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CNN Larry King Live

Bob Dole Turns 80

Aired July 22, 2003 - 21:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


LARRY KING, CNN HOST: Tonight, Bob Dole turns 80 years old today. It's a birthday party you won't want to miss. Bob Dole for an hour that's packed with surprise guests. Just wait until you see who we've got to sing him happy birthday. We'll find out who Bob Dole's real friends are next on LARRY KING LIVE.
We have a wonderful evening planned tonight, a tribute to a great man. Senator Bob Dole turned 80 today. We have some surprise guests that will be calling in, some in studio and they will also get to some serious topics as well, as this was quite a day on the news front.

Just get you up to date -- Bob Dole was born today, July 22, 80 years ago in Russell, Kansas. Today there was a dedication of the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics on the University of Kansas campus. Among those attending, former President Carter, other dignitaries -- national security adviser Condoleezza Rice, former senator and presidential candidate George McGovern, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who awarded the first Dole prize for leadership. It was billed as the University of Kansas salute to World War II veterans, billed as "The Greatest Generation's Greatest Celebration."

What was it like for you today, senator?

BOB DOLE (R-KS), FORMER SENATOR: It was fantastic. I mean, to see all -- many old friends and we had 14 Medal of Honor winners there, World War II -- and there are only 52. We had a third of the Medal Honor winners. And just a great day. And the fact President Carter came was sort of the icing on the birthday cake because it showed it was bipartisan. And one word, Larry, that I didn't hear for either day I was there was the word Republican or Democrat. So it was that kind of a day.

KING: And we're sorry to hear that Gerald Ford was slated to be there but was under the weather, right?

DOLE: Well, he had -- you know, he didn't -- wasn't quite certain. He didn't feel well. And our advice was don't take any chances. Stay home. We want you around a long time. So he was there in spirit. He's a great friend and a great guy.

KING: What is the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics?

DOLE: Well, it's all about -- it's not about Bob Dole. There are a lot of things in there that, you know, talk about me and refer to my life in politics and before politics. But what we hope to do is -- just as they do in the presidential libraries and maybe even a little more on the KU campus, is to try to interest young people in public service and politics in the broad sense -- not in the Republican or Democratic sense -- but participating in politics, participating in government, and we hope to have a number of lectures and outstanding visitors, hopefully have Larry King some day come to the University of Kansas campus. It's -- you know, it's really very nice. And I'm humbled. But I don't deserve it, but I was happy to be there.

KING: I'll be honored to come. What does it like -- what does it feel like to be 80?

DOLE: I think those are only numbers. I mean, I know some people who are 40 who think they are old. I used to think people at 40 were old.

But, you know, I'm in good health as far as I know and I'm very active. I'm doing just as much now as I was 20 or 30 years ago.

But, you know, as long as you just keep busy. You know, we program here once -- you remember on LARRY KING LIVE when we had all these people in their 70s talking about, how do you stay active and how do you stay young? You keep staying active. I mean, you participate. You exercise your mind and your body every day. So I try to do some of that.

KING: A lot of people I've talked to who reach 80, and Mike Wallace will be a little -- with us in a little while, and he's well -- he's older than you - -tell us that they never thought they'd make it. But before we get your thoughts on that, our first surprise guest of the evening is joining us by phone from his home, the former president of the United States, Bill Clinton. Are you there, President Clinton?

WILLIAM J. CLINTON, FMR. PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Happy birthday, Bob.

DOLE: Hey, Bill -- Mr. President, thank you very much. I appreciate it.

CLINTON: You look pretty good. Is he 60? 50? 40?

DOLE: Well, they have a good makeup person here and she did a great job, and I think I can probably pass for 45.

CLINTON: You can pass it with me any day.

KING: President Clinton...

DOLE: Yes, well I...

KING: ....in those days when you were tussling, you and Senator Dole, running for the presidency, did you always kind of really like him?

CLINTON: Yes. You know, I always -- first of all, I admired him before I became president, and I always admired what he did in public life and the adversity he overcame and the fact that he was always willing to work with Democrats. He worked with Senator McGovern on food stamps; he worked on the Americans With Disabilities Act. And, you know, the work we did together after September 11 to raise all that money, over $100 million for scholarships for the children and spouses of all the people who were killed or disabled was maybe one of the most rewarding things I ever did. And I don't think it would have been possible if we haven't done it together to make sure there was no politics in it at all and I'm just grateful to him.

DOLE: Yes. And, you know, as I said many times before, and the president knows, he was my opponent, not my enemy. And that's the way, you know, it ought to be in politics.

I think you can have opponents, and you go out and do your best and some win and some lost. It's a lot more fun winning, but when it's over, win or lose, you still have a life.

KING: While I have you both here, let me get in just a couple of quick questions about the day's events, starting with President Clinton. What did you make of the killing today of Saddam Hussein's two sons?

CLINTON: Well, I think it's good news for, you know, trying to get the situation under better control there and I'm really happy. I'm happy that, you know, that the military did their job, as they always did, and, do, and, you know, those guys were pretty foolish not to give up, I think, but that's not the first stupid mistake they've made. And I hope that it will give the Iraqi people some sense of reassurance, and I hope it will reduce the number of attacks on our men and women over there who are still working trying to pacify the situation. I think it's got to be on balance, quite good news for us.

KING: Your reaction, Senator?

DOLE: Mine's the same. I think these are terrible people, and they inflicted punishment and death and everything they could think of, humiliation on Iraqis for I don't know how many years. And this, I think it's going to put the focus back where it should be.

We're at war with Iraq and next big target is Saddam Hussein. And the Iraqi people, as the president indicated, will start to understand that we're there. We are liberators. We are not trying to occupy Iraq. But it's going to take a while. And this demonstrates again -- you just -- I want to pat the military on the back. These men and women are doing a great job.

KING: President, maybe I can get an area where you may disagree. Do you join, President Clinton, your fellow Democrats, in complaining about the portion of the State of the Union address that dealt with nuclear weaponry in Africa?

CLINTON: Well, I have a little different take on it, I think, than either side.

First of all, the White House said -- Mr. Fleischer said -- that on balance they probably shouldn't have put that comment in the speech. What happened, often happens. There was a disagreement between British intelligence and American intelligence. The president said it was British intelligence that said it. And then they said, well, maybe they shouldn't have put it in.

Let me tell you what I know. When I left office, there was a substantial amount of biological and chemical material unaccounted for. That is, at the end of the first Gulf War, we knew what he had. We knew what was destroyed in all the inspection processes and that was a lot. And then we bombed with the British for four days in 1998. We might have gotten it all; we might have gotten half of it; we might have gotten none of it. But we didn't know. So I thought it was prudent for the president to go to the U.N. and for the U.N. to say you got to let these inspectors in, and this time if you don't cooperate the penalty could be regime change, not just continued sanctions.

I mean, we're all more sensitive to any possible stocks of chemical and biological weapons. So there's a difference between British -- British intelligence still maintains that they think the nuclear story was true. I don't know what was true, what was false. I thought the White House did the right thing in just saying, Well, we probably shouldn't have said that. And I think we ought to focus on where we are and what the right thing to do for Iraq is now. That's what I think.

KING: So do you share that view, Senator Dole?

DOLE: Oh, he's exactly right. Let's put the focus where it belongs.

I never got to be president. I tried a couple of times. But President Clinton understands better than anybody that he gets piles and piles of classified, secret, top secret information, and I don't know how many, maybe the president can tell me. I don't know how much of this goes across your desk every day. It probably shouldn't have been in the message.

But that's history. It's passed. We can't change it. And we need to focus on the real problem.

KING: What do you do, Mr. President, with what's put in front of you?

CLINTON: Well, here's what happens: every day the president gets a daily brief from the CIA. And then, if it's some important issue -- and believe me, you know, anything having to do with chemical, biological or nuclear weapons became much more important to everybody in the White House after September the 11 -- then they probably told the president, certainly Condoleezza Rice, that this is what the British intelligence thought. They maybe have a difference of opinion, but on balance, they decided they should leave that line in the speech.

I think the main thing I want to say to you is, people can quarrel with whether we should have more troops in Afghanistan or internationalize Iraq or whatever, but it is incontestable that on the day I left office, there were unaccounted for stocks...

DOLE: That's right.

CLINTON: ... of biological and chemical weapons. We might have destroyed them in '98. We tried to, but we sure as heck didn't know it because we never got to go back in there.

KING: Yes.

CLINTON: And what I think -- again, I would say the most important thing is we should focus on what's the best way to build Iraq as a democracy? How is the president going to do that and deal with continuing problems in Afghanistan and North Korea?

We should be pulling for America on this. We should be pulling for the people of Iraq. We can have honest disagreements about where we go from here, and we have space now to discuss that in what I hope will be a nonpartisan and open way. But this State of the Union deal they decided to use the British intelligence. The president said it was British intelligence. Then they said on balance they shouldn't have done it. You know, everybody makes mistakes when they are president. I mean, you can't make as many calls as you have to make without messing up once in awhile. The thing we ought to be focused on is what is the right thing to do now. That's what I think.

KING: Before you leave us, what do you think the legacy of senator Dole will be?

CLINTON: I think there will be a public legacy of a man who stood up for his conservative Republican beliefs and was not only one of the most articulate spokesmen, but clearly the funniest spokesman his party produced in the last 50 years, maybe ever. Maybe since Lincoln he's the funniest Republican. And I think there's a personal legacy of a man who refused to let a problem that could have broken a lot of people break him. Instead, it made him bigger and better and deeper. And I'll never forget it.

One other thing I want to say is -- another thing I'm grateful to Bob Dole for is that he cared about all the little people in the world that may not have any strategic importance to America. The people in Kosovo, the people in Armenia, people all over the world, little people. Everybody forgets about them because they don't come from big powerful rich countries. They were getting killed and slaughtered, Bob Dole cared about them. That meant the world to me. So, you know, I guess I sound like a card-carrying Republican tonight. I love the guy. I can't help it. I think he's great.

KING: Have you gotten much closer to the president?

