|
Robert Dole
Biography |
|
Bob Dole has been called a “towering figure” and “the
most enduring Republican leader of the twentieth century” but he still calls
Russell, Kansas, his home. He was born Robert Joseph Dole on July 22, 1923,
in Russell to Doran and Bina (Talbott) Dole. He grew up with two sisters,
Gloria and Norma Jean and a brother, Kenny, in a small frame house north of
the railroad tracks. The same house that the whole family was raised in
and the same house his parents lived out their final days. To support their family Doran operated the Dole
Produce, just south of the railroad tracks, and his wife sold sewing machines
door-to-door. As a young school child Bob worked after school weighing
cream in 10 and 20 gallon cans. He counted and stacked egg crates that
farmers brought to town on Saturday. He learned to visit and listen to
the people. He had to remember names because most of the cans and egg
cartons had no identifying marks on them. To this day he does well with
remembering names. During the 1930’s the family pulled together to
make ends meet. They moved to the basement and rented the main floor of their
home. The early 1920’s frame home was remodeled in 1945-46. Bob
still has family in Russell and when he and Elizabeth come to Russell they
stay in the house, therefore, it is not open to the public, but visitors are
invited to drive by and take advantage of a great photo opportunity. When he is home you will find him enjoying a cold root
beer (his favorite) at the local A & W Family Restaurant, visiting the
rest home and just hanging out with friends and family. Neighbors and friends
recall Bob Dole growing up as “an all-American Boy”. He was an athlete,
played end on the Russell football team, ran the 880 in track, and played
basketball. Along with his participation in sports, he found time to
work nights and Saturdays at Dawson's Drug Store where he learned the art of
meeting the public, one on one. Growing up in the small town of Russell
instilled respect for honesty, community service and patriotism. In 1942, at the age of 19, Bob Dole answered the call
to serve his country by joining the Army to fight in World War II. He
became a second lieutenant in the Army’s 10th Mountain Division, and in the
spring of 1945, found himself in the hills of Italy fighting the Nazi
Germans. After the battle, medics gave him a shot of morphine and marked his
forehead with an “M” written in his own blood. He wasn’t expected to
survive. During his nearly four years of recovery, it was clear that he would
never realize his boyhood dream of becoming a doctor, so he set a new goal
–to study law and look for ways to give back to the people who had done so
much for him during his four year recovery. He earned his law degree
from Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas in 1952. He ran for state legislature and served one term.
He was elected and served four terms as Russell County Attorney and served
four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 1968, Bob ran for the
United States Senate and won. He served as a Kansas Senator until
1996. In 1971 Senator Dole rocketed to national prominence as Chairman
of the Republican National Committee, and in l976 President Gerald Ford
announced on the Russell County Courthouse lawn that Bob would be his Vice
Presidential running mate. He was elected Senate Majority and Minority
Leader several terms and was one of the longest serving Republican
leaders. Today, Senator Dole is senior advisor to the
Washington, DC law firm of Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard, McPherson and
Hand. He served as the National Chairman of the World War II Memorial
Monument constructed and dedicated in Washington DC. He serves as the
National Chairman of the International Commission on Missing Persons in
former Yugoslavia. MEDAL OF FREEDOM
CITATION TO BOB DOLE From foreign battlefields to
the halls of Congress, Bob Dole has served his country with courage,
dedication and grace. Overcoming his own adversity, he rose to become a
champion for the disabled and America’s farmers, for preserving Social
Security and promoting fiscal responsibility, and for strengthening our
global leadership for freedom, peace and prosperity A man of the heartland,
he bought common sense, uncommon skill and a prairie wit to the United States
Senate, where he was the longest serving Republican leader in history.
Soldier, statesman and patriot, Bob Dole has created a record of achievement
that will stand forever as tribute to the strengths and values that have made
America great! Bob Dole Time Line: July
22, 1923, Robert Joseph Dole born in Russell, KS Oct.
29, 1929, Stock Market Crash May
1941, Graduated from Russell High School Sept.,
1941, Enrolled at K.U. Dec. 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor Bombed, U.S. entered World
War II
Dec.1942,
Enlisted in U.S. Army 1944 Attended Officers School April
14, 1945 Injured at Po Valley in Italy Aug.6,
1945 Atomic Bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan Sept.
2, 1945 World War II ends 1948, Discharged from the U.S. Army June
1948, Marries Phyllis Holden Sept.
1948 Enrolls at the University of Arizona Sept.
1949 Enrolls at Washburn Municipal University 1950-1953 Korean War Nov.
1950 Elected to the Kansas House of Representatives, first public election May
1952 Receives Law Degree from Washburn Municipal University Nov.
1952 Elected Russell County Attorney Oct.
18, 1954 Daughter Robin was born 1953-1960 Russell County Attorney Nov.
1960 Elected to the U.S. Congress in House of Representatives 1964- 1973 Vietnam War 1961-1968 Kansas Representative in U.S. House of
Representatives Nov.
1968 Elected U.S. Senator from Kansas July
1969 Neil Armstrong walked on the moon 1971 Republican National Chairman 1972 Divorces wife Phyllis 1974 Re-elected U.S. Senator from Kansas Dec.
1975 Marries Elizabeth Hanford Aug.
1976 Became President Ford’s vice-presidential running mate 1979-1980 Mounts unsuccessful campaign for 1980 Republican
Presidential nominee Nov.
1980 Re-elected to the U.S. Senate from Kansas 1984 Elected Senate Majority leader Nov.1986
Re-elected U. S. Senator from Kansas 1987-1988 Mount unsuccessful campaign for 1988 Republican
Presidential nominee 1988 Elected Senate Minority leader 1989 Berlin Wall opened, Cold War ended Nov.1992
Re-elected U.S. Senator from Kansas June
1996 Resigned from the U.S. Senate Aug.1996
Republican Presidential Candidate Nov.
1996 Lost the Presidential Election to President Bill Clinton 1997 Re-entered private law practice July
22, 2003, Dedication of the Bob Dole Institute Of Politics, KU campus,
Lawrence, Ks. |
