Earlier this week, this writer was driving across north-central Minnesota and, while searching for a clear radio signal, happened to catch a few words from a very familiar voice. The voice was that of Richard Norton Smith, director of the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, and he was engaged in a three-hour Memorial Day program in which he was interviewed about his impressions and views of every United States president.

It was a fascinating program — fascinating both in terms of the knowledge Smith has about each president and because it provided listeners such a concise history lesson.

The program was on a commercial station and, consequently, there were many breaks after which the interviewer would explain that Smith was the director of the Dole Institute at Kansas University in Lawrence. He also said Smith was one of the country’s foremost presidential scholars, a distinguished historian and a gifted writer. This was repeated many times. If KU and Lawrence had paid for such advertising and marketing, it would have cost thousands of dollars.

In addition, those listening to the program had to be impressed with Smith and, in turn, many probably wanted to know more about KU.

The program was a win-win situation for Smith, the Dole Institute, KU and Lawrence.

Smith has been relentless in his efforts to develop the Dole Institute into a unique nonpartisan center that will stress the view that public service is a noble endeavor. The center will house the vast collection of Dole papers, but it also will serve as a center for a wide variety of programming and activities.

The building itself is unique and will contain a huge archive for academic research. It has been designed for many purposes and many different audiences. It will include a center for research, classrooms, a television studio with an earth satellite broadcasting capability and a memorial to the value of service. It is sure to become one of the most talked-about, most visited and most visible buildings on the KU campus.

It hasn’t been an easy job for Smith as he contends with faculty egos and seeks to get various campus officials to recognize the institute’s potential impact on the school, Lawrence and the state. Too many people, for one reason or another, either don’t comprehend or can’t comprehend what the Dole Institute can do to reflect credit and excellence on the university.

It’s likely the three-day dedication of the institute on July 20-22 will draw as much, if not more, national attention to KU as any previous academic activity. The list of those coming to Lawrence for the program is impressive and crosses political lines. The national publicity generated by the event will focus attention on KU and Lawrence and will serve as a public kick-off for Smith’s goal of making the institute a cultural, educational and economic treasure for KU and Kansas. It will build a bridge between the academic world and the “real” world or, to perhaps be more politically correct, the academic world and the “off-campus” world.

Smith has done a masterly job under difficult circumstances. The building itself is on schedule for the final touches to be put in place later this month and the first part of July. Smith dreams big and often finds it difficult to understand the lack of vision, excitement and enthusiasm from others on campus.

One nationally recognized authority recently told this writer, “I don’t believe people at KU realize what a gem they have in Smith. He is a ‘hot property’ who would be sought and treasured by any other university.”

As is true in so many fields of activity, the only way to avoid stepping on toes is to never do anything. Smith has a dream for the Dole Institute and what it can contribute to the nation, to KU, to Lawrence and to Kansas. To bring this about, he probably has stepped on some toes, but what he is accomplishing certainly will be worth some bruised toes — as well as some bruised egos.

Chances are, many of those who have chosen to stay on the sidelines during the development and construction phase of the Dole Institute will want to be front and center when the institute is opened.

This doesn’t bother Smith because his goal continues to be to help build and create a nationally recognized center for nonpartisan study and programming that will serve as a lively public forum and reflect credit on the university and Kansas.