DOLE: No doubt about it. We had this little program on "60 Minutes." But the president made a point that need to be repeated. In December of 1995, and I was in a primary trying to get the nomination for the Republican side and the president announced he told me in advance as he told some other people, that we're going to send troops to Bosnia. I didn't think it was an easy decision for me. I sit up on the Senate floor and supported the president. You can't do that, you can't do that, it's going to hurt you in New Hampshire. It's going to hurt you somewhere else. But the president understood, and I understood that he was the commander in chief and he made a decision, and he needed our support and so did the American troops. And that's what he was talking about when he talked about Kosovo and Bosnia and Serbia and Croatia and all the other areas where millions of people were refugees and over 200,000, 300,000 innocent civilians lost their lives.

KING: President Clinton, thank you very much for joining us on this and paying tribute to your friend senator Dole.

CLINTON: Thanks, Larry.

Happy birthday, Bob! Let's do this again in 10 years.

DOLE: I'll be around. If you take care of yourself, you'll be around, too.

CLINTON: Bob, I'll try to hang on for you.

KING: We look forward to it at 90.

KING: When we come back, Mike Wallace of CBS News. He's older than Mr. Dole. When we return. Don't go away.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAN AYKROYD, ACTOR: You know it's kind of frustrating for me. I mean, I have this great Bob Dole impression and nowhere to use it you know?

DOLE: If it's any consolation to you, Norm, the impression isn't that great.

AYKROYD: Since you got into civilian life you don't pull any punches there do you? Now really, you don't like my impression?

DOLE: No. You're really doing an impression of Dan Aykroyd when he does an impression of me. You know it, and I know it, and the American people know it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP "PEPSI COMMERCIAL")

(SINGING)

DOLE: Easy boy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Played Viagra and Pepsi into a big deal after retiring. Senator Bob Dole is 80-years-old. Joining us now -- a lot of surprise guest coming tonight. And the first guest on board comes from Martha's Vineyard, where he enjoys a lot of the summers, Mike Wallace, the coeditor and correspondent of CBS News' "60 Minutes," who is five years older than the senator. He's -- he's nothing to you, right?

MIKE WALLACE, CBS NEWS "60 MINUTES": What's the big deal? He's 80-years-old. Come on. He's in adolescent.

What kind of house husband are you, senator?

(CROSSTALK)

KING: By the way I must say, Mike will be with us for the rest of the program. So, he can chime in with questions of anyone. He can co-host any time.

The question is directed, Senator Dole, what kind of house husband are you?

DOLE: Well, I think most of the time I do a good job. I don't do anything and that generally works out all right.

WALLACE: I'm not sure what an 80-year-old does all day long. I mean, come on.

DOLE: You know, my mother-in-law, Mrs. Hansford (ph) in Salisbury and I think she is probably watching is 102. And she still works every day. She's on the telephone talking to people, making notes on Larry King's program and things like that. So, I do about what Mike Wallace does, but I do more because I'm a much younger man.

WALLACE: That's true.

KING: Mike, what do you appreciate most, about -- Mike, you'll be contributing throughout the show, but what do you appreciate the most about Senator Dole, historically?

WALLACE: Come on. He fought in the same war I fought in. He's 100 percent legitimate hero for what he did. He's a sensible guy. I think he probably would have made a hell of a president, frankly, compared to some of the others on the Republican side. The -- what I would like to do is be a television critic, if I may Bob. If I may call you Bob.

DOLE: Right.

WALLACE: You know, something, it was quite apparent when you were talking to Bill Clinton that you agree on virtually everything. Back in the old days on "60 minutes" we had Shana Alexander and Jack Kilpatrick, and they were at each other all the time. But you and he, Bill and Bob. The Bill and Bob show should be, you know, more, are you coming on next September, October?

DOLE: Well, we hope so. They're going to make a decision soon. But we've got our fingers crossed. I think you're about to make a point that I'll confirm in a moment here, but you go ahead.

WALLACE: All right. I was about to make a point, that you're going to confirm?

DOLE: Well, I think the last couple of episodes, the last couple of segments were much, much better. We disagree on a lot of things. But we ought to be there face to face and not me in Washington and the president in New York. And I ought to be -- my strength is humor and I'm fairly quick, and he's very articulate. There's got to be some way to put that together. We don't want to make personal attacks and I don't want blood on the floor, unless it's his. But my view is that the program is getting better. If it continues, we'll be very happy. If it doesn't, we'll do something else.

KING: When will we know, by the way.

Mike, are you on the decision?

WALLACE: They don't talk to me, that's above my pay grade.

KING: All right, let me to get a break, Mike. Hold on I have got to get a break. We'll come right back we have another surprise guest joining us. Wallace remains with us. You're watching LARRY KING LIVE's tribute to Bob Dole on his 80th birthday. We've already heard from the former president. Don't go away.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AKYROYD: Nobody eats Bob Dole peanut butter with out asking.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Whatever.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Bob, needed to work on his people skills.

AKYROYD: It's a different story. You keep your grubby hands out of Bob Dole's peanut butter.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So, I called a house meeting.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bob Dole likes peanut butter. Bob Dole is not ready to (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK! OK! OK! Hey, the reason I called this meeting is because I think there's some issues we need to face.

AKYROYD: Out of my chair.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Relax senator.

AKYROYD: That's Bob Dole's chair and everybody knows it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bob! Bob!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) DOLE: Hi, I'm Bob Dole, and I've always spoken to you frankly. I'm eager to tell you about a product that helps me feel youthful and vital again. What is this amazing product?

It's my faithful little blue friend, an ice cold Pepsi cola.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The revitalizing effects of Pepsi cola, are a they right for you?

Check with your convenience store counter clerk and start living.

DOLE: I feel like a kid again.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: One of the great put-on commercials of all time. Our next surprise guest joins us by phone. He's an old friend. And in fact Bob Dole has been a frequent guest on his show. The host of "The Tonight Show," Jay Leno is with us!

JAY LENO, HOST "THE TONIGHT SHOW": Hello, Bob, happy birthday!

DOLE: Hey, Jay, yes. Well, I appreciate it.

Is this long distance?

LENO: Yes, it is. I know, I'm an old friend, but not as old as all the other people on the show. Here's my question. Why I am the youngest person here, I have the grayest hair, Mike Wallace is the oldest and has the darkest hair, why is that?

DOLE: I drink that Grecian formula. It doesn't taste that good, but the results are.

LENO: In your honor tonight we'll have a Bob Dole cake with Viagra icing.

DOLE: Well, that ought to be -- well, I won't make any comment on that, but good luck. Well, don't break it, yes.

KING: Jay, what is Dole like as a guest when he is appearing...

LENO: He's a great guest. Especially when he loses something. Then is the funniest. He could have been a good comic. He could have been a good comic, instead of wasting his life serving his country, he could have been telling jokes. And, no, he's a very, very funny guy. I've always been very indebted to him. I have an awful lot of old friends who I know whose fathers and grandfathers served in World War II and, you know, those guys are starting to drop away, and, you know, I always call Bob and tell him that, just a number of times this year, friends of mine whose dads passed away.

He always writes a lovely letter to the family. I know you guys are all famous. When you live in a little town in Massachusetts and you get a letter from Bob Dole thanking your father or grandfather for what they did 60 years ago, I mean, it makes such, such an impact. And I can't thank you enough. I mean, I go to people's homes and they have that letter from Bob Dole saying, god bless you and thank you for what you did for our country. He's just a great American, and, you know, so many people forget. He's not one of those guys. So, I always respect him for that.

KING: I'm so glad you said that, Jay. I had no idea he did that.

Jay, what do you make of how well Mike Wallace looks.

LENO: He does look good. It's amazing what they can do with that Botox.

WALLACE: What is that stuff? I've been thinking about drinking some of it. Is it all right?

KING: Jay, do you ever think about making 80?

LENO: Do I think about making 80?

KING: Yes, making it to 80.

LENO: You mean like with an older chick? I see. I thought you meant like a Demi Moore thing. I would like to make to 80. God bless, Bob. You wouldn't know it, but he is so perfectly embalm. You know, those people are amazing. The American funeral industry, god bless them, the work they do. It's just amazing. It's a truth. I watch that show "Six Feet Under" and then I look at Bob, go, it's amazing!

KING: When is Dole on again?

LENO: I don't know. He can be on any time he wants.

DOLE: I'll be out there later this summer. I'll look you up.

LENO: That would be great. We'd love to have you any time, sir. Anytime, you are always a welcomed guest.

DOLE: And Jay, thank you for talking to my mother-in-law a few years ago, Mrs. Hansburg, Salisbury, North Carolina.

LENO: Sure. Sure. Anything I can do to take the heat off you. I try to help you out with your mother-in-laws all the time.

DOLE: Thank you.

LENO: God bless you, Mike, nice talking to you, sir.

Larry, thank you.

KING: Jay, thank you for participating.

It's Bob Dole's 80th birthday. We're halfway through. More surprise guests coming up. More -- another one next. Don't go away.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LENO: Bill Clinton said he was sent to Washington to fight brain-dead politics. So what happened?

I think maybe he got captured now he's a prisoner of war?

Now wait. Now those were awful mean Clinton jokes. That's not Paul, our regular queue card. Look it's Dole that's who is writing them. That's where our jokes are coming from.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP - "Saturday Night Live")

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Dole -- Mr. Dole, President Clinton has built a commanding lead in the race. And given that he is clearly the better candidate, how can you possibly win this election?

MACDONALD: Let me tell you something, Peter. Bob Dole will always...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Do you like seeing yourself made fun of that way, Senator Dole?

DOLE: Yes, when they're good jokes. Those are great. Yes, I like those. I mean, you know, I didn't -- I hadn't seen that one, so that's the first time I've seen it. But yes, if it's good, nice -- nice -- it's funny. I mean, it's clean and it's funny.

KING: Mike Wallace, we are a good-natured country, aren't we.

WALLACE: We sure are. And you know, I got to tell you something. Clinton was great. Leno was great. And Dole -- you know something? You ought to think about running again. I mean, the guy who's in there now, Bob, I don't know that -- has it ever crossed your mind? You're not -- you're not as old as Ronald Reagan, for instance, and...

KING: Aha!

WALLACE: I suppose...

KING: Bob?

WALLACE: I suppose your wife wouldn't be happy with that, though. Is that right?

