lenged by Pat Buchanan, Steve Forbes, and many
others. Dole was formally nominated by the Republi-
can National Convention on August 15, 1996. Dole
ran with Jack Kemp, a former representative from
New York, who was seen as a means to attract the
more conservative voters who originally supported
Buchanan. The Dole-Kemp ticket stressed the im-
portance of traditional American values and sought
to reduce the size of the federal government and
to give Americans more opportunities. However,
Dole had spent a large portion of his finances and
efforts in the primary race and found himself trail-
ing Clinton in the general election. The final results
put Bill Clinton and Al Gore back into office with
just over 49 percent of the popular vote and 70 per-
cent of the electoral vote; the Dole-Kemp ticket
managed almost 41 percent and 30 percent, respec-
tively.
Postpolitical Career After suffering defeat, Dole
remained in the public eye, serving on various com-
mittees and as a spokesman in a number of advertise-
ments. Dole served as chair of the World War II Me-
morial, chair of the International Commission on
Missing Persons, and cochair of the President’s
Commission on Care for Returning Wounded War-
riors. President Clinton awarded Dole the Presiden-
tial Medal of Freedom in 1997. That same year, Dole
joined the law firm of Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard,
McPherson & Hand. Dole became a prominent
spokesman for Viagra and Pepsi.
Impact Dole’s work on the Americans with Disabil-
ities Act helped countless Americans find employ-
ment, utilize public transport, and participate in
normal activities. Since leaving office, Dole has been
closely associated with his role as a spokesman for
Viagra; he has used this position to reach American
men and to improve their lives and draw attention to
important medical issues.
Further Reading
Ceaser, James W., and Andrew E. Busch.Losing to
Win: The 1996 Elections and American Politics.Lan-
ham, Md.: Rowman & Littlefield, 1997. A look at
the 1996 elections written from the standpoint of
political scientists.
Dole, Bob.One Soldier’s Stor y: A Memoir.New York:
HarperCollins, 2005. Details Dole’s experiences
during World War II. Although this book does not
speak much of his political ventures, it helps
explain how much of his military experience af-
fected his life.
Dole, Bob, Elizabeth Dole, and Richard Norton
Smith.Unlimited Partners: Our American Stor y.New
York: Simon & Schuster, 1996. The Doles co-
authored this book that explores their lives from
childhood to the bid for the White House.
U.S. Congress. Senate. Office of the Secretary.Trib-
utes Delivered in Congress: Robert J. Dole, United States
Congressman, 1961-1969, United States Senator,
1969-1996. Washington, D.C.: Government Print-
ing Office, 1996. A collection of remarks made by
members of Congress upon Senator Bob Dole’s
retirement.
Kathr yn A. CochranSee also Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990;
Clinton, Bill; Elections in the United States, mid-
term; Elections in the United States, 1996; Health
care; Health care reform; Kemp, Jack; Republican
Revolution; Viagra.262 Dole, Bob The Nineties in America
Bob Dole. (Library of Congress)