To the editor:

In Tuesday’s Journal-World, state Rep. Frank Miller wrote a negative letter to the editor concerning the selection of former President Clinton as the first speaker at the Dole Institute. I think the representative missed the point of the Dole Institute. Sen. Bob Dole wants the Dole Institute to represent an exchange of political ideas, not a single point of view. This was evidenced by the bipartisan nature of last summer’s dedication ceremony. The ceremonies included great Americans from both parties including former President Carter, Condoleezza Rice, George McGovern, Jack Kemp, Rudy Giuliani, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and others.

Sen. Dole made great efforts to show how the two parties had worked together to accomplish things for our country. I remember several stories that he told in his speeches during the celebration about the heroic efforts of two fellow senators, Daniel Inouye and George McGovern (both Democrats), during their military service in Italy during World War II. There is little doubt that Sen. Dole is a genuine American hero.

I am sure that Bob Dole had a lot to do with the selection of President Clinton. Evidently, they are very good friends. Hopefully, we can have former President Bush in the future. The day that a former president from either party is not allowed to speak or considered as a speaker at KU will be a sad day for KU, Kansas and our country. To quote Bob Dole, the best thing we can say to any of these great Americans from either party is, “Thank you for your service.”

Tom L. Roberts,

Lawrence