Private Ryan” and co-producing “Band of Brothers,” an HBO miniseries.

“He expressed interest,” Smith said. “They have a long-standing relationship, and Mr. Hanks has a lot of respect for Senator Dole.”

Brokaw, the NBC news anchor and author of “The Greatest Generation” about the World War II era, also has been invited to be part of the USO tribute show. Descendants of Winston Churchill and Dwight Eisenhower have been invited as well.

President Bush has been invited to the dedication of the building, which will hold records from Dole and other Kansas politicians and be the site of scholarly events. It also will have displays about Dole’s life.

The dedication will be the morning of July 22. Smith said it probably would be months before Bush decided whether to attend. Smith said much of the security and stage setup would depend on the president’s plans.

A masonry worker cleans the stone facade of the Dole Institute of Politics building, which is under construction next to the Lied Center on Kansas University's West Campus. Construction continued Thursday in preparation for the building's dedication in July. President Bush, Tom Hanks and Tom Brokaw are among the guests invited to participate in dedication events.

“That’s the biggest variable in the planning process,” Smith said. “It tends to affect everything else we do.”

Other events on the schedule-in-progress include:

• “KU Goes to War,” a forum on how the war affected the university, the afternoon of July 20.
• “An Evening of Dancing with the Glenn Miller Orchestra,” July 20 at the Lawrence Holidome, 200 McDonald Drive.
• Vintage aircraft show, morning of July 21. The airplanes also will be on display July 20-22 at Lawrence Municipal Airport.


The Dole Institute of Politics is nearing completion. This hall will be lined with cases to display memorabilia and paintings of Sen. Bob Dole's life.

• A 1940s fashion show, morning of July 21 at Crafton-Preyer Theater in Murphy Hall.
• Military band concert, afternoon of July 22. Smith said he was still working to secure a band.
• Military encampment by World War II re-enactors on West Campus, all three days.

¢Dedication plans

All events will be free and open to the public except the Glenn Miller dance and the “Salute to Heroes: An Evening to Remember” event. The dance will cost $40 per person, and the USO show will cost $35 per person. Tickets will be available beginning April 1 at the Lied Center box office, 864-2787.

Smith said ticket prices would cover about a third, or $100,000, of the event’s cost. The rest will come from donations and event sponsorship.

Smith — who has dubbed the dedication “The Greatest Celebration of the Greatest Generation” — said he was contacting veterans groups to encourage as many veterans as possible to attend.

Reed Whitaker, regional administrator for the National Archives, is helping organize some of the Dole dedication events.

He said other World War II events he had been involved in — including the centennial of Dwight Eisenhower’s birth in 1990 in Abilene and the 50th anniversary of V-E Day in 1995 in Kansas City, Mo. — had been popular, though veteran numbers are dwindling.

“It’s drawing to the point that this might not be the last big hurrah, but it may be the last big gathering for people like this,” Whitaker said.