Now Roberts must persuade Congress to fund Ike memorial

Years of squabbling over the design of the National Eisenhower Memorial ended Thursday, as the National Capital Planning Commission signed off on star architect Frank Gehry’s retooled plan for the $142 million memorial park. The final push benefited from the leadership of Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., who became chairman of the Eisenhower Memorial Commission in April. But a statement from former Kansas Sen. Bob Dole read to the panel Thursday surely had influence as well, including his point that “it’s past time that Ike be memorialized.” Now Roberts must persuade the rest of Congress to provide necessary funding to construct the permanent tribute to the 34th president and proud Kansan. – Rhonda Holman

This story was originally published July 10, 2015 at 7:07 PM.