Bob Dole, a former Republican senator and a presidential contender in 1996, died early Sunday morning, according to his family.
“Senator Robert Joseph Dole died in the early hours of this morning while sleeping. He faithfully served the United States of America for 79 years, until his death at the age of 98 “according to the statement.
He was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in February and stated that he will begin treatment.
He was born in Kansas in 1923 to a poor family. He served in World War II and was awarded two Purple Heart medals and two Bronze Star medals for his bravery.
He influenced tax policy, foreign policy, agriculture and nutrition programs, and disability rights, enshrining anti-discrimination safeguards in employment, education, and public services in the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Today’s accessible government buildings and national parks, sidewalk ramps, and sign-language interpreters at official local events are just a few of the more apparent legacies of his legacy and the legacies of the fellow politicians he gathered for that landmark civil rights legislation 30 years ago.
A Nazi machine gun snatched his kidney, fractured his right shoulder, and wounded his neck and spine during surgery in Italy, paralyzing him from the neck down until he recovered partially after years of therapy. His right arm was never fully healed, while his left had limited movement.
Following the war, he became interested in politics in his home state of Kansas. From there, he proceeded to the House of Representatives and then to the Senate, where he spearheaded projects for war veterans and the disabled for eleven years. In 1976, he ran for vice president alongside Gerald Ford.
He was elected in the Republican primaries to run for President in 1996, but after losing to Bill Clinton, he retreated from politics and devoted himself to acting in television ads for goods such as Viagra and Visa.
During his 36-year career on Capitol Hill, Dole rose to become one of the Senate’s most powerful politicians and party leaders, combining a flair for compromise with a caustic wit that he frequently turned on himself but didn’t hesitate to turn on others.
