Bob Dole

Robert Joseph Dole (born July 22, 1923), former United States Representative and Senator from Kansas he is best known as being the majority leader of the Senate and later as a 1994 presidential candidate.

Born in Russell, Kansas, he graduated from Washburn Municipal University in Topeka, Kansas with an undergraduate degree and law degree in 1952, after attending Kansas University from 1941-1943 and the University of Arizona from 1948-1949. During World War II Dole served as a combat infantry officer in Italy, was wounded twice and hospitalized for thirty-nine months. He was admitted to the bar and commenced the practice of law in his hometown in 1952.

He later ran for office and was elected to the State house of representatives serving a two year term ending in 1953. He then became county attorney of Russell County, Kansas performing in this capacity unitl 1961. Dole was then elected as a Republican to the Eighty-seventh Congress and to the three succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1961-January 3, 1969). In 1968 he was elected to the United States Senate and reelected in 1974, 1980, 1986 and again in 1992 (serving from January 3, 1969, to June 11, 1996). In 1996 he resigned to devote his efforts to his presidential campaign ending his leadership as majority leader (1985-1987), and earlier as 1995-1996 minority leader 1987-1995; chairman, Committee on Finance (1981-1985), Special Committee on Security and Cooperation in Europe (1985-1987); unsuccessful Republican candidate for Vice President of the United States in 1976; unsuccessful candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in 1988; unsuccessful Republican nominee for President of the United States in 1996; engaged in the practice of law in Washington, DC, 1997-

(taken from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress)