Dole, Bob

views updated Jun 11 2018

Dole, Bob ( Robert Joseph) (1923– ) US politician. Dole served as a Republican representative from Kansas (1960–69), before joining the Senate. He was President Gerald Ford's running mate in the unsuccessful Republican campaign (1976). Dole served as leader of the Senate (1984–96). After twice failing to win the Republican presidential nomination (1980, 1988), he finally secured the vote in 1996. Dole ran a lacklustre campaign and lost the election to President Bill Clinton.