DOLE: Well, we could double our income, so I think that would be -- you know, that'd be helpful. But I thought what we ought to do, Mike, is you and I start a show for people over 80. You know, there are a lot of people over 80, and we could have a nice maybe once-a- week show and sell all these products for people that get to be our age. KING: Let's bring in another surprise guest, who we have a -- who is coming in with a little bit of a celebration to greet Senator Dole tonight.

WILLARD SCOTT, "TODAY" SHOW WEATHERMAN: Senator Dole...

(CROSSTALK)

KING: Here he comes!

SCOTT: Telegram for Senator Dole. We have a telegram for Senator Dole!

DOLE: Oh, my God! Yes, well, all right!

(CROSSTALK)

DOLE: Western Union. What -- yes, what's it say?

SCOTT: "Roses are red, violets are blue. I'm older than sin, but so are you."

DOLE: No, you're not as old as I am!

(LAUGHTER)

SCOTT: How are you?

DOLE: Well, I'm not as good as you are, but it's good to see you again. Remember the last time we were together was my mother-in-law's 101st birthday. Now she's 102.

SCOTT: Well, I thought she'd be on the show, and I was really hoping she would be because, like you say, she's probably down in North Carolina watching us. But I have one little treat for you that I -- you might get a kick out of it. This is a little premature, but since I may not see you again for a couple of years...

DOLE: Yes, well, I try to get out now and then, but you know...

SCOTT: This is our Smuckers jar, and of course, you know, usually, we fete people who are, you know, a little older than you are. So just in case something happens and we don't get to...

DOLE: Oh, look at that! Well -- now, do I get paid for this? I mean, this is an endorsement? Well, that's...

KING: There he goes.

DOLE: Yes. We'll get that Garlique in there, too, next, Larry.

(LAUGHTER)

SCOTT: Garlique, yes. I think it's wonderful.

DOLE: Yes, I like that. Well, I -- how are you doing? SCOTT: I'm good. Listen, I just -- you know, I'm the youngest guy on this show. I feel terrific.

DOLE: You don't -- you don't announce people who are only 80, do you, on -- no.

SCOTT: No, it's got to be 100 or better. And that's why I say we're going to tape this, just in case I don't make it because, you know, my contract only goes another year. But I wanted to make sure at least I got...

DOLE: You got a picture of Mike Wallace, too? You got...

SCOTT: Is Mike -- can you still see us, Mike? Because you're a legend, as far as I'm concerned. Yes, look at him up there!

DOLE: Oh, he was a legend 25 years ago, and he's still living. Yes. And...

SCOTT: I'll tell you something. One of the best shows you -- I think you ever did was with Margaret Truman. Could you comment on that, Mike? Because you had an afternoon show on NBC...

KING: That's right.

SCOTT: ... back in...

WALLACE: I did.

SCOTT: It was in the '60s or '50s, wasn't it?

WALLACE: It was called "Weekday."

(CROSSTALK)

WALLACE: It was a radio show, 10:00 to 12:00 in the morning and 2:00 to 4:00 in the afternoon over at NBC called "Weekday." And I must tell you, she told me a lot of stories about her dad...

DOLE: I'll be darned.

WALLACE: ... which are not repeatable, actually, in front of this audience, I'm afraid. By the way, if -- if you -- I'm quite serious about this.

DOLE: Right.

WALLACE: Stop calling each other "President" and "Senator." It's "Bob" and "Bill."

DOLE: Right.

KING: He's still on that kick.

WALLACE: It is. I'm not -- forgive me. Before I came over tonight, Mary, my wife, said, Why don't they answer the question? Put the question to them live and let them go at it live...

KING: Yes.

WALLACE: ... so it doesn't get that canned feeling of what you...

KING: Yes.

WALLACE: You know what to expect.

(CROSSTALK)

KING: Have you seen Bob and Bill on "60 Minutes"?

DOLE: Probably not. Willard, you watch "60 Minutes"?

SCOTT: Every Sunday.

DOLE: Oh, every Sunday.

SCOTT: Sometimes on Saturday, I like it so -- the reruns.

DOLE: I like it better on Monday. But well, you know, that might be a good -- that's another good -- could you call Don Hewitt for me and the guys that are going to make the decision, tell them we're available and, you know, ready to go?

WALLACE: Absolutely. Absolutely. And if you can keep Clinton off the speech trail, then he could be in New York or in Washington with you more often.

(CROSSTALK)

KING: By the way, Mike -- I'm sorry. Go ahead, Bob.

DOLE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) going to go to New York because I think, you know, that's where they do "60 Minutes," and they're prepared for it. And we can work out our schedules. We can have -- you know, that's not a problem.

(CROSSTALK)

KING: Mike, were you surprised -- were you surprised, Mike, that President Clinton didn't join the other Democratic counterparts in criticizing the president's use of that language in the State of the Union address?

WALLACE: Nothing that Bill Clinton does really surprises me. The -- he's coming here to the Vineyard, I'm told, he and Hillary, this summer. And none of us is looking forward to it because when he comes, Secret Service, camera crews, and so forth -- too much traffic.

KING: We have another surprise guest on the phone. He is the anchor and managing editor of the NBC "Nightly News." He is Tom Brokaw, author of the best-selling "Greatest Generation" books, emceed for today's formal dedication of the Dole Institute of Politics. Tom, thanks for joining us. What was that like today?

TOM BROKAW, NBC NEWS: Oh, I can't tell you, Larry. It was such a wonderful outpouring of affection out there in the heartland of America for this favorite native son of Kansas. And what I discovered is that Senator Dole and I have always had a wonderful relationship, but we also had shared experiences. He managed to get the University of Kansas to burn his freshman grade transcripts, and so did I, at the University of South Dakota.

(LAUGHTER)

DOLE: That's true.

KING: What is that center like? What do you make of that, Tom?

BROKAW: Well, you know, I must say, it was -- it was a remarkable experience to see these men, who had been through so many common experiences and had such, in many instances, different political philosophies, with this common regard for one another. George McGovern, the quintessential liberal Democrat, and Bob Dole, who is the quintessential conservative Republican, have the greatest personal bond.

DOLE: That's right.

BROKAW: Here they are, two sons of the prairie who worry about hunger around the world. And at one point today, McGovern said, You know, the Senate was filled with a lot of prima donnas, but Dole was not one of them. And so they formed a relationship that I think would be really instructive to current members of Congress about how you get things done in the greater interests of the country, not just to try to play a game of "gotcha" every day.

KING: Mike, were you surprised...

(CROSSTALK)

DOLE: Well, I just want to thank Tom for being there. He'd just flown back from Iraq. You know, he hadn't had any -- barely any sleep, and he was there and did a great job. And you know, this World War II generation owes a lot to Tom Brokaw. And boy, they love him. They love him. We had, as I said, 14 Medal of Honor winners there. There are only 52, World War II Medal of Honors. We had 14 of them. And they love Tom Brokaw for the book and for the fact that he's donated money personally to the World War II memorial, giving the profits from his book for the World War II memorial, which is going to be dedicated next May 29th.

WALLACE: Bob, did you know that "The New York Observer" this week was talking about Brokaw for president, as a Democrat?

DOLE: Well, I started a group, you know, for -- as a Republican. I didn't -- that's -- I didn't -- I hadn't thought of the other thing, but...

WALLACE: What about that? Tom, what about that?

BROKAW: Well, it -- those were some friends of mine who otherwise show good judgment. And what I said is the only thing I'm running for is running for cover. I'm not running for anything, any time, anywhere. I've kept my personal politics out of my professional life all these years. I'm not about to begin now. But I really -- I really do have a lot of admiration for the like software Bob Dole and George McGovern and Jimmy Carter and Pat Roberts from -- from Kansas, who was there today, and Sam Brownback. All these people who give their lives to public life, I think the country owes them a great debt.

KING: Do you think we -- Mike Wallace, do you think we forget our World War II veterans?

WALLACE: Oh, I think that we by and large have done pretty well for the World War II veterans, those of us who still are around. And Tom, in the final analysis, that "Greatest Generation" book was -- said everything that had to be said about those people, it seems to me. Am I wrong?

DOLE: I can speak for that. It did say everything that had to be said, and it was a wonderful book. And that's why Tom Brokaw -- I mean, the veterans, of course, love him for many reasons. Well, you've got a new book, too, out, Mike, I think on Purple Heart.

KING: We're going to take a break and come right back. Tom Brokaw, thanks very much for participating. I know it's been a rough day for you, and we really appreciate it.

BROKAW: Well, I loved being in Kansas with all those great friends of Senator Dole and seeing that Dole Institute. It's a handsome building at KU, and a lot of folks who are going across that part of America ought to stop in.

KING: Tom Brokaw of NBC News. As we go to break, a word from a counterpart, Dan Rather of CBS. We'll be right back. Watch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAN RATHER, CBS NEWS: Howdy, Larry and Senator. And hello, everybody. Wish I could be there in person with you tonight to honor my good friend and great American Bob Dole. But since I can't, I welcome this opportunity and thank you for it, Larry, to be able to say in this way what I and all Rathers so strongly believe and know, which is when we think of Bob Dole, we think of service. How could one not? For more than half a century now, service -- service to country, service to our fellow Americans -- has been defined by Bob Dole. He's helped to define what it is to be an American, from his heroism in World War II to his decades representing the good state of Kansas in the people's house, the Congress of the United States. Bob Dole is a product of the American heartland, and his life has been the work of a heart that beats with good humor and love for this country.

A salute and a tip of the Stetson, Senator, for reaching four score, and congratulations, too, on today's opening of the Dole Institute. Good luck, Godspeed, and any time you need someone to be dragged behind a horse or walk through fire in a gasoline suit for you, give a call or send up a flare. I'll come a-running and do it for you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP - "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE")

MACDONALD: Oh, come on now, Senator. It's a great impression. Listen to this. Come November 5, a lot of people are going to be surprised by Bob Dole because Bob Dole's going to win this election!

DOLE: Doesn't sound a thing like me. First of all, I don't run around saying, Bob Dole does this and Bob Dole does that. That's not something Bob Dole does.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Joining us now, Senator Dole, from Briarcliffe Manor (ph), New York, another gentlemen who participated today in those wonderful exercises at the University of Kansas, the former mayor of New York.

DOLE: Oh, Rudy. Yes.

KING: He presented the first Dole Prize for Leadership during the Institute of Politics celebration. There he is, a very dapper Rudy Giuliani. What was that like today, Rudy?

