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Senator Dole's Political Career:
Bob Dole’s political career began in 1950 when he first decided to run for the Kansas State Legislature. Encouraged by his Democrat law school librarian, Beth Bowers, and inspired by his fellow Kansan and World War II Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, General Eisenhower, Dole took Ms. Bowers’ challenge to heart. While in law school in Topeka, Dole and three of his classmates put their hats in the ring. Three of them were elected. Dole spent the first three months of 1951 shuttling between Boswell Hall at Washburn Law School and the State Capitol. Although his parents were Democrats who admired President Roosevelt, Dole decided to run as a Republican. In 1952, family friend John Woelk convinced Dole to return home to seek the County Attorney seat Woelk would be vacating. Dole was elected and served four terms.
One of the most memorable events of his political career, Dole recalls, was the visit he made to Eisenhower’s home in Gettysburg, PA shortly after being sworn in. President Eisenhower invited all the members of his freshman class, Democrats and Republicans. He gave them lunch, a personal tour of the civil war battlefield, and shook their hands as they boarded the bus back to Washington. During Bob Dole’s service in Congress, he earned bipartisan respect for his views on foreign policy, health care, agriculture, disabilities, civil rights, hunger and nutrition, social security, fiscal discipline and commitment to our nation’s veterans. In 1970, President Nixon chose Dole to Chair the Republican National Committee. Dole took the doors off the building to demonstrate his “open-door” policy and commitment to strengthening the party. In 1976, President Ford tapped Dole to be his Vice Presidential running mate. Ford and Dole lost in one of the closet elections in US history. (Read Senator Dole’s tribute to President Ford which ran in the Washington Post [link]) Dole ran for President briefly in 1980. He was a strong contender in 1988, when he won the first-in-the-nation caucuses in his neighboring state of Iowa. In 1996, Dole ran for a third time and received the Republican Nomination for President. (Read the text of Senator Dole’s Nomination Acceptance Speech)
As Senate Republican Leader, Dole’s effectiveness as a consensus-builder, his commitment to deficit reduction and economic growth, and strong stances in foreign policy earned his admiration from both sides of the aisle. Dole led the Senate in passing President Reagan’s tax reform package in 1986. He supported the North American Free Trade Agreement of 1995 and was a key leader of the Telecommunications Reform Act of 1995. Senator Dole was also a distinguished leader on foreign and defense policy issues. Throughout his career, he has worked to strengthen America's defenses and advance its national interests abroad. When President Carter established diplomatic relations with communist China, Senator Dole led efforts to protect and deepen relations with Taiwan, a key U.S. ally in Asia. In the 1990s, he strongly supported the U.S.-led coalition to liberate Kuwait from Iraqi occupation. He was also the leading Congressional proponent of U.S. military action to stop Serbian forces' slaughter of civilian populations in Bosnia and Kosova. Later, he supported President Clinton's deployment of U.S. troops in both countries. Senator Dole also led efforts in the Congress to promote the inclusion of central and eastern European nations in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Over the years Bob Dole served in many roles – Congressman, Senator, Republican Nominee for President, Republican Nominee for Vice President, Senate Republican Leader, Republican National Committee Chairman, Kansas State Representative, and County Attorney. Dole is the longest serving Republican Leader in history (1985-1996), which included two stints as Majority Leader (1985-1987, 1995-1996). He was Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee from 1981-1984. (Read Senator Dole’s official Senate Biography) In each of his roles, Senator Dole has made it a major priority to help GOP candidates up and down the ticket, earning him the title of “Mr. Republican.” In 1981, he founded Campaign America, which was a large contributor to Republican candidates during the historic 1994 GOP Congressional victory. Campaign America was the second largest PAC after the Teamsters Union. As a private citizen, Bob Dole has been active in his party. In 1998, the first election year after his leaving public office, he campaigned actively on behalf of 70 GOP nominees in 37 states: 14 Senate candidates, 42 House candidates, 9 gubernatorial candidates and five for other offices. He has continued to campaign actively in subsequent election years, both for Mrs. Dole's run for the GOP Presidential nomination in 2000 and her successful campaign for the US Senate in 2002. Dole took an active role in President Bush's 2000 election and 2004 re-election campaigns, serving as the chair of the veterans coalition in 2004 and campaigning in key battleground states. He has contributed nearly $300,000 to candidates since 1996. Though the nomination of his party for president is considered the crowning achievement of his political career, he has said the title he is most proud to wear is that of “veteran.” For more information about Bob Dole’s political career and record, please visit the Dole Archives at the University of Kansas.
Bob Dole Political Career Timeline 1950 Elected Kansas State Representative (served 1951-1953)
Post political career public service: Chairman, World War II Memorial
List of Select Awards: Presidential Medal of Freedom
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Dole was elected to the U.S House of Representatives in 1960 just as John F. Kennedy was elected to succeed his hero, President Eisenhower. Asked what he would do after being elected to Congress, Dole remarked he would follow the advice of Senator Frank Carlson from Kansas, who told him, “Sit back, listen, then stand up for what you believe in.” In 1968, when Senator Carlson decided to step down after 40 years of public service, Dole ran for and won his seat in the Senate. 
As a member of the House of Representatives, Dole voted for key amendments to the National School Lunch Program, Food for Peace legislation, the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and the 1965 Voting Rights Act.