“I had a dream that I would be here this historic week receiving something from the president — but I thought it would be the front-door key”
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Bob Dole
Robert Joseph Dole was an American politician, attorney, and U.S. Army officer who represented Kansas in the United States Senate from 1969 to 1996. He was the Republican leader of the U.S. Senate during the final 11 years of his tenure, including three non-consecutive years as Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate. Prior to his 27 years in the Senate, he served in the United States House of Represen…
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politics · American politician and attorney (1923–2021) · politician · lawyer · jurist · also Bob Dole, Robert J. Dole, Robert Dole, Robert Joseph Dole, Robert Joseph "Bob" Dole, Dole
Born 22 July 1923 · Died 5 December 2021 · Q319079
94 published statements · 0 followers
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Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole Speaks on the Legacy of Veteran Senate Reporters
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2026· 11 entries
“I was wrong. Seventy-two hours after conceding the election, I was swapping wisecracks with David Letterman on his late-night show.”
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“I was thinking on the way down in the elevator – tomorrow will be the first time in my life I don”
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“Let me be the bridge to an America that only the unknowing call myth. Let me be the bridge to a time of tranquility, faith, and confidence in action,”
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“I could not see or move my arms. I thought they were missing.”
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KRSL.com: Honoring a Hero: Russell Post Office Renamed Robert J. Dole Post Office Building
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KRSL.com: Friday Ceremony Planned to Rename Russell Post Office in Honor of Late Senator Bob Dole
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KU News: Dole Institute of Politics announces fall 2026 programming
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Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo :: UAEH: Bob Dole Erectile Dysfunction Commercial: Cultural Shift and What It Means for Today’s Male Vitality Supplements *FoZnzG4Ri*
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Encyclopaedia Britannica: United States presidential election of 1996 | Clinton vs. Dole, History, & Facts
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Public attention spiked: 3,775 Wikipedia readers in one day, 3.4× the usual 1,115, with 0 article edits.
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2022· 1 entry
KWCH: Sen. Bob Dole remembered with inaugural day of service
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2021· 11 entries
Yahoo: Bob Dole, Kansas' greatest son, remembered in memorial services in Russell and at Statehouse
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New York Daily News: Bob Dole’s memorial at the National Cathedral invokes tears and laughter: ‘Heaven will look a lot like Kansas’
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Newsweek: Bob Dole Remembered For Quips That Would ‘Let The Air Out of The Partisan Balloons’
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Yahoo: Bob Dole hailed as war hero and 'Kansas' favorite son' at Washington funeral service
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New York Post: Tom Hanks lauds ‘great friend’ Bob Dole at World War II Memorial ceremony
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CNN: Remembering Sen. Bob Dole
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Snopes rated the claim “In a speech paying tribute to Bob Dole, in December 2021, President Joe Biden read aloud "End of message."” Correct Attribution.
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The Boston Globe: Bob Dole remembered as ‘giant of our time and of all time’
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And was attended by President Biden with First Lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris with her husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, former president and opponent in the 1996 election Bill Clinton, former vice pr
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Died 2021-12-05.
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“If we had known we were going to win control of the Senate, we'd have run better candidates.”
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2020· 1 entry
Saying how he knew all the Republicans on the commission and feared that "none of them support[ed]" the president
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2018· 2 entries
Snopes rated the claim “A photograph shows President Trump kissing former senator Bob Dole on the forehead.” True.
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And saluted to pay his respects to the late president and fellow World War II veteran
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2015· 2 entries
The National Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide Centennial (NCAGC) honored Senator Dole with the organization's Survivor's Gratitude Award in the category of "Hero of Responsibility and Principle" for his tireless ef
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Dole endorsed former Florida governor Jeb Bush in his presidential campaign
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2012· 1 entry
Unsuccessfully advocated Senate ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
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2009· 2 entries
Dole was hospitalized for an elevated heart rate and sore legs for which he underwent a successful skin grafting procedure
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In 2009, Dole was hospitalized for an elevated heart rate and sore legs for which he underwent a successful skin grafting procedure.
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2008· 1 entry
Awarded World Food Prize (2008).
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2004· 2 entries
For his lifelong dedication to the United States and his service in World War II
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Dole underwent a hip replacement operation that required him to receive blood thinners in December 2004.
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2003· 2 entries
A commentator opposite Bill Clinton on CBS's 60 Minutes
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After Verner, Liipfert was acquired by DLA Piper, Dole joined the Washington, D
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2001· 2 entries
On the Families of Freedom Foundation, a scholarship fund campaign to pay for the college educations for the families of 9/11 victims
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Dole, at age 77, was treated successfully for an abdominal aortic aneurysm by vascular surgeon Kenneth Ouriel
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1998· 2 entries
Awarded Theodore Roosevelt Award (1998).