RUDY GIULIANI, FORMER NEW YORK MAYOR: It was wonderful. It was wonderful to see President Carter and George McGovern with Bob Dole. And I took my son, Andrew, with me. And to see people who were political opponents so strong, so committed to their ideological positions, friends was a wonderful thing about American politics. And I think that's what Bob Dole illustrates, right, the ability to get together and figure out how to solve problems because he's a very, very patriotic American, like you are.

KING: A very special American. What your doing in Briarcliffe Manor?

GIULIANI: I'm checking out upstate New York.

(LAUGHTER)

KING: Ah!

DOLE: Now, let me -- can I interrupt there, Larry?

KING: You may.

DOLE: Well, Rudy, the mayor -- America's mayor was awarded the first Dole Leadership Prize last evening, and we're grateful that he made a special effort to be there. But, you know, he made a comment. Tell everybody what President Carter said when he was up there before 9/11 about Rudy Giuliani.

GIULIANI: Oh, I can't say that.

(CROSSTALK)

DOLE: He said you were -- he was the -- you were the best mayor in America, and that was before 9/11. And I thought that was a great compliment.

GIULIANI: Well, I think you were the best majority leader in the history of the United States.

DOLE: Yes, well, I -- I think that's a great compliment.

GIULIANI: And you were because you knew how to work with other people.

DOLE: Yes, you got to work with other people. I don't...

GIULIANI: And that's something that the Dole Institute can carry on.

DOLE: I hope so.

GIULIANI: If you think about Bob Dole, what you think about is he was a very committed Republican with a very...

KING: Oh, we had him -- I'm sorry. We...

DOLE: He was just getting good, too. Yes.

KING: Yes, we've -- we've lost our -- apparently, our little satellite...

(CROSSTALK)

KING: This is kind of, like, only in America, isn't it, Mike Wallace, this tribute to this special man.

WALLACE: You know, I wish I'd known about that thing out in Kansas. You didn't tell me, Larry.

KING: I didn't know about it, either, until today.

DOLE: Well, we only invited the states -- people from states we carried in 1996.

(LAUGHTER)

DOLE: And we didn't want -- you know, we didn't want a big crowd so -- you know, there were four or five people there. But it was very nice.

KING: Willard Scott's got a book out called "The Older the Fiddle, The Better The Tune."

DOLE: I like that.

KING: I guess these two fellows best exemplify it, don't they, Willard?

SCOTT: They sure do. And I was going to say I'm sorry I didn't do a very smart thing. I should have brought a copy of the book in because you would have loved it. It's got a lot of humor in there. You know Jack LaLanne (ph)?

DOLE: Oh, I know Jack LaLanne, yes.

SCOTT: He's 91 years old, and in the book, he says he can't afford to die, that it would ruin his image.

(LAUGHTER)

DOLE: But he's in good shape, isn't he?

SCOTT: He pulled a boat across San Francisco Bay with his teeth, I think, a year ago. Could you do that?

(LAUGHTER)

DOLE: No, I can't swim.

KING: He's also a little nuts.

(CROSSTALK)

KING: Rudy Giuliani is back with us, we understand. Are you there, Rudy? Is Rudy back?

DOLE: There he is.

KING: There he is. All right. We interrupt -- the satellite went gafoo (ph) and interrupted you, Rudy. You want to finish your thought?

DOLE: You were saying I was a committed Republican.

KING: Apparently, we've lost it again. We're going to take a break and come back and try to put this all together in our final moments with still another surprise to come. Don't go away.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP - TELEVISION COMMERCIAL)

DOLE: When I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, I was primarily concerned with ridding myself of the cancer. But secondly, I was concerned about possible post-operative side effects, like erectile dysfunction, ED, often called impotence. You know, it's a little embarrassing to talk about ED, but it's so important to millions of men and their partners that I decided to talk about it publicly.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: We're back with our remaining moments, with another surprise still to come. But before we get back with Bob Dole, a tribute to the senator from a senator. Watch John McCain.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: There are two things that I remember most about Bob Dole in the many years I've known him. One is during the campaign, 1996. At the rallies, around the edges of the crowd, you'd always see these older men with the hats on with the crossed skis, the guys who were in the 10th Mountain Division with Bob Dole during the war. And afterwards, they would always come up to him, and he would talk to them. It was very touching.

The other thing I remember vividly about Bob is that during the Vietnam war, thousands and thousands of Americans wore bracelets with the names of POWs on them, which was a phenomenal thing. Bob Dole during that period wore a bracelet with my name on it. He never told me. At the time of the debate on Bosnia, as to whether to commit U.S. troops to Bosnia, Bob Dole was on the floor of the Senate summarizing the argument in favor of going to the aid of these people and stopping the genocide that was going on. And I had worked with him on it, and he just mentioned that he had worn a bracelet with my name on it. But he had never told me before in all the years I'd known him, and he's never mentioned it since. It's the classic Bob Dole.

We miss him. They're not coming along like him anymore, and I will always cherish my friend.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DOLE: He's a great friend.

KING: What a great, great story. We have one more surprise, Bob, as you turn 80. The surprise will be coming into the studio as we speak. If we can focus our attention on our last guest of the evening. Here she comes.

(CROSSTALK)

KING: The junior senator from North Carolina.

SEN. ELIZABETH DOLE (R), NORTH CAROLINA: (singing) Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday, dear Robert...

(CROSSTALK)

DOLE: Now, where's Mike Wallace?

ELIZABETH DOLE: Ready, baby!

SCOTT: Here we go. Ready, baby. Ready for this?

ELIZABETH DOLE: Now, a big wish here.

(CROSSTALK)

SCOTT: ... blow it out. Ready? Make a wish.

DOLE: Oh, those are those funny candles.

(LAUGHTER)

SCOTT: Could you see it good?

ELIZABETH DOLE: How about it?

DOLE: Yes, that's pretty good.

ELIZABETH DOLE: Very nice.

SCOTT: It says, "Won't you run again?" It says that on the ticket.

(CROSSTALK)

DOLE: No thanks. I'm walking now, not running anymore.

SCOTT: That's terrific!

ELIZABETH DOLE: There we go!

SCOTT: I think you've got a chair here, Senator.

ELIZABETH DOLE: All right!

(CROSSTALK)

ELIZABETH DOLE: I've got to give you a hug.

SCOTT: Give me a hug. I love you!

(CROSSTALK)

DOLE: We were just talking about your mother and our party down there and all the things we were doing with...

SCOTT: Can I give you a hug?

DOLE: Yes. Why not? Yes, Willard. Come on in.

SCOTT: Melanie Griffith gave you a hug this morning.

DOLE: Who?

SCOTT: Melanie Griffith.

(CROSSTALK)

KING: Can I get a question -- Elizabeth?

ELIZABETH DOLE: Hey.

KING: What's it like...

ELIZABETH DOLE: How're you doing? ELIZABETH DOLE: What's it like to have him turn 80?

ELIZABETH DOLE: Oh, listen, this man has the energy of 10 people, Larry. So you know, whether it's 70, 80, whatever, I mean, he's the same Bob Dole and just goes, you know, night and day and...

(CROSSTALK)

ELIZABETH DOLE: OK, 50. No, but, you know, he's involved in so many different things, I think he's just as busy as he was when he was in the Senate. And indeed, I think, too...

KING: Mike Wallace began tonight, Elizabeth, by asking what kind of house husband is he? What kind of house husband is he?

ELIZABETH DOLE: You know, he's a very, very thoughtful husband. I have to tell you, he does all sorts of things that he doesn't -- he's not asked to do. And things like -- I remember an anniversary when I was campaigning for Bob in '96. And I was in Iowa, he was in Washington. And you know what he did, Larry? He planned a dinner for me, invited friends in Storm Lake (ph), Iowa. He planned the menu. He sent the roses for the table. And then he called to say that he loved me even more than when we were married. So isn't that a thoughtful husband for you?

DOLE: And I've lost 20 pounds, you know, since she lost elected. So I don't know what's going on.

ELIZABETH DOLE: You know -- you know what he did?

KING: Well, we got to -- we got to wind things up. Are you enjoying the Senate, Elizabeth?

ELIZABETH DOLE: I'm enjoying it very much, Larry. I really am. It's a wonderful opportunity to give back for all the blessings that we have in this great land.

DOLE: And I've been watching her voting record. It's pretty good.

(LAUGHTER)

DOLE: You know, it's nothing spectacular, but it's all right.

KING: And Willard, thanks for bringing in the balloons, Willard.

(CROSSTALK)

DOLE: And the Smuckers.

SCOTT: And the Smuckers. Do you still have a doggy at home?

(CROSSTALK)

DOLE: ... with her mother.

ELIZABETH DOLE: He's bonded with my mother.

DOLE: I can't get my dog back.

ELIZABETH DOLE: Bob brought him down during...

KING: And we still...

ELIZABETH DOLE: ... my campaign...

KING: Let me just check...

ELIZABETH DOLE: ... and we can't get him back!

KING: Rudy Giuliani, thank you very much.

GIULIANI: Thank you.

KING: I understand we can see you now. Thanks, Rudy. We're sorry about the satellite, but we...

GIULIANI: Thank you. Happy birthday.

KING: ... really appreciate...

DOLE: Happy -- well, thank you. And thanks for coming to Kansas.

GIULIANI: Happy birthday.

KING: And Mike Wallace, thank you for agreeing to appear with us from up there on the Vineyard, and have a good time when the Clintons arrive.

DOLE: Yes, let's get that show going, the Bob and Mike show. I think it'd be a great show.

WALLACE: You got it. You got it, Bob.

KING: Thank you all very much. And for everyone -- I think I speak for everyone in the free world or anywhere anywhere, salute you, Senator Bob Dole. Happy 80th and many, many more.

DOLE: Thank you, Larry.

KING: We'll see you a lot of times in the next decade, and we'll celebrate your 90th, as well.

DOLE: This is the Bob and Larry Show, right?

(LAUGHTER)

KING: Thank you all for participating. Thanks, everybody.

