Jimmy Carter, Rudy Giuliani to help KU dedicate Dole Institute of Politics in July

LAWRENCE -- Former President Jimmy Carter and former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani have joined the roster of participants in this summer's dedication of the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, set for July 20 through 22 at the University of Kansas.

Both men, along with former President Gerald Ford, former U.S. Rep. Jack Kemp, former Sen. George McGovern and other national figures, will be part of the Institute's "Salute to the Heroes" on July 21 at the Lied Center. Along with a re-created USO-style show, the program also will feature a special tribute to America's Medal of Honor recipients, many of whom have accepted former Sen. Dole's invitation to come to Lawrence that week.

Public tickets to the "Salute" sold out in two days. In response to this overwhelming interest, a jumbo screen will be placed outside the Lied Center, enabling thousands of people to view the show, which begins at 8 p.m.

"We're encouraging folks to bring a picnic basket and lawn chairs and enjoy the 'Salute' under the stars," said Dole Institute Director Richard Norton Smith.

Preceding the "Salute" will be the institute's Legacy of Leadership dinner, whose guests will have reserved seating inside the Lied Center for the show. In keeping with the bipartisan theme of the dedication, Ford and Carter -- former rivals who have become close friends -- will take part in both programs. All proceeds of the $500-a-plate dinner, the institute's only fund-raising event of the year, will be used to offset costs of the dedication, for which no public or university funds are being used.

The highlight of the dinner, to be held at the Lawrence Holidome, will be the presentation of the first annual Dole Leadership Prize to Giuliani. The institute plans to award the prize annually.

"I can't imagine anyone more deserving of such recognition than Rudy Giuliani," said Dole. "None of us will ever forget where we were on 9/11, or how the mayor of New York became, overnight, the mayor of America. But Rudy Giuliani's leadership wasn't limited to the darkest chapter in our recent history. Long before 9/11 his commitment to first principles and independent vision helped transform life in the Big Apple. Time and time again, he has showed us just how much difference leadership can make."

Giuliani was named Time magazine's 2001 "Man of the Year" for his role in helping New York City recover from the physical and emotional damage inflicted by terrorists. Twice elected mayor of the nation's largest city, he was widely credited with restoring New York's quality of life and reducing its crime rate. Before his years in City Hall, Giuliani gained national recognition as a prosecutor who vigorously pursued white-collar criminals and mobsters alike.

The Dole Prize carries with it a $25,000 stipend, provided by an anonymous donor. No state or university funds are used to finance the prize.

Carter won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his decades of untiring efforts to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development. During his presidency from 1977 to 1981, Carter's mediation was a vital contribution to the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt. Through his Carter Center, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2002, Carter has undertaken extensive and persevering conflict resolution on several continents.

The Dole Institute, established at KU in 1997 to honor the former Senate majority leader and 1996 Republican presidential nominee, is designed to encourage student participation and citizen involvement in public service.

The institute will house Dole's papers, the world's largest collection associated with a congressional leader. It also will feature a 3,300-square-foot public forum, a 120-seat seminar room/media center, KU's first satellite uplink and extensive exhibits, including Dole's World War II uniform, a 29-by-12-foot stained-glass American flag, and two 10-foot columns from the World Trade Center. To see photos of the building construction, visit the institute's Web site, http://www.doleinstitute.org.