Republican nominee Bob Dole has passed away at the age of 98. He was a valiant soldier during World War II, and then served his state, Kansas, as an influential US Senator.
Russell, Kansas native Dole was the son of a working-class family. In 1923, he enrolled in the army as a result of the bombardment at Pearl Harbor. Dole received two Purple Hearts as well as a Bronze Star in recognition of his military service.
Dole was wounded in his right shoulder in a battle in the hills of Italy in April 1945 by Nazis. He was given little hope of surviving and it took him years to heal. His right arm was left permanently dislocated. Dole could always be seen holding his pen in one hand, to deter people from using it.
In 1950, the decorated veteran was elected to politics after he won a term of two years in the legislature. For eight years, he was Russell County’s chief prosecutor until 1961 when he joined the US House of Representatives. Beginning in 1969, Dole represented Kansas at the US Senate. Dole served as the majority leader and was an influential Republican party leader during his lengthy and powerful tenure in the upper chamber.
Gerald Ford chose Dole to be his running mate in 1976. However, they were defeated by the Democratic ticket of Jimmy Carter & Walter Mondale. Dole ran for the Republican nomination in 1988 and 1980, before finally winning it in 1996. Dole, a Democrat, lost his Senate seat to concentrate on his campaign.
Dole was married to Phyllis Holden in 1948. They had a daughter, Robin. Robin was born in 1954. After their divorce in 1972, Dole met Elizabeth Hanford and married her in 1975. Elizabeth Dole served three Republican administrations, and from 2003 to 2009 was a US senator representing North Carolina.
Dole revealed that he was suffering from stage 4 lung cancer on February 18. Elizabeth Dole, his wife and Robin, are survivors.
Dole, who served as the US Senate leader from 1969 to 1996, was an effective negotiator and skilled leader in getting legislation passed. To focus on his presidential candidacy, he resigned from Senate. Above is Dole with Elizabeth Dole during his 1996 White House run. Both had been in the city to attend the final debate. Dole elected Jack Kemp as his running partner, having served nine terms in Congress. But they fell to Al Gore and the Democratic ticket of Clinton.
The radioman in my platoon went down. I saw him fall. After he was taken into the foxhole, he died. Dole’s 1988 autobiography describes how he felt “a sharp sting” in his upper right back as he did. A bullet pierced Dole’s right shoulder. He was rescued by a fellow soldier. Dole received morphine, but it wasn’t what he expected. Dole had his blood drawn by a fellow soldier. This indicated that he was already given one shot. Any second would have made him fatal. Above, Dole recovering at Percy Jones Army Hospital in Battle Creek, Michigan in 1945
Robert Joseph Dole, was born in Russell on July 22nd 1923. Dorian Ray Dole was Dorian Ray’s father. Bina Ray Dole, his mother, worked in the grain storage area. A family of six including Kenny’s brother and Gloria Jean’s two sisters, Norma Jean and Norma Jean lived in a modest house, that a New York Times article noted was ‘quite literally on the wrong side’.
The family was hardworking, religious, and poor during the Great Depression. Biography.com reports that his parents taught him to place my faith in God as a young man living in small towns.
Dole attended Russell High School and was popular for his athletic skills. According to the Times profile published in 1996 as part of the series Political Life. According to the article, Dole was noted for being shy around girls in the newspaper that he received about his school. After graduating in 1941, Dole went to the University of Kansas with the goal of becoming a doctor. As he did in high school, Dole was also a member of college’s track, football and basketball teams.
Since 1939, however, there has been a global struggle to defeat Nazi Germany. After the bombardment of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 the United States entered World War II. Dole was 19 when he enlisted in US Army Reserve Corps, 1942.
Dole was undergoing rehab and met his first wife, Phyllis Holden. She is an occupational therapist. The couple married shortly after that and they had one child together in 1954, Robin. Dole ran first for Congress in 1960. The primary was crucial in the conservative Congressional district he wanted to represent. His wife Phyllis began making skirts for the Dolls for Dole’ in order to differentiate him from all the others. According to an article in the New York Times in 1996, he was wearing skirts with ‘applique elephants’ holding signs reading ‘Dole For Congress’ in their trunks. Above, Dole’s campaigns for Congress during the 1960s
Robert Joseph Dole, was born in Russell on July 22nd 1923. Dorian Ray Dole was Dole’s father. Bina Dole, his mother, worked in a grain storage facility. According to Dole, the Horatio Alger Association, ‘My dad missed only one day work over 40 years.’ My mother was inspirational; she sacrificed her comfort to make others happy was a long-standing habit. Above: Dole and his parents Doran, Bina, in 1968. This is his first Senate term since being elected to the US House of Representatives in 1961.