We'll come back in a minute and tell you about tomorrow night. Don't go away.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KING: Tomorrow night, we'll turn our attention to Iraq, and one of our special guests will be Ambassador Paul Bremer, the head of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq. Ambassador Bremer tomorrow night on LARRY KING LIVE.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired July 22, 2003 - 21:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LARRY KING, CNN HOST: Tonight, Bob Dole turns 80 years old today. It's a birthday party you won't want to miss. Bob Dole for an hour that's packed with surprise guests. Just wait until you see who we've got to sing him happy birthday. We'll find out who Bob Dole's real friends are next on LARRY KING LIVE.
We have a wonderful evening planned tonight, a tribute to a great man. Senator Bob Dole turned 80 today. We have some surprise guests that will be calling in, some in studio and they will also get to some serious topics as well, as this was quite a day on the news front.

Just get you up to date -- Bob Dole was born today, July 22, 80 years ago in Russell, Kansas. Today there was a dedication of the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics on the University of Kansas campus. Among those attending, former President Carter, other dignitaries -- national security adviser Condoleezza Rice, former senator and presidential candidate George McGovern, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who awarded the first Dole prize for leadership. It was billed as the University of Kansas salute to World War II veterans, billed as "The Greatest Generation's Greatest Celebration."

What was it like for you today, senator?

BOB DOLE (R-KS), FORMER SENATOR: It was fantastic. I mean, to see all -- many old friends and we had 14 Medal of Honor winners there, World War II -- and there are only 52. We had a third of the Medal Honor winners. And just a great day. And the fact President Carter came was sort of the icing on the birthday cake because it showed it was bipartisan. And one word, Larry, that I didn't hear for either day I was there was the word Republican or Democrat. So it was that kind of a day.

KING: And we're sorry to hear that Gerald Ford was slated to be there but was under the weather, right?

DOLE: Well, he had -- you know, he didn't -- wasn't quite certain. He didn't feel well. And our advice was don't take any chances. Stay home. We want you around a long time. So he was there in spirit. He's a great friend and a great guy.

KING: What is the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics?

DOLE: Well, it's all about -- it's not about Bob Dole. There are a lot of things in there that, you know, talk about me and refer to my life in politics and before politics. But what we hope to do is -- just as they do in the presidential libraries and maybe even a little more on the KU campus, is to try to interest young people in public service and politics in the broad sense -- not in the Republican or Democratic sense -- but participating in politics, participating in government, and we hope to have a number of lectures and outstanding visitors, hopefully have Larry King some day come to the University of Kansas campus. It's -- you know, it's really very nice. And I'm humbled. But I don't deserve it, but I was happy to be there.

KING: I'll be honored to come. What does it like -- what does it feel like to be 80?

DOLE: I think those are only numbers. I mean, I know some people who are 40 who think they are old. I used to think people at 40 were old.

But, you know, I'm in good health as far as I know and I'm very active. I'm doing just as much now as I was 20 or 30 years ago.

But, you know, as long as you just keep busy. You know, we program here once -- you remember on LARRY KING LIVE when we had all these people in their 70s talking about, how do you stay active and how do you stay young? You keep staying active. I mean, you participate. You exercise your mind and your body every day. So I try to do some of that.

KING: A lot of people I've talked to who reach 80, and Mike Wallace will be a little -- with us in a little while, and he's well -- he's older than you - -tell us that they never thought they'd make it. But before we get your thoughts on that, our first surprise guest of the evening is joining us by phone from his home, the former president of the United States, Bill Clinton. Are you there, President Clinton?

WILLIAM J. CLINTON, FMR. PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Happy birthday, Bob.

DOLE: Hey, Bill -- Mr. President, thank you very much. I appreciate it.

CLINTON: You look pretty good. Is he 60? 50? 40?

DOLE: Well, they have a good makeup person here and she did a great job, and I think I can probably pass for 45.

CLINTON: You can pass it with me any day.

KING: President Clinton...

DOLE: Yes, well I...

KING: ....in those days when you were tussling, you and Senator Dole, running for the presidency, did you always kind of really like him?

CLINTON: Yes. You know, I always -- first of all, I admired him before I became president, and I always admired what he did in public life and the adversity he overcame and the fact that he was always willing to work with Democrats. He worked with Senator McGovern on food stamps; he worked on the Americans With Disabilities Act. And, you know, the work we did together after September 11 to raise all that money, over $100 million for scholarships for the children and spouses of all the people who were killed or disabled was maybe one of the most rewarding things I ever did. And I don't think it would have been possible if we haven't done it together to make sure there was no politics in it at all and I'm just grateful to him.

DOLE: Yes. And, you know, as I said many times before, and the president knows, he was my opponent, not my enemy. And that's the way, you know, it ought to be in politics.

I think you can have opponents, and you go out and do your best and some win and some lost. It's a lot more fun winning, but when it's over, win or lose, you still have a life.

KING: While I have you both here, let me get in just a couple of quick questions about the day's events, starting with President Clinton. What did you make of the killing today of Saddam Hussein's two sons?

CLINTON: Well, I think it's good news for, you know, trying to get the situation under better control there and I'm really happy. I'm happy that, you know, that the military did their job, as they always did, and, do, and, you know, those guys were pretty foolish not to give up, I think, but that's not the first stupid mistake they've made. And I hope that it will give the Iraqi people some sense of reassurance, and I hope it will reduce the number of attacks on our men and women over there who are still working trying to pacify the situation. I think it's got to be on balance, quite good news for us.

KING: Your reaction, Senator?

DOLE: Mine's the same. I think these are terrible people, and they inflicted punishment and death and everything they could think of, humiliation on Iraqis for I don't know how many years. And this, I think it's going to put the focus back where it should be.

We're at war with Iraq and next big target is Saddam Hussein. And the Iraqi people, as the president indicated, will start to understand that we're there. We are liberators. We are not trying to occupy Iraq. But it's going to take a while. And this demonstrates again -- you just -- I want to pat the military on the back. These men and women are doing a great job.

KING: President, maybe I can get an area where you may disagree. Do you join, President Clinton, your fellow Democrats, in complaining about the portion of the State of the Union address that dealt with nuclear weaponry in Africa?

CLINTON: Well, I have a little different take on it, I think, than either side.

First of all, the White House said -- Mr. Fleischer said -- that on balance they probably shouldn't have put that comment in the speech. What happened, often happens. There was a disagreement between British intelligence and American intelligence. The president said it was British intelligence that said it. And then they said, well, maybe they shouldn't have put it in.

Let me tell you what I know. When I left office, there was a substantial amount of biological and chemical material unaccounted for. That is, at the end of the first Gulf War, we knew what he had. We knew what was destroyed in all the inspection processes and that was a lot. And then we bombed with the British for four days in 1998. We might have gotten it all; we might have gotten half of it; we might have gotten none of it. But we didn't know. So I thought it was prudent for the president to go to the U.N. and for the U.N. to say you got to let these inspectors in, and this time if you don't cooperate the penalty could be regime change, not just continued sanctions.

I mean, we're all more sensitive to any possible stocks of chemical and biological weapons. So there's a difference between British -- British intelligence still maintains that they think the nuclear story was true. I don't know what was true, what was false. I thought the White House did the right thing in just saying, Well, we probably shouldn't have said that. And I think we ought to focus on where we are and what the right thing to do for Iraq is now. That's what I think.

KING: So do you share that view, Senator Dole?

DOLE: Oh, he's exactly right. Let's put the focus where it belongs.

I never got to be president. I tried a couple of times. But President Clinton understands better than anybody that he gets piles and piles of classified, secret, top secret information, and I don't know how many, maybe the president can tell me. I don't know how much of this goes across your desk every day. It probably shouldn't have been in the message.

But that's history. It's passed. We can't change it. And we need to focus on the real problem.

KING: What do you do, Mr. President, with what's put in front of you?

CLINTON: Well, here's what happens: every day the president gets a daily brief from the CIA. And then, if it's some important issue -- and believe me, you know, anything having to do with chemical, biological or nuclear weapons became much more important to everybody in the White House after September the 11 -- then they probably told the president, certainly Condoleezza Rice, that this is what the British intelligence thought. They maybe have a difference of opinion, but on balance, they decided they should leave that line in the speech.

I think the main thing I want to say to you is, people can quarrel with whether we should have more troops in Afghanistan or internationalize Iraq or whatever, but it is incontestable that on the day I left office, there were unaccounted for stocks...

DOLE: That's right.

CLINTON: ... of biological and chemical weapons. We might have destroyed them in '98. We tried to, but we sure as heck didn't know it because we never got to go back in there.

KING: Yes.

CLINTON: And what I think -- again, I would say the most important thing is we should focus on what's the best way to build Iraq as a democracy? How is the president going to do that and deal with continuing problems in Afghanistan and North Korea?

We should be pulling for America on this. We should be pulling for the people of Iraq. We can have honest disagreements about where we go from here, and we have space now to discuss that in what I hope will be a nonpartisan and open way. But this State of the Union deal they decided to use the British intelligence. The president said it was British intelligence. Then they said on balance they shouldn't have done it. You know, everybody makes mistakes when they are president. I mean, you can't make as many calls as you have to make without messing up once in awhile. The thing we ought to be focused on is what is the right thing to do now. That's what I think.

KING: Before you leave us, what do you think the legacy of senator Dole will be?

CLINTON: I think there will be a public legacy of a man who stood up for his conservative Republican beliefs and was not only one of the most articulate spokesmen, but clearly the funniest spokesman his party produced in the last 50 years, maybe ever. Maybe since Lincoln he's the funniest Republican. And I think there's a personal legacy of a man who refused to let a problem that could have broken a lot of people break him. Instead, it made him bigger and better and deeper. And I'll never forget it.

One other thing I want to say is -- another thing I'm grateful to Bob Dole for is that he cared about all the little people in the world that may not have any strategic importance to America. The people in Kosovo, the people in Armenia, people all over the world, little people. Everybody forgets about them because they don't come from big powerful rich countries. They were getting killed and slaughtered, Bob Dole cared about them. That meant the world to me. So, you know, I guess I sound like a card-carrying Republican tonight. I love the guy. I can't help it. I think he's great.

KING: Have you gotten much closer to the president?

