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Bob Dole seated with Gerald Ford, and Bill Clinton shaking hands with Bob Dole

Career Summary

Senator Bob Dole

Senator Bob Dole served in the U.S. Congress for 35 years for the state of Kansas. He was the longest serving Republican Leader until 2018, when his record was broken. He was the 1996 Republican Nominee for President, and President Ford’s Vice-Presidential candidate in 1976. Dole’s activities cover U.S. politics from the latter part of the 20th century with a focus on 1960-1996 and his Archives are a key resource across subjects and academic disciplines, including history, government, politics, leadership, democracy, and the broad American experience.

Kansas

Kansas House of Representatives

1950-1952 (Elected 1950)

Russell County Attorney

1952-1960 (Elected 1952, 1954, 1956, 1958)

 

U.S. House of Representatives

Kansas 6th District

January 3, 1961 – January 3, 1963 (Elected: 1960)

Kansas 1st District

(Re-districted in 1962 to include the 6th District)

January 3, 1963 – January 3, 1969 (Elected: 1962, 1964, 1966)

 

    U.S. Senate

    Kansas Senator

    January 3, 1969 – June 11, 1996 (Elected: 1968, 1974, 1980, 1986, 1992)

    Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance

    January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1985

    Senate Minority Leader

    January 3, 1987 – January 3, 1995

    Senate Majority Leader

    January 3, 1985 – January 3, 1987 and January 3, 1995 – June 11, 1996

     

      Republican National Committee

      47th Chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC)

      1971–1973

       

        Vice-Presidential Candidate - Not Elected

        President Gerald Ford’s Vice-Presidential Candidate in 1976 – Not Elected

        • Jimmy Carter/Walter Mondale (D) – 40,831,881 (50.1%) and 297 electoral votes
        • Gerald Ford/Bob Dole (R) – 39,148,634 (48.0%) and 240 electoral votes

         

        Presidential Runs – Not Elected

        1980 Republican Presidential Primary

        (withdrew early and endorsed Ronald Reagan)

        1988 Republican Presidential Primary

        (withdrew after an initial strong lead in the polls, won by George H.W. Bush)

        1996 Republican Nominee for President against incumbent President Bill Clinton

        • Bill Clinton/Al Gore (D) – 47,402,357 (49.2%) and 379 electoral votes
        • Bob Dole/Jack Kemp (R) – 39,198,755 (40.7%) and 159 electoral votes