Former Majority Leader Dole recalls bipartisanship in Senate, lauds military veterans in Veterans Day interview

Wesley G. Pippert

November 11, 2020

Former Senate Majority Leader Robert "Bob" Dole, in an interview with National Press Club President Michael Freedman that aired on Veterans Day, said he is confident that the United States will continue to retain military superiority.

“Our president," Dole said, referring to President Trump, "by doing what he did in military areas has assured that we’re going to be the strongest country in the world for years and years to come.”

“We have the military might to take on anyone,” he added.

In a special Veterans Day program, National Press Club President Michael Freedman introduces former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole, a World War II veteran (pictured right) and Republican candidate for president in 1996. Photo by Alan Kotok.

Dole, 97, appeared at the virtual Headliners Newsmaker, from his home in Washington. “I still have all my marbles,” he said, flashing his celebrated wit. Dole, who was wounded while serving in Italy in World War II, lauded his fellow veterans and urged them to “be true to faith, to country, and be on the positive side.”

Growing up in the small town of Russell, Kan., Dole said he never thought much about politics. After spending more than a year in the hospital to recover from his war wounds, Dole earned a law degree and got involved in politics when the county attorney in his hometown no longer wanted the job and asked Dole to run for the post. Dole later went on to serve in the Kansas legislature. He was elected to the U.S. House in 1961 and the Senate in 1969. He served in the Senate until 1996, the last 11 years as Senate Republican leader.

Former Kansas senator Bob Dole tells Club president Michael Freedman that when he first joined the Congress, a majority of its members were veterans, which offered a shared understanding and set of experiences that probably does not exist today. Photo by Alan Kotok.

“I had a great ride,” Dole said. “When I was Leader, I reached across the aisle -- a lot. We got a lot done.”

Never mentioning either Trump or President-elect Biden by name at any point in the interview, Dole, a former GOP presidential nominee, offered compliments to several Democratic senate colleagues, particularly late Sens. Philip Hart, D-Mich., who stood by him early in his career, Daniel Inouye, D-HI, who was hospitalized with war injuries at the same time as Dole, and George McGovern, D-S.D., who ran for president in 1972 when Dole was GOP chairman. Dole called McGovern “a wonderful guy, a dear friend … he had a heart.”

“It’s different today,” Dole said. He later added, "Today, I’m kind of a sad Republican.” He didn’t elaborate on either remark.

Nowadays, Dole said, he said he talks to senators with whom he served and friends he has accumulated “along the way.” And, he admitted, “I’m a newshound.” For the past 14 years, he welcomes thousands of veterans who were coming to see the new World War II memorial, which he helped create.

“I rely on faith. It’s important. God has a plan for all of us,” Dole said. “When the chips are down we’re all in this together.”