President Biden gave a eulogy for former Kansas Senator Bob Dole on Thursday as his body lay in state. Dole was a World War II veteran and won the Republican nomination for president in 1996. He is survived by his wife Elizabeth and daughter Robin. He was 98.

“America has lost one of our greatest patriots,” Biden said, noting that Dole helped pass legislation making Martin Luther King Jr. day a federal holiday.

Biden called Dole “giant of our history” and that Dole was a man “of wit and grace, of principle and persistence, of courage and conviction.”

Biden told an anecdote on why Dole was the deciding vote to continue funding Amtrack. Dole responded to his fellow senators if he didn’t, “Biden would stay overnight and cause more trouble.” Biden said he and Dole became “great friends” while they were both in the Senate.

Dole was the Republican leader of the Senate in his last 11 years of holding office and he was also President Ford’s running mate in his unsuccessful presidential campaign against Jimmy Carter. Dole also served in the House of Representatives from 1961 to 1969.

Military.com notes that in April 1945, while in the Army, Dole suffered life-threatening injuries in Italy when a German shell struck him in the back and right arm. Dole was briefly paralyzed but recovered from his injuries after undergoing operations and years of rehabilitation.

He was twice awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star for his heroic efforts.

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