Dole married his first wife, but they split in 1972. That year, he met Elizabeth Hanford, a lawyer who would serve in three administrations and run for office herself. According to Today interviews, they met at his Capitol Hill office. Bob Dole walked in through the sidedoor and was instantly welcomed. When I see him, I realize he has a great look. And he said that he wrote mine on his blotter,” Elizabeth stated during the broadcast. The couple were married December 1975.
Dole was activated in 1943, and was later deployed to Italy late in 1944 as second lieutenant with the Army’s 10th Mountain Division.
When his company tried to capture Hill 913 (northwest of Florence) from Nazis in April 1945 they were under heavy gunfire including from a Sniper and became trapped by the hailof bullets and minefield.
He had to capture that gunman. A small number of people were selected to assist him in removing the sniper from his path and finding a safe passage. His radioman was killed as he tried to climb up a hill, according to his presidential campaign website from 1996.
The radioman in my platoon went down. I saw him fall. After dragging his body into the foxhole, he died. As I did, I felt a sharp sting in my upper right back,’ Dole wrote in his 1988 autobiography.
It was like a bullet piercing his shoulder. According to Dole’s campaign website, he said that he was lying face-down in the dirt. “I couldn’t see nor move my arms.” I was convinced they were not there.
Sergeant Frank Carafa heroically pulled Dole’s wounded back. According to the Associated Press, 1995, he said that they had a perfect field full of fire. They could have murdered every single person who came out of that field.
Dole received morphine, but it wasn’t what he expected. Dole was given the morphine by a soldier, who then marked Dole’s forehead with an “M” to signify that he’d already had a shot. A second one would have been fatal.
Dole was elected to his first Senate term in 1968 after having served as a member of the House. This year also saw Richard Nixon take the White House. Nixon selected Dole in 1971 to lead the Republican National Committee. Nixon’s second term was over when he quit following the Watergate Scandal. Gerald Ford became President in 1974. Ford chose Dole as his running mate and they are seen above at the 1976 Republican National Convention in Kansas City. They were defeated by Walter Mondale and Jimmy Carter of the Democratic Party.
Dole was first to run for the Republican presidential nomination in the 1980 election, but quickly lost his bid. Republican Ronald Reagan won two terms in the White House. Reagan ran for the 1988 nomination, but Reagan’s vice president George H W Bush was elected to the nomination. In 1992, Bush was defeated by Bill Clinton (Democrat). Dole won the 1996 nomination and defeated Clinton. Above: Dole’s supporters cheer him at a March 1996 rally
Below, First Lady Hillary Clinton and Chelsea Clinton. President Bill Clinton was present. Dole, who is the Republican nominee for president, Elizabeth Dole and Robin, were there after the October 6th 1996 presidential debate. In 1994, the party had experienced a “Republican Revolution” that saw them make substantial gains in the election and win control of both the Houses of Congress. Momentum was thought to favor the Republicans. However, Clinton the incumbent prevailed with a strong economy.
Dole survived, but was severely injured and paralyzed. The 22-year-old survived, but he sustained severe injuries and was temporarily paralysed. He eventually learned to use his left arm again after the paralysis had subsided.
His road to recovery was long but it was while he was recuperating that he met his first wife, Phyllis Holden, an occupational therapist. He was seen by her in the Percy Jones Army Medical Center cafeteria, March 1948. She described him as handsome with deep, penetrating dark eyes and shining hair.
Dole proposed to her at a party soon afterwards. According to the article, their marriage was finalized three months later.
According to the Times profile, after a brief time, Russell was returned by the couple. Russell’s neighbors raised $1,800 to help him straighten his right arm.
Dole then returned to college at first the University of Arizona, before moving to Washburn University. There he switched to medicine and became a lawyer. After completing his undergraduate degree, he received his law and legal degrees. He decided while in law school to get into politics. In 1950, he was elected as a member of the state legislature. Robin, his child, was born in four years.
Dole served for two years as county prosecutor. In 1960, Dole was ready to take on a larger stage. He ran for Congress.
Primary was key in conservative Congressional districts. His wife Phyllis made skirts for the Dolls for Dole’ to distinguish him from other candidates. According to Times, the skirts featured ‘applique elephants with ‘Dole For Congress’ signs in the trunks.
Dole won the first term of his US House of Representatives term. The family then split their time in 1961 between Washington, DC, and Russell. The Spokesman-Review heard from Phyllis, that DC was a ‘frightening place’.
