An Ally in Congress
“He provided me an example worthy
of emulation… He taught me that those who
claim to serve the public must be healers
themselves, ministering to the body politic
as he ministered to the physical one.”
— Dr. Hampar Kelikian, in a letter to then-Representative Bob Dole, March 27, 1964
Above left: In August 1989, Elizabeth and Bob Dole made an official tour of the devastation caused by the Spitak earthquake and delivered aid supplies. Here, they are pictured with Armenian children.
Above right: Senator Dole meets with a young Armenian girl in 1991, who has come to the U.S. for surgery after the earthquake.
Inspired by Dr. Kelikian’s commitment to serving those in need, Bob Dole entered public service – first being elected to the Kansas State Legislature, later serving as Russell County Attorney. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1960 and the U.S. Senate in 1968.
Around the same, time Armenians across the world began to call for the justice promised to them by the Treaty of Sèvres after World War I. In doing so, they collided head-on with Turkey’s policy of denying the existence of the Genocide.
But Armenian Americans would find an ally in Congress: Senator Dole.
Hero and Healer
Hampar Kelkian in 1955, at Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago, Illinois. National Library of Medicine.
When Dr. K passed away on July 24, 1983, Senator Dole honored him with a statement on the Senate floor. After recounting the doctor's accomplishments, Dole recited a poem by Robert Frost ending with the lines,
"So dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay."
Holding back tears and with his voice crackling, Dole then said:
"Hampar Kelikian was pure GOLD."
Copy of tribute prepared for Senator Dole to be delivered on the Senate Floor on July 27, 1983.
After Dole finished his tribute to Dr. Kelikian, North Carolina Senator Jesse Helms responded: “There is no way the printed [Congressional] Record can fully reflect the love which Senator Dole has expressed for his friend in such a caring, immensely personal way… Bob Dole has told me about Dr. Kelikian, the sacrifices of this great American, and his deep devotion to humanity. I never met Dr. Kelikian, but I myself have a great sense of love for him because of what he meant to Bob Dole.”
On December 7, 1988, a 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck near Spitak, Armenia. As many as 80,000 Armenians were killed with another 700,000 people injured or made homeless. Senator Bob Dole quickly sprang into action, explaining in a radio interview:
“When I was in need of help,
Dr. Kelikian helped me.
Now it was my turn.”
Dole arranged for $5 million in humanitarian assistance from the U.S. government, helped bring Armenian children to America for medical treatment, and in August 1989, visited Armenia with his wife, Elizabeth, to survey the ravaged area and bring aid supplies.
Damage to buildings was made worse by construction methods, as seen above. Dole Press Secretary Walt Riker took photos on the August 1989 trip.
Listen to the Voice of America Interview with Senator Bob Dole about his trip to Armenia:
The Kelikian family is mentioned throughout a memo for Senator Dole in preparation for the upcoming trip. Dr. Kelikian’s son, Armen – also an orthopedic surgeon – treated several children who came to the United States after the earthquake by Project HOPE.
Project HOPE newsletter featuring an article about their efforts to bring 37 Armenian children to the U.S. for treatment in February 1989, following the Spitak earthquake months earlier.
While their travels were part of a larger congressional delegation, Senator Bob and Elizabeth Dole (at the time serving as the U.S. Secretary of Labor) visited Armenia August 22-24,1989, to survey the earthquake damage and bring relief and rehabilitation supplies through Project HOPE.
Their first stop was to visit the Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan, where they laid flowers in front of the flame.
The Doles continued to support earthquake relief in Armenia during the holiday season in 1989.