DOLE: No doubt about it. We had this little program on "60 Minutes." But the president made a point that need to be repeated. In December of 1995, and I was in a primary trying to get the nomination for the Republican side and the president announced he told me in advance as he told some other people, that we're going to send troops to Bosnia. I didn't think it was an easy decision for me. I sit up on the Senate floor and supported the president. You can't do that, you can't do that, it's going to hurt you in New Hampshire. It's going to hurt you somewhere else. But the president understood, and I understood that he was the commander in chief and he made a decision, and he needed our support and so did the American troops. And that's what he was talking about when he talked about Kosovo and Bosnia and Serbia and Croatia and all the other areas where millions of people were refugees and over 200,000, 300,000 innocent civilians lost their lives.

KING: President Clinton, thank you very much for joining us on this and paying tribute to your friend senator Dole.

CLINTON: Thanks, Larry.

Happy birthday, Bob! Let's do this again in 10 years.

DOLE: I'll be around. If you take care of yourself, you'll be around, too.

CLINTON: Bob, I'll try to hang on for you.

KING: We look forward to it at 90.

KING: When we come back, Mike Wallace of CBS News. He's older than Mr. Dole. When we return. Don't go away.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAN AYKROYD, ACTOR: You know it's kind of frustrating for me. I mean, I have this great Bob Dole impression and nowhere to use it you know?

DOLE: If it's any consolation to you, Norm, the impression isn't that great.

AYKROYD: Since you got into civilian life you don't pull any punches there do you? Now really, you don't like my impression?

DOLE: No. You're really doing an impression of Dan Aykroyd when he does an impression of me. You know it, and I know it, and the American people know it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP "PEPSI COMMERCIAL")

(SINGING)

DOLE: Easy boy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Played Viagra and Pepsi into a big deal after retiring. Senator Bob Dole is 80-years-old. Joining us now -- a lot of surprise guest coming tonight. And the first guest on board comes from Martha's Vineyard, where he enjoys a lot of the summers, Mike Wallace, the coeditor and correspondent of CBS News' "60 Minutes," who is five years older than the senator. He's -- he's nothing to you, right?

MIKE WALLACE, CBS NEWS "60 MINUTES": What's the big deal? He's 80-years-old. Come on. He's in adolescent.

What kind of house husband are you, senator?

(CROSSTALK)

KING: By the way I must say, Mike will be with us for the rest of the program. So, he can chime in with questions of anyone. He can co-host any time.

The question is directed, Senator Dole, what kind of house husband are you?

DOLE: Well, I think most of the time I do a good job. I don't do anything and that generally works out all right.

WALLACE: I'm not sure what an 80-year-old does all day long. I mean, come on.

DOLE: You know, my mother-in-law, Mrs. Hansford (ph) in Salisbury and I think she is probably watching is 102. And she still works every day. She's on the telephone talking to people, making notes on Larry King's program and things like that. So, I do about what Mike Wallace does, but I do more because I'm a much younger man.

WALLACE: That's true.

KING: Mike, what do you appreciate most, about -- Mike, you'll be contributing throughout the show, but what do you appreciate the most about Senator Dole, historically?

WALLACE: Come on. He fought in the same war I fought in. He's 100 percent legitimate hero for what he did. He's a sensible guy. I think he probably would have made a hell of a president, frankly, compared to some of the others on the Republican side. The -- what I would like to do is be a television critic, if I may Bob. If I may call you Bob.

DOLE: Right.

WALLACE: You know, something, it was quite apparent when you were talking to Bill Clinton that you agree on virtually everything. Back in the old days on "60 minutes" we had Shana Alexander and Jack Kilpatrick, and they were at each other all the time. But you and he, Bill and Bob. The Bill and Bob show should be, you know, more, are you coming on next September, October?

DOLE: Well, we hope so. They're going to make a decision soon. But we've got our fingers crossed. I think you're about to make a point that I'll confirm in a moment here, but you go ahead.

WALLACE: All right. I was about to make a point, that you're going to confirm?

DOLE: Well, I think the last couple of episodes, the last couple of segments were much, much better. We disagree on a lot of things. But we ought to be there face to face and not me in Washington and the president in New York. And I ought to be -- my strength is humor and I'm fairly quick, and he's very articulate. There's got to be some way to put that together. We don't want to make personal attacks and I don't want blood on the floor, unless it's his. But my view is that the program is getting better. If it continues, we'll be very happy. If it doesn't, we'll do something else.

KING: When will we know, by the way.

Mike, are you on the decision?

WALLACE: They don't talk to me, that's above my pay grade.

KING: All right, let me to get a break, Mike. Hold on I have got to get a break. We'll come right back we have another surprise guest joining us. Wallace remains with us. You're watching LARRY KING LIVE's tribute to Bob Dole on his 80th birthday. We've already heard from the former president. Don't go away.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AKYROYD: Nobody eats Bob Dole peanut butter with out asking.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Whatever.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Bob, needed to work on his people skills.

AKYROYD: It's a different story. You keep your grubby hands out of Bob Dole's peanut butter.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So, I called a house meeting.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bob Dole likes peanut butter. Bob Dole is not ready to (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK! OK! OK! Hey, the reason I called this meeting is because I think there's some issues we need to face.

AKYROYD: Out of my chair.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Relax senator.

AKYROYD: That's Bob Dole's chair and everybody knows it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bob! Bob!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) DOLE: Hi, I'm Bob Dole, and I've always spoken to you frankly. I'm eager to tell you about a product that helps me feel youthful and vital again. What is this amazing product?

It's my faithful little blue friend, an ice cold Pepsi cola.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The revitalizing effects of Pepsi cola, are a they right for you?

Check with your convenience store counter clerk and start living.

DOLE: I feel like a kid again.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: One of the great put-on commercials of all time. Our next surprise guest joins us by phone. He's an old friend. And in fact Bob Dole has been a frequent guest on his show. The host of "The Tonight Show," Jay Leno is with us!

JAY LENO, HOST "THE TONIGHT SHOW": Hello, Bob, happy birthday!

DOLE: Hey, Jay, yes. Well, I appreciate it.

Is this long distance?

LENO: Yes, it is. I know, I'm an old friend, but not as old as all the other people on the show. Here's my question. Why I am the youngest person here, I have the grayest hair, Mike Wallace is the oldest and has the darkest hair, why is that?

DOLE: I drink that Grecian formula. It doesn't taste that good, but the results are.

LENO: In your honor tonight we'll have a Bob Dole cake with Viagra icing.

DOLE: Well, that ought to be -- well, I won't make any comment on that, but good luck. Well, don't break it, yes.

KING: Jay, what is Dole like as a guest when he is appearing...

LENO: He's a great guest. Especially when he loses something. Then is the funniest. He could have been a good comic. He could have been a good comic, instead of wasting his life serving his country, he could have been telling jokes. And, no, he's a very, very funny guy. I've always been very indebted to him. I have an awful lot of old friends who I know whose fathers and grandfathers served in World War II and, you know, those guys are starting to drop away, and, you know, I always call Bob and tell him that, just a number of times this year, friends of mine whose dads passed away.

He always writes a lovely letter to the family. I know you guys are all famous. When you live in a little town in Massachusetts and you get a letter from Bob Dole thanking your father or grandfather for what they did 60 years ago, I mean, it makes such, such an impact. And I can't thank you enough. I mean, I go to people's homes and they have that letter from Bob Dole saying, god bless you and thank you for what you did for our country. He's just a great American, and, you know, so many people forget. He's not one of those guys. So, I always respect him for that.

KING: I'm so glad you said that, Jay. I had no idea he did that.

Jay, what do you make of how well Mike Wallace looks.

LENO: He does look good. It's amazing what they can do with that Botox.

WALLACE: What is that stuff? I've been thinking about drinking some of it. Is it all right?

KING: Jay, do you ever think about making 80?

LENO: Do I think about making 80?

KING: Yes, making it to 80.

LENO: You mean like with an older chick? I see. I thought you meant like a Demi Moore thing. I would like to make to 80. God bless, Bob. You wouldn't know it, but he is so perfectly embalm. You know, those people are amazing. The American funeral industry, god bless them, the work they do. It's just amazing. It's a truth. I watch that show "Six Feet Under" and then I look at Bob, go, it's amazing!

KING: When is Dole on again?

LENO: I don't know. He can be on any time he wants.

DOLE: I'll be out there later this summer. I'll look you up.

LENO: That would be great. We'd love to have you any time, sir. Anytime, you are always a welcomed guest.

DOLE: And Jay, thank you for talking to my mother-in-law a few years ago, Mrs. Hansburg, Salisbury, North Carolina.

LENO: Sure. Sure. Anything I can do to take the heat off you. I try to help you out with your mother-in-laws all the time.

DOLE: Thank you.

LENO: God bless you, Mike, nice talking to you, sir.

Larry, thank you.

KING: Jay, thank you for participating.

It's Bob Dole's 80th birthday. We're halfway through. More surprise guests coming up. More -- another one next. Don't go away.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LENO: Bill Clinton said he was sent to Washington to fight brain-dead politics. So what happened?

I think maybe he got captured now he's a prisoner of war?

Now wait. Now those were awful mean Clinton jokes. That's not Paul, our regular queue card. Look it's Dole that's who is writing them. That's where our jokes are coming from.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP - "Saturday Night Live")

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Dole -- Mr. Dole, President Clinton has built a commanding lead in the race. And given that he is clearly the better candidate, how can you possibly win this election?

MACDONALD: Let me tell you something, Peter. Bob Dole will always...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Do you like seeing yourself made fun of that way, Senator Dole?

DOLE: Yes, when they're good jokes. Those are great. Yes, I like those. I mean, you know, I didn't -- I hadn't seen that one, so that's the first time I've seen it. But yes, if it's good, nice -- nice -- it's funny. I mean, it's clean and it's funny.

KING: Mike Wallace, we are a good-natured country, aren't we.

WALLACE: We sure are. And you know, I got to tell you something. Clinton was great. Leno was great. And Dole -- you know something? You ought to think about running again. I mean, the guy who's in there now, Bob, I don't know that -- has it ever crossed your mind? You're not -- you're not as old as Ronald Reagan, for instance, and...

KING: Aha!

WALLACE: I suppose...

KING: Bob?

WALLACE: I suppose your wife wouldn't be happy with that, though. Is that right?

DOLE: Well, we could double our income, so I think that would be -- you know, that'd be helpful. But I thought what we ought to do, Mike, is you and I start a show for people over 80. You know, there are a lot of people over 80, and we could have a nice maybe once-a- week show and sell all these products for people that get to be our age. KING: Let's bring in another surprise guest, who we have a -- who is coming in with a little bit of a celebration to greet Senator Dole tonight.