In 1968, after serving as a Congressman for eight years, Dole sought a Senate seat and won – the same year Richard Nixon took the White House. Nixon appointed Dole to be the chairman of the Republican National Committee in 1971. Dole was unable to travel the country and spent much of his time with his daughter and wife. In January 1972, the couple split.
Dole answered The New York Times when asked what his achievements in the Senate were. Being in the United States Senate is what I am referring to. It’s hard to remember how many times I was excited when I got up in the morning and went to work. It’s easy to see the Capitol dome. You know you’re part in something many people would sacrifice everything for. It’s an amazing opportunity. And a tremendous privilege. Above: Dole speaking with VFW members at Louisville, Kentucky, during his 1996 run for the White House.
Dole, left, kisses Elizabeth on the 5th of November 2002, after Elizabeth’s electoral win. Elizabeth Dole, who was born in Salisbury (North Carolina) in 1936, served in Lyndon B Johnson’s and Richard Nixon’s administrations. Harvard Law School graduated her, and she ran in 2002 for the Senate seat of her native state. In 2006, she was elected to the Senate. According to Twitter, the foundation was established in 2012 by her mother, which is dedicated to honoring and supporting military caregivers.
Dole continued his advocacy for veterans even after he was forced to leave the White House in 1996. Above, Dole, who was then co-chair of a President’s Commission on Care for America’s Returning Wounded Warriors, speaks about the group’s report as President George W Bush and Donna Shalala, left, then the Health and Human Services Secretary, listens in the Rose Garden in October 2007
However, 1972 is also the year he met Elizabeth Hanford. Elizabeth was a lawyer who served in three administrations as well as running for office. According to an interview with Today, the couple met in his Capitol Hill office.
“All of a sudden the side door opens, and Bob Dole enters. When I see him, I realize he has a great look. He said he had written my name on his blotter,” Elizabeth stated during the program.
After first meeting over the phone, they were on their first date. Three years later, they got married in December 1975. His compassionate spirit is what I treasure. She shared her love for him and the idea that every day, he was able to make an impact on at least one person’s life. He had a wonderful sense of humor, which I appreciated.
Dole has been reelected multiple times. He also served nearly 30 years in the Senate. According to The New York Times, Dole was the leader of his party throughout his term. This job became more difficult with the Senate becoming more fractured and individuals more assertive. Dole worked well with Democrats because of his reputation as both a dealmaker. Dole was also an advocate and strong supporter of 1990’s. American with Disabilities Act.
His election as majority leader was his first in 1984. Today, Elizabeth said: “I bought a small schnauzer puppy from the Humane Society. I walked in to Bob’s national press conference carrying this dog and attached a sign reading ‘Leader’.
Dole held the majority leadership position for only a short time in 1995, but he was again majority leader. He resigned the Senate in 1996 after winning the Republican presidential nomination. He first tried for the nomination in 1980. But he quickly lost. In 1988, George H W Bush defeated him when he ran for the nomination.
1994 saw a “Republican Revolution”: the party won the Senate and the House for the first-time in over 40 years. This momentum was used to force Democrat Bill Clinton from the White House. However, the voters chose Dole and he lost.
“Yes, it hurts to lose an election, but I have experienced worse. It is selfish and demeaning to dwell on the past when each day is precious. When I conceded the 1996 election, my comment was that “tomorrow would be the only time in all of my life I have nothing to do.” But I was mistaken. Dole, writing in The Washington Post, 2012, “I was actually wrong seventy-two-hours after I had conceded the election,” Dole said.
Dole, who was a spokesperson for Visa, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Viagra at that time, also worked as a lawyer and lobbyist, and founded the Dole Institute of Politics, which is located at the University of Kansas. His work for veterans continued.
In 1997, Clinton awarded Dole the Presidential Medal Freedom.
Dole declared that she was witness to this greatness at all stages of her life. “I’ve seen the nation triumph over Depression, segregation and communism, and turn back grave threats to human liberty. “I have been in awe at American courage, decency and perseverance. This is something that I find rare and common in our precious land.
Dole, writing in The Washington Post, stated that “For a long while after my defeat to Bill Clinton, 1996, I would lay awake nights wondering how I could have changed the outcome.” “Did the Republican base rely too heavily on us, making it difficult for suburban and independent voters to see our true colors and driving them away?” Dole became a spokesperson for Visa, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Viagra after the election. Dole, above, at the ASPCA’s 4th Annual Paws for Celebration Pet Adoption Event in June 2015.