Bob Dole

Robert Joseph Dole (born July 22, 1923) is best known as a former Republican United States Senate Majority Leader and Senator from Kansas. He was also the unsuccessful Republican nominee for President in the 1996 election, losing to incumbent Bill Clinton.

Career

Dole was admitted to the bar and commenced the practice of law in his hometown in 1952.

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He ran for office and was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives, serving a two-year term ending in 1953.

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He became county attorney of Russell County, performing in this capacity until 1961. In 1960, Dole was elected as a Republican to the United States House of Representatives for the 87th Congress and to three succeeding Congresses, spanning from January 3, 1961 to January 3, 1969.

Related Topics:
Russell County - 1960 - Republican - United States House of Representatives - 87th Congress - January 3 - 1961 - 1969

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U.S. Senate

In 1968 he was elected to the United States Senate, and was re-elected in 1974, 1980, 1986, and 1992, until resigning on June 11, 1996 to focus his efforts on his Presidential campaign. While in the Senate he also served as chairman of the Republican National Committee from 1971 until 1973.

Related Topics:
1968 - United States Senate - 1974 - 1980 - 1986 - 1992 - June 11 - 1996 - Presidential campaign - Republican National Committee - 1971 - 1973

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His roles in Senate politics include:

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• Chairman of the Committee on Finance (1981 - 1985);
• Special Committee on Security and Cooperation in Europe (1985 - 1987);
• Majority Leader (1985 - 1987) and (1995 - 1996); and
• Minority Leader (1987 - 1995).

Presidential politics

In 1976 Dole ran unsuccessfully for Vice President of the United States on a ticket headed by Gerald Ford, replacing incumbent Vice President Nelson Rockefeller who many Republicans regarded as too moderate. He also ran unsuccessfully for the Republican Presidential nomination in 1980 and made a more serious bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 1988, losing to then-Vice President George H.W. Bush. The contest between the two was bitter, although they differed little on issues. At one point when a newscaster was conducting a conversation with both of them he asked Dole if he had anything to say to Bush. "Tell him to stop lying about my record," he replied.

Related Topics:
In 1976 - Vice President of the United States - Gerald Ford - Nelson Rockefeller - Moderate - For the Republican presidential nomination in 1988 - George H.W. Bush

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Dole was the early frontrunner for the GOP nomination in the 1996 presidential race, and was expected to represent the party establishment against the more conservative Senator Phil Gramm of Texas. However, Gramm's thunder was stolen by commentator Pat Buchanan, who upset Dole to win the New Hampshire primary, with former Tennessee governor Lamar Alexander finishing a strong third. Publisher Steve Forbes also entered the race, paying for a stream of negative ads out of his personal funds. The crowded Republican field numbered at least eight serious candidates.

Related Topics:
1996 presidential race - Phil Gramm - Pat Buchanan - New Hampshire primary - Tennessee - Lamar Alexander - Steve Forbes

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Dole secured the nomination, but had been forced to spend more than he had planned, and until the convention in San Diego faced federal limits on campaign spending. He hoped to use his long experience in Senate procedures to maximize publicity from the rare positioning of a Senate Majority Leader against an incumbent president, but was stymied by Senate Democrats. On May 16, 1996 he resigned his seat to focus on the campaign.

Related Topics:
Convention in San Diego - Senate Majority Leader - May 16 - 1996

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The incumbent, Bill Clinton, had no serious primary opposition, and had rebounded in popularity partly by portraying Congressional Republicans as extremists. Dole refused to make Clinton's character a campaign issue, instead promising a 15% across-the-board reduction in income tax rates, and making former Congressman and supply side hero Jack Kemp his running mate; these, however, failed to inspire the voting population. Dole also found himself criticized from both the left and the right within the Republican Party over the convention platform, as well as the additional challenge of eccentric billionaire Ross Perot's entry into the race. Compared to the youthful Clinton, Dole appeared old and frail, illustrated by an embarrassing fall off a stage during a campaign event.

Related Topics:
Bill Clinton - Income tax - Supply side - Jack Kemp - Running mate - Ross Perot

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In the event, Clinton won the election handily, taking 379-159 Electoral College votes and 49.2% of the popular vote against Dole's 40.7%. It was widely acknowledged to be Dole's last political campaign, and he entered retirement at age 73 as the elder statesman of the GOP.

Related Topics:
Electoral College - Elder statesman

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