WILLARD SCOTT, "TODAY" SHOW WEATHERMAN: Senator Dole...

(CROSSTALK)

KING: Here he comes!

SCOTT: Telegram for Senator Dole. We have a telegram for Senator Dole!

DOLE: Oh, my God! Yes, well, all right!

(CROSSTALK)

DOLE: Western Union. What -- yes, what's it say?

SCOTT: "Roses are red, violets are blue. I'm older than sin, but so are you."

DOLE: No, you're not as old as I am!

(LAUGHTER)

SCOTT: How are you?

DOLE: Well, I'm not as good as you are, but it's good to see you again. Remember the last time we were together was my mother-in-law's 101st birthday. Now she's 102.

SCOTT: Well, I thought she'd be on the show, and I was really hoping she would be because, like you say, she's probably down in North Carolina watching us. But I have one little treat for you that I -- you might get a kick out of it. This is a little premature, but since I may not see you again for a couple of years...

DOLE: Yes, well, I try to get out now and then, but you know...

SCOTT: This is our Smuckers jar, and of course, you know, usually, we fete people who are, you know, a little older than you are. So just in case something happens and we don't get to...

DOLE: Oh, look at that! Well -- now, do I get paid for this? I mean, this is an endorsement? Well, that's...

KING: There he goes.

DOLE: Yes. We'll get that Garlique in there, too, next, Larry.

(LAUGHTER)

SCOTT: Garlique, yes. I think it's wonderful.

DOLE: Yes, I like that. Well, I -- how are you doing? SCOTT: I'm good. Listen, I just -- you know, I'm the youngest guy on this show. I feel terrific.

DOLE: You don't -- you don't announce people who are only 80, do you, on -- no.

SCOTT: No, it's got to be 100 or better. And that's why I say we're going to tape this, just in case I don't make it because, you know, my contract only goes another year. But I wanted to make sure at least I got...

DOLE: You got a picture of Mike Wallace, too? You got...

SCOTT: Is Mike -- can you still see us, Mike? Because you're a legend, as far as I'm concerned. Yes, look at him up there!

DOLE: Oh, he was a legend 25 years ago, and he's still living. Yes. And...

SCOTT: I'll tell you something. One of the best shows you -- I think you ever did was with Margaret Truman. Could you comment on that, Mike? Because you had an afternoon show on NBC...

KING: That's right.

SCOTT: ... back in...

WALLACE: I did.

SCOTT: It was in the '60s or '50s, wasn't it?

WALLACE: It was called "Weekday."

(CROSSTALK)

WALLACE: It was a radio show, 10:00 to 12:00 in the morning and 2:00 to 4:00 in the afternoon over at NBC called "Weekday." And I must tell you, she told me a lot of stories about her dad...

DOLE: I'll be darned.

WALLACE: ... which are not repeatable, actually, in front of this audience, I'm afraid. By the way, if -- if you -- I'm quite serious about this.

DOLE: Right.

WALLACE: Stop calling each other "President" and "Senator." It's "Bob" and "Bill."

DOLE: Right.

KING: He's still on that kick.

WALLACE: It is. I'm not -- forgive me. Before I came over tonight, Mary, my wife, said, Why don't they answer the question? Put the question to them live and let them go at it live...

KING: Yes.

WALLACE: ... so it doesn't get that canned feeling of what you...

KING: Yes.

WALLACE: You know what to expect.

(CROSSTALK)

KING: Have you seen Bob and Bill on "60 Minutes"?

DOLE: Probably not. Willard, you watch "60 Minutes"?

SCOTT: Every Sunday.

DOLE: Oh, every Sunday.

SCOTT: Sometimes on Saturday, I like it so -- the reruns.

DOLE: I like it better on Monday. But well, you know, that might be a good -- that's another good -- could you call Don Hewitt for me and the guys that are going to make the decision, tell them we're available and, you know, ready to go?

WALLACE: Absolutely. Absolutely. And if you can keep Clinton off the speech trail, then he could be in New York or in Washington with you more often.

(CROSSTALK)

KING: By the way, Mike -- I'm sorry. Go ahead, Bob.

DOLE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) going to go to New York because I think, you know, that's where they do "60 Minutes," and they're prepared for it. And we can work out our schedules. We can have -- you know, that's not a problem.

(CROSSTALK)

KING: Mike, were you surprised -- were you surprised, Mike, that President Clinton didn't join the other Democratic counterparts in criticizing the president's use of that language in the State of the Union address?

WALLACE: Nothing that Bill Clinton does really surprises me. The -- he's coming here to the Vineyard, I'm told, he and Hillary, this summer. And none of us is looking forward to it because when he comes, Secret Service, camera crews, and so forth -- too much traffic.

KING: We have another surprise guest on the phone. He is the anchor and managing editor of the NBC "Nightly News." He is Tom Brokaw, author of the best-selling "Greatest Generation" books, emceed for today's formal dedication of the Dole Institute of Politics. Tom, thanks for joining us. What was that like today?

TOM BROKAW, NBC NEWS: Oh, I can't tell you, Larry. It was such a wonderful outpouring of affection out there in the heartland of America for this favorite native son of Kansas. And what I discovered is that Senator Dole and I have always had a wonderful relationship, but we also had shared experiences. He managed to get the University of Kansas to burn his freshman grade transcripts, and so did I, at the University of South Dakota.

(LAUGHTER)

DOLE: That's true.

KING: What is that center like? What do you make of that, Tom?

BROKAW: Well, you know, I must say, it was -- it was a remarkable experience to see these men, who had been through so many common experiences and had such, in many instances, different political philosophies, with this common regard for one another. George McGovern, the quintessential liberal Democrat, and Bob Dole, who is the quintessential conservative Republican, have the greatest personal bond.

DOLE: That's right.

BROKAW: Here they are, two sons of the prairie who worry about hunger around the world. And at one point today, McGovern said, You know, the Senate was filled with a lot of prima donnas, but Dole was not one of them. And so they formed a relationship that I think would be really instructive to current members of Congress about how you get things done in the greater interests of the country, not just to try to play a game of "gotcha" every day.

KING: Mike, were you surprised...

(CROSSTALK)

DOLE: Well, I just want to thank Tom for being there. He'd just flown back from Iraq. You know, he hadn't had any -- barely any sleep, and he was there and did a great job. And you know, this World War II generation owes a lot to Tom Brokaw. And boy, they love him. They love him. We had, as I said, 14 Medal of Honor winners there. There are only 52, World War II Medal of Honors. We had 14 of them. And they love Tom Brokaw for the book and for the fact that he's donated money personally to the World War II memorial, giving the profits from his book for the World War II memorial, which is going to be dedicated next May 29th.

WALLACE: Bob, did you know that "The New York Observer" this week was talking about Brokaw for president, as a Democrat?

DOLE: Well, I started a group, you know, for -- as a Republican. I didn't -- that's -- I didn't -- I hadn't thought of the other thing, but...

WALLACE: What about that? Tom, what about that?

BROKAW: Well, it -- those were some friends of mine who otherwise show good judgment. And what I said is the only thing I'm running for is running for cover. I'm not running for anything, any time, anywhere. I've kept my personal politics out of my professional life all these years. I'm not about to begin now. But I really -- I really do have a lot of admiration for the like software Bob Dole and George McGovern and Jimmy Carter and Pat Roberts from -- from Kansas, who was there today, and Sam Brownback. All these people who give their lives to public life, I think the country owes them a great debt.

KING: Do you think we -- Mike Wallace, do you think we forget our World War II veterans?

WALLACE: Oh, I think that we by and large have done pretty well for the World War II veterans, those of us who still are around. And Tom, in the final analysis, that "Greatest Generation" book was -- said everything that had to be said about those people, it seems to me. Am I wrong?

DOLE: I can speak for that. It did say everything that had to be said, and it was a wonderful book. And that's why Tom Brokaw -- I mean, the veterans, of course, love him for many reasons. Well, you've got a new book, too, out, Mike, I think on Purple Heart.

KING: We're going to take a break and come right back. Tom Brokaw, thanks very much for participating. I know it's been a rough day for you, and we really appreciate it.

BROKAW: Well, I loved being in Kansas with all those great friends of Senator Dole and seeing that Dole Institute. It's a handsome building at KU, and a lot of folks who are going across that part of America ought to stop in.

KING: Tom Brokaw of NBC News. As we go to break, a word from a counterpart, Dan Rather of CBS. We'll be right back. Watch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAN RATHER, CBS NEWS: Howdy, Larry and Senator. And hello, everybody. Wish I could be there in person with you tonight to honor my good friend and great American Bob Dole. But since I can't, I welcome this opportunity and thank you for it, Larry, to be able to say in this way what I and all Rathers so strongly believe and know, which is when we think of Bob Dole, we think of service. How could one not? For more than half a century now, service -- service to country, service to our fellow Americans -- has been defined by Bob Dole. He's helped to define what it is to be an American, from his heroism in World War II to his decades representing the good state of Kansas in the people's house, the Congress of the United States. Bob Dole is a product of the American heartland, and his life has been the work of a heart that beats with good humor and love for this country.

A salute and a tip of the Stetson, Senator, for reaching four score, and congratulations, too, on today's opening of the Dole Institute. Good luck, Godspeed, and any time you need someone to be dragged behind a horse or walk through fire in a gasoline suit for you, give a call or send up a flare. I'll come a-running and do it for you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP - "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE")

MACDONALD: Oh, come on now, Senator. It's a great impression. Listen to this. Come November 5, a lot of people are going to be surprised by Bob Dole because Bob Dole's going to win this election!

DOLE: Doesn't sound a thing like me. First of all, I don't run around saying, Bob Dole does this and Bob Dole does that. That's not something Bob Dole does.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Joining us now, Senator Dole, from Briarcliffe Manor (ph), New York, another gentlemen who participated today in those wonderful exercises at the University of Kansas, the former mayor of New York.

DOLE: Oh, Rudy. Yes.

KING: He presented the first Dole Prize for Leadership during the Institute of Politics celebration. There he is, a very dapper Rudy Giuliani. What was that like today, Rudy?

