President Biden led official Washington in a second day of tributes for the late Sen. Bob Dole at Washington National Cathedral Friday, one day after the president honored his longtime colleague in the Capitol Rotunda.

The president, accompanied by first lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and second gentleman Doug Emhoff, sat in the front row, where they were joined by former President Bill Clinton. Former Vice Presidents Dan Quayle, Dick Cheney, and Mike Pence sat in the row behind. Dole’s widow, former Sen. Elizbeth Dole, was escorted to her seat for the service by Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Elsewhere in the cathedral, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) sat between Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) was spotted sitting next to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).

Actor Tom Hanks — best known for his work in the World War II film “Saving Private Ryan,” as executive producer of the miniseries “Band of Brothers,” and who worked with Dole in building a memorial to former President Dwight D. Eisenhower — was also in attendance.

Former President Donald Trump, who Dole repeatedly expressed support for, was not there.

In his eulogy, Biden praised Dole’s character, humor, and service to his country on the battlefield as well as in Congress.

“I found Bob to be a man of principle, pragmatism, and enormous integrity. He came into the arena with certain guiding principles to begin with: Devotion to country, to fair play, to decency,” said the president, who described Dole as a “genuine hero.”

Biden also addressed Elizabeth Dole, telling her that he and his wife “will always” be there for the Dole family. 

The president described Bob Dole as “partisan, but that was fine.” 

“Americans have been partisan since Jefferson and Hamilton squared off in George Washington’s Cabinet,” Biden said. “But like them, Bob Dole was a patriot.”

“He understood that we’re all part of something much bigger than ourselves,” Biden said. “He really did. I felt he really understood it — that compromise isn’t a dirty word. It’s the cornerstone in democracy. Consensus is required in a democracy to get anything done.”

Biden called listeners back to Dole’s final opinion column in USA Today, published Dec. 6. 

“Again, listen to Bob Dole’s words, not mine,” the president said. “I’m quoting him again: ‘I learned that it’s difficult to get anything done unless you can compromise, not your principles but your willingness to see the other side. Those who suggest that compromise is a sign of weakness misunderstand the fundamental strength of democracy.’”

Former GOP Sen. Pat Roberts, Dole’s fellow Kansan, said Dole used humor as a political tool, delivering deadpan punchlines which helped let “the air out of the partisan balloons.” Dole’s daughter, Robin, read a letter her father wrote to his staff in which he said “I believe in the future of the United States of America.”

Former Sen. Tom Daschle, a Democrat from South Dakota, said Dole’s sense of duty extended to ordinary people, including when he called a Florida dentist who lost his right arm and left the presidential campaign trail to attend the 1996 graduation party of a girl paralyzed in a car accident.

Dole passed away on Sunday at the age of 98. Following the cathedral service, his casket was driven to the the National World War II Memorial in Washington for a separate ceremony that included remarks by Milley and Hanks.

Dole’s body was scheduled to be flown to his home state of Kansas late Friday for Saturday ceremonies in his home town of Russell and at the state capitol in Topeka. 

Dole was elected to four terms in the House of Representatives and spent more than 27 years in the Senate. He was the Republican nominee for president in 1996 and was defeated by Clinton. Dole was also the 1976 GOP vice presidential nominee alongside President Gerald Ford, who was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.

Born a child of the Dust Bowl, Dole suffered paralyzing and near-fatal wounds after being shot in World War II that sent him home with a severely damaged right arm that he could not use to shake hands. Instead, Dole held a pen in it and reached out with his left as a way to put greeters at ease.

Biden offered vivid, visceral details during Friday’s eulogy, speaking about Dole volunteering for military service and how he came back to “painful” years recovering from the wounds.

“God, what courage Bob Dole had,” the president said.

Friday’s services followed Dole lying in state on Thursday under the dome of the US Capitol he so loved. Among those paying respects was Quayle, who at one point touched Dole’s casket and said, “Bye, buddy.”

With Post wires