Bob Dole Biography

Bob Dole was born on July 22, 1923 in Kansas, the son of Doran Ray Dole and Bina M. His father ran a small creamery. Bob had three siblings; Kenny, Gloria and Norma.

When the Great Depression of 1930 set in, the financial condition of the family was severely affected. They had to move into the basement of their house and rent out the upper floors. To raise additional cash, Bob started working as a paper boy and a soda jerk in the local drug store. The drugstore owner later recalled him as a good worker.

Robert Joseph Dole graduated from Russell High School in 1941, and enrolled at the Kansas University. There he joined a premedical course. He excelled in sports and soon became a member of the basketball team, football team and track team. However, he left college as United States joined the Second World War.

Bob Dole enlisted in the army in 1942. In time, he became a second lieutenant in the 10th Mountain Division of the US Army and was sent to Italy in 1944. In 1945, while trying to rescue an army radioman, Bob was badly injured in a German machine gun attack.

Robert Joseph Dole entered politics while he was still in college. In 1950, he was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives on Republican ticket. By the time his term ended in 1952, he had secured his L.L.B. degree and was admitted to the bar. He then started practicing at Russell and soon became the County Attorney of Russell County.

In 1961, Bob entered the national political arena as a member of United States House of Representatives. 

In 1968, he defeated Kansas Governor William H. Avery to occupy the seat vacated by Senator Frank Carlson. He was re-elected to the position in 1974, 1980, 1986, and 1992. On June 12, 1996, he resigned from his seat to take part in the Presidential elections.

During his long innings at the Senate, Bob Dole occupied many important positions. He was the Chairperson of the Senate Finance Committee from 1981 to 1985, and Minority Leader of the United States Senate from 1987 to 1995. He also became Majority Leader of the United States Senate twice; first from 1985 to 1987, and then from 1995 to 1996.

In addition, he held important position in the Republican Party. He became the Chairperson of the Republican National Committee from 1971 to 1973, and the Leader of the Republican Party in the United States Senate from 1985 to 1996.

Robert Joseph Dole was one of the few leaders who could bridge the gap between the conservatives and the moderates. He supported the civil right bills; yet voted against public housing subsidy and healthcare plans. However, he pleaded for the federal aid to the handicaps and for lowering eligibility for receiving federal food stamps.

Bob also became the Republican Vice presidential nominee in 1976, but failed to win. Then in 1996, he became the party’s nominee for Presidential election. This time too he lost to President Bill Clinton.

After losing the 1996 presidential election Bob Dole decided to retire. However, he remained active after his retirement. He served on various counsels and appeared in numerous television programs and commercials. He also concentrated on his career as a lawyer and dedicated a lot of his time and energy to his law firm.

Bob Dole worked towards various domestic as well as international programs aimed at combating hunger and poverty. He also played an instrumental role in the construction of the privately funded WWII memorial and raised more than $170 million.

In 2004, Bob Dole received the American Patriot Award for his lifelong dedication to his country and also for his service in World War II.

Bob Dole married Phyllis Holden, an occupational therapist, in 1948. They had a daughter named Robin, born in 1954. The couple parted ways in 1972. In 1975, he married Elizabeth Halford. They had no children.

Percy Jones Army Hospital, where Bob Dole was treated after the war is now known as Hart-Dole-Inouye Federal Center. The hospital has been renamed in honor of the three patients who later became United States Senators: Bob Dole, Philip Hart and Daniel Inouye.

Bob Dole died on December 5, 2021, of complications from stage four lung cancer at his home in Washington, D.C. He was 98.