RUDY GIULIANI, FORMER NEW YORK MAYOR: It was wonderful. It was wonderful to see President Carter and George McGovern with Bob Dole. And I took my son, Andrew, with me. And to see people who were political opponents so strong, so committed to their ideological positions, friends was a wonderful thing about American politics. And I think that's what Bob Dole illustrates, right, the ability to get together and figure out how to solve problems because he's a very, very patriotic American, like you are.

KING: A very special American. What your doing in Briarcliffe Manor?

GIULIANI: I'm checking out upstate New York.

(LAUGHTER)

KING: Ah!

DOLE: Now, let me -- can I interrupt there, Larry?

KING: You may.

DOLE: Well, Rudy, the mayor -- America's mayor was awarded the first Dole Leadership Prize last evening, and we're grateful that he made a special effort to be there. But, you know, he made a comment. Tell everybody what President Carter said when he was up there before 9/11 about Rudy Giuliani.

GIULIANI: Oh, I can't say that.

(CROSSTALK)

DOLE: He said you were -- he was the -- you were the best mayor in America, and that was before 9/11. And I thought that was a great compliment.

GIULIANI: Well, I think you were the best majority leader in the history of the United States.

DOLE: Yes, well, I -- I think that's a great compliment.

GIULIANI: And you were because you knew how to work with other people.

DOLE: Yes, you got to work with other people. I don't...

GIULIANI: And that's something that the Dole Institute can carry on.

DOLE: I hope so.

GIULIANI: If you think about Bob Dole, what you think about is he was a very committed Republican with a very...

KING: Oh, we had him -- I'm sorry. We...

DOLE: He was just getting good, too. Yes.

KING: Yes, we've -- we've lost our -- apparently, our little satellite...

(CROSSTALK)

KING: This is kind of, like, only in America, isn't it, Mike Wallace, this tribute to this special man.

WALLACE: You know, I wish I'd known about that thing out in Kansas. You didn't tell me, Larry.

KING: I didn't know about it, either, until today.

DOLE: Well, we only invited the states -- people from states we carried in 1996.

(LAUGHTER)

DOLE: And we didn't want -- you know, we didn't want a big crowd so -- you know, there were four or five people there. But it was very nice.

KING: Willard Scott's got a book out called "The Older the Fiddle, The Better The Tune."

DOLE: I like that.

KING: I guess these two fellows best exemplify it, don't they, Willard?

SCOTT: They sure do. And I was going to say I'm sorry I didn't do a very smart thing. I should have brought a copy of the book in because you would have loved it. It's got a lot of humor in there. You know Jack LaLanne (ph)?

DOLE: Oh, I know Jack LaLanne, yes.

SCOTT: He's 91 years old, and in the book, he says he can't afford to die, that it would ruin his image.

(LAUGHTER)

DOLE: But he's in good shape, isn't he?

SCOTT: He pulled a boat across San Francisco Bay with his teeth, I think, a year ago. Could you do that?

(LAUGHTER)

DOLE: No, I can't swim.

KING: He's also a little nuts.

(CROSSTALK)

KING: Rudy Giuliani is back with us, we understand. Are you there, Rudy? Is Rudy back?

DOLE: There he is.

KING: There he is. All right. We interrupt -- the satellite went gafoo (ph) and interrupted you, Rudy. You want to finish your thought?

DOLE: You were saying I was a committed Republican.

KING: Apparently, we've lost it again. We're going to take a break and come back and try to put this all together in our final moments with still another surprise to come. Don't go away.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP - TELEVISION COMMERCIAL)

DOLE: When I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, I was primarily concerned with ridding myself of the cancer. But secondly, I was concerned about possible post-operative side effects, like erectile dysfunction, ED, often called impotence. You know, it's a little embarrassing to talk about ED, but it's so important to millions of men and their partners that I decided to talk about it publicly.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: We're back with our remaining moments, with another surprise still to come. But before we get back with Bob Dole, a tribute to the senator from a senator. Watch John McCain.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: There are two things that I remember most about Bob Dole in the many years I've known him. One is during the campaign, 1996. At the rallies, around the edges of the crowd, you'd always see these older men with the hats on with the crossed skis, the guys who were in the 10th Mountain Division with Bob Dole during the war. And afterwards, they would always come up to him, and he would talk to them. It was very touching.

The other thing I remember vividly about Bob is that during the Vietnam war, thousands and thousands of Americans wore bracelets with the names of POWs on them, which was a phenomenal thing. Bob Dole during that period wore a bracelet with my name on it. He never told me. At the time of the debate on Bosnia, as to whether to commit U.S. troops to Bosnia, Bob Dole was on the floor of the Senate summarizing the argument in favor of going to the aid of these people and stopping the genocide that was going on. And I had worked with him on it, and he just mentioned that he had worn a bracelet with my name on it. But he had never told me before in all the years I'd known him, and he's never mentioned it since. It's the classic Bob Dole.

We miss him. They're not coming along like him anymore, and I will always cherish my friend.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DOLE: He's a great friend.

KING: What a great, great story. We have one more surprise, Bob, as you turn 80. The surprise will be coming into the studio as we speak. If we can focus our attention on our last guest of the evening. Here she comes.

(CROSSTALK)

KING: The junior senator from North Carolina.

SEN. ELIZABETH DOLE (R), NORTH CAROLINA: (singing) Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday, dear Robert...

(CROSSTALK)

DOLE: Now, where's Mike Wallace?

ELIZABETH DOLE: Ready, baby!

SCOTT: Here we go. Ready, baby. Ready for this?

ELIZABETH DOLE: Now, a big wish here.

(CROSSTALK)

SCOTT: ... blow it out. Ready? Make a wish.

DOLE: Oh, those are those funny candles.

(LAUGHTER)

SCOTT: Could you see it good?

ELIZABETH DOLE: How about it?

DOLE: Yes, that's pretty good.

ELIZABETH DOLE: Very nice.

SCOTT: It says, "Won't you run again?" It says that on the ticket.

(CROSSTALK)

DOLE: No thanks. I'm walking now, not running anymore.

SCOTT: That's terrific!

ELIZABETH DOLE: There we go!

SCOTT: I think you've got a chair here, Senator.

ELIZABETH DOLE: All right!

(CROSSTALK)

ELIZABETH DOLE: I've got to give you a hug.

SCOTT: Give me a hug. I love you!

(CROSSTALK)

DOLE: We were just talking about your mother and our party down there and all the things we were doing with...

SCOTT: Can I give you a hug?

DOLE: Yes. Why not? Yes, Willard. Come on in.

SCOTT: Melanie Griffith gave you a hug this morning.

DOLE: Who?

SCOTT: Melanie Griffith.

(CROSSTALK)

KING: Can I get a question -- Elizabeth?

ELIZABETH DOLE: Hey.

KING: What's it like...

ELIZABETH DOLE: How're you doing? ELIZABETH DOLE: What's it like to have him turn 80?

ELIZABETH DOLE: Oh, listen, this man has the energy of 10 people, Larry. So you know, whether it's 70, 80, whatever, I mean, he's the same Bob Dole and just goes, you know, night and day and...

(CROSSTALK)

ELIZABETH DOLE: OK, 50. No, but, you know, he's involved in so many different things, I think he's just as busy as he was when he was in the Senate. And indeed, I think, too...

KING: Mike Wallace began tonight, Elizabeth, by asking what kind of house husband is he? What kind of house husband is he?

ELIZABETH DOLE: You know, he's a very, very thoughtful husband. I have to tell you, he does all sorts of things that he doesn't -- he's not asked to do. And things like -- I remember an anniversary when I was campaigning for Bob in '96. And I was in Iowa, he was in Washington. And you know what he did, Larry? He planned a dinner for me, invited friends in Storm Lake (ph), Iowa. He planned the menu. He sent the roses for the table. And then he called to say that he loved me even more than when we were married. So isn't that a thoughtful husband for you?

DOLE: And I've lost 20 pounds, you know, since she lost elected. So I don't know what's going on.

ELIZABETH DOLE: You know -- you know what he did?

KING: Well, we got to -- we got to wind things up. Are you enjoying the Senate, Elizabeth?

ELIZABETH DOLE: I'm enjoying it very much, Larry. I really am. It's a wonderful opportunity to give back for all the blessings that we have in this great land.

DOLE: And I've been watching her voting record. It's pretty good.

(LAUGHTER)

DOLE: You know, it's nothing spectacular, but it's all right.

KING: And Willard, thanks for bringing in the balloons, Willard.

(CROSSTALK)

DOLE: And the Smuckers.

SCOTT: And the Smuckers. Do you still have a doggy at home?

(CROSSTALK)

DOLE: ... with her mother.

ELIZABETH DOLE: He's bonded with my mother.

DOLE: I can't get my dog back.

ELIZABETH DOLE: Bob brought him down during...

KING: And we still...

ELIZABETH DOLE: ... my campaign...

KING: Let me just check...

ELIZABETH DOLE: ... and we can't get him back!

KING: Rudy Giuliani, thank you very much.

GIULIANI: Thank you.

KING: I understand we can see you now. Thanks, Rudy. We're sorry about the satellite, but we...

GIULIANI: Thank you. Happy birthday.

KING: ... really appreciate...

DOLE: Happy -- well, thank you. And thanks for coming to Kansas.

GIULIANI: Happy birthday.

KING: And Mike Wallace, thank you for agreeing to appear with us from up there on the Vineyard, and have a good time when the Clintons arrive.

DOLE: Yes, let's get that show going, the Bob and Mike show. I think it'd be a great show.

WALLACE: You got it. You got it, Bob.

KING: Thank you all very much. And for everyone -- I think I speak for everyone in the free world or anywhere anywhere, salute you, Senator Bob Dole. Happy 80th and many, many more.

DOLE: Thank you, Larry.

KING: We'll see you a lot of times in the next decade, and we'll celebrate your 90th, as well.

DOLE: This is the Bob and Larry Show, right?

(LAUGHTER)

KING: Thank you all for participating. Thanks, everybody.

We'll come back in a minute and tell you about tomorrow night. Don't go away.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KING: Tomorrow night, we'll turn our attention to Iraq, and one of our special guests will be Ambassador Paul Bremer, the head of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq. Ambassador Bremer tomorrow night on LARRY KING LIVE.

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