Bob Dole- famed as a Republican Party stalwart and former senator of the USA had died at the age of 98. He had maintained to be one of the most eminent political figures throughout the latter half of the 20th century.
The former Senator died in his sleep the early morning of 5th December 2021. Earlier this year, in February, he informed the world that he was being treated for advanced lung cancer. Joe Biden, the president even visited him shortly after he got to know about the diagnosis.
Bob Dole who had survived World War II had served the United States for 79 years, as per the statement from one of his family members. During his career as a political leader and US Senator he took decisions and did work only for the betterment of the people of the country.
In a statement, President Biden mourned and showed his condolence for the death. He stated, "Bob was an American statesman like few in our history. A war hero and among the greatest of the Greatest Generation. And to me, he was also a friend whom I could look to for trusted guidance…”
He further added, “I will miss my friend. But I am grateful for the times we shared and for the friendship”.
The World War II survivor has gone through several health issues. He had gone through surgery for prostate cancer in 1991. He received surgery for an abdominal aortic aneurysm in 2001. Even, he was hospitalized in 2005 after a fall in his home and was treated for a leg infection in 2009.
After he arrived at the beginning of the Kennedy administration, Dole served for 27 years as a US senator from Kansas. However, it is his unsuccessful run against Bill Clinