Bob Dole to lead fundraising drive for national Eisenhower memorial

Bob Dole will be the finance chairman and oversee the private fundraising effort for the National Eisenhower Memorial, Kansas Sen. Pat Roberts said Thursday.

Roberts, chairman of the Eisenhower Memorial Commission, said Dole helped raise $170 million for the National World War II Memorial a decade ago.

“Bob Dole has been tireless in his support of the Eisenhower National Memorial,” Roberts said in a statement. “His passionate belief that the memorial should be constructed before Ike’s troops are gone has struck a chord in the hearts of all Americans.”

Dole, 92 and World War II veteran, will serve in his role for the Campaign for the Eisenhower Memorial. Supporters hope to raise at least $20 million privately and build support in Congress for additional construction funding.

The memorial’s design won final approval this summer despite criticism from Eisenhower family members in recent years. It will be on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

“Ike’s memorial is a unique partnership in which private donations will supplement the federal funds traditionally appropriated for national presidential memorials,” Dole said in a statement. “Supporting the National Eisenhower Memorial gives us all an opportunity to play an important role in the creation of this memorial to one of the greatest leaders in America’s history.”

The Eisenhower Memorial Commission will have a display set up at the Kansas State Fair in the Eisenhower Building beginning Friday, the fair’s opening day.

This story was originally published September 10, 2015 at 11:49 AM with the headline "Bob Dole to lead fundraising drive for national Eisenhower memorial."