Garnett residents are remembering former Kansas Senator Bob Dole, particularly his last visit to Anderson County in 2014. Dole traveled through on a final Cross Kansas Tour that he dubbed a “Thank You” Tour, his way of saying thanks to all the Kansans who supported him throughout the years. On that visit to Garnett, he was greeted by former Kansas Attorney General Bob Stephan and then Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins and a host of others. They spent time in the North Side Café. Dole told the crowd that he owed thanks to rural voters who stood by him over the years.
Dole told ‘well wishers’ in Garnett that he believed his most important legislative achievement in the Senate was helping to save Social Security back in 1983 when financial projections forecast the insolvency of the SSI System. At the café that day, Dole said his biggest disappointment was not getting a balanced budget amendment approved in the mid 90’s, saying he believed the Federal Government should live within its means just like most Kansans do.