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Dole urged his party to practice "restraint" in their reaction to the scandal
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1997· 2 entries
Won Presidential Medal of Freedom presented by Bill Clinton (1997).
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For service to his country in the military and in his political career
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1996· 7 entries
Election lost: 1996 presidential election.
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To focus on the campaign, saying he had "nowhere to go but the White House or home"
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“People were urging [me] to be a hatchet man against Clinton for the next four years. I couldn”
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Campaign: 1996 presidential election.
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Dole was the first sitting Senate Party Leader to receive his party's nomination for president
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In a 1996 appearance on Saturday Night Live, he jokingly refuted the habit to Norm Macdonald, saying: "That's not something Bob Dole does.
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And served as Senate Majority Leader from 1985 to 1987 and from 1995 to 1996
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1995· 3 entries
Due to the more liberal leanings of its pastor, J
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Career landmark: United States senator (1995–1996).
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That's not something Bob Dole has ever done, or that Bob Dole will ever do." He had no relation to the Dole plc or its namesake James Dole, although confusion between the two did lead Burhanettin Ozfatura, the mayor of İzmir, Turkey, to ban the sale of Dole bananas in the city in February 1995.
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1993· 1 entry
Career landmark: United States senator (1993–1995).
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1992· 1 entry
Awarded Dr. Nathan Davis Award for United States Senators (1992).
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1991· 2 entries
Career landmark: United States senator (1991–1993).
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Dole had surgery for prostate cancer in 1991.
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1989· 1 entry
Career landmark: United States senator (1989–1991).
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1988· 1 entry
Formally announcing his candidacy in his hometown of Russell, Kansas, on November 9, 1987
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1987· 1 entry
Career landmark: United States senator (1987–1989).
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1985· 2 entries
Career landmark: United States senator (1985–1987).
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Initially serving in that position for two years
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1983· 1 entry
Career landmark: United States senator (1983–1985).
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1982· 1 entry
Dole was the driving force behind a large tax increase, promoting it as a reform measure to collect money owed by tax cheats and under-taxed businesses
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1981· 1 entry
Career landmark: United States senator (1981–1983).
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1980· 1 entry
Dole held the chairmanship of the Senate Agriculture Committee's Nutrition Subcommittee and the Senate Finance Committee
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1979· 1 entry
Career landmark: United States senator (1979–1981).
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1977· 1 entry
Career landmark: United States senator (1977–1979).
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1976· 2 entries
Campaign: 1976 presidential election.
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President Gerald Ford selected Dole as his running mate for that year's presidential election after Vice President Nelson Rockefeller withdrew from seeking a full term
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1975· 2 entries
Dole was elevated to the 33rd degree of the Scottish Rite
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Career landmark: United States senator (1975–1977).
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1974· 1 entry
1980, 1986, and 1992, before resigning on June 11, 1996, to focus on his presidential campaign
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1973· 1 entry
Career landmark: United States senator (1973–1975).
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1972· 3 entries
Dole met his second wife, Elizabeth, and they married three years later, on December 6, 1975
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Dole and Holden divorced on January 11, 1972.
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Also in 1972, Dole met his second wife, Elizabeth, and they married three years later, on December 6, 1975.
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1971· 1 entry
Career landmark: United States senator (1971–1973).
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1970· 1 entry
Was bestowed with the Fraternity's "Man of the Year" honor
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1969· 1 entry
Career landmark: United States senator (1969–1971).
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1968· 1 entry
Dole defeated former Governor of Kansas William H
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1967· 1 entry
Career landmark: United States representative (1967–1969).
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1965· 1 entry
Career landmark: United States representative (1965–1967).
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1963· 2 entries
Career landmark: United States representative (1963–1969).
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Career landmark: United States representative (1963–1965).
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1961· 1 entry
Career landmark: United States representative (1961–1963).
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1960· 1 entry
Initially from Kansas's 6th congressional district and then from the 1st congressional district
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1953· 1 entry
Career landmark: county attorney (1953–1961).
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1952· 1 entry
Studied at Washburn University, Bachelor of Arts (1952).
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1950· 1 entry
And was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives, serving a two-year term
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1949· 1 entry
Studied at University of Arizona (1948–1949).
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1947· 1 entry
Was medically discharged from the Army as a captain
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1943· 1 entry
Studied at University of Kansas (1941–1943).
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1942· 1 entry
Was a teammate of the founder and longtime owner of the Tennessee Titans Bud Adams, Adams's only season playing football at Kansas
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1923· 1 entry
Born 1923-07-22.
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