As the 1990’s began, Bob Dole was
contemplating retiring from his
extensive service in the U.S. Sen-
ate, where he had served since
- However with the Gulf War
resolution and other important
political matters looming on the
political horizon, Dole reconsid-
ered his path and remained in the
Senate. Dole aided in the passage
of a Senate joint resolution to sup-
port the Gulf War offensive in
early 1991.
In 1991, Dole learned that he
had prostate cancer but that it was
still in its early stages and could
likely be stopped. He underwent
prostate surgery at Walter Reed
Army Hospital that successfully
removed his prostate gland along
with the slow-growing cancer. Dole
went public about his cancer and
the side effects of prostate sur-
gery, which included erectile dys-
function, appearing at prostate
cancer awareness events and be-
fore Congress.
Dole introduced the Women’s
Equal Opportunity Act to Con-
gress in 1991. The following year,
he was reelected by the state of
Kansas to serve another six-year
term in the Senate, defeating Democratic candidate
Gloria O’Dell. A few days later, Dole’s colleagues
reelected him to serve as Senate minority leader.
A World War II veteran who suffered a gunshot
wound that left his right arm permanently para-
lyzed, Dole helped to pass the Americans with Dis-
abilities Act of 1990, which came into effect in 1992
and prohibited discrimination based on disability
in employment, in places of public accommoda-
tion (including all restaurants, retail stores, hotels,
theaters, health care facilities, parks, convention
centers, and places of recreation), in transporta-
tion services, and in all activities of state and local
governments. In 1993, Dole voted in support of the
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA),
which eliminated many of the tariffs between Can-
ada, the United States, and Mexico. He also spon-
sored the Comprehensive Campaign Finance Re-
form Act and the Sexual Assault Prevention Act.
Dole introduced a health care reform bill in 1994
that utilized a free market approach and offered
subsidies to help lower-income Americans afford
health insurance. In November, 1994, the Republi-
cans regained control of the House of Representa-
tives; the following January, Dole was elected Senate
majority leader. However, Dole was not to remain in
the Senate chambers much longer. On April 10,
1995, after only a few months as majority leader,
Dole announced his bid for the U.S. presidency. On
May 15, 1996, Dole stated that he would leave the
Senate in order to devote all of his time to the cam-
paign. His final day in office was June 11, 1996.
Dole for President The 1996 Republican primary
was full of contenders hoping to defeat the incum-
bent Democratic president, Bill Clinton. Bob Dole
appeared to be the likely winner, but he was chal-The Nineties in America Dole, Bob 261
In his acceptance speech at the 1996 Republican National Convention,
presidential candidate Bob Dole outlined the differences between his party
and the opposition:Our friends in the other party say the economy is great. It’s
moving forward. It’s moving, like a ship dragging an anchor, the
anchor of taxes, and excessive regulations and big government
and bureaucracy.
They say it’s the best we do and the best we can hope for. But
that’s because they have put their entire trust in government
rather than people. They want a government that runs our lives,
runs our businesses, runs our schools. You see, they just don’t be-
lieve in the unlimited possibilities that freedom can bring.
Today, the Democratic Party is not democratic. They are elitist.
They don’t have faith in people. They have faith in government.
They trust government more than markets, and that’s why they
raised taxes on middle-income families. That’s why they tried to
nationalize health care. That’s why that today they say they are
“unalterably opposed” to cutting taxes on the American family.
That’s the problem with elitists. They think they know better
than the people. But the truth is, there’s a wisdom, there’s an in-
telligence in ordinary women and men far superior to the great-
est so-called experts that have ever lived. That’s what our party
must be all about.
The Democratic Party is the party of the status quo. And as of
tonight, with Bob Dole as our leader, we are the party of change.“The Democratic Party Is Not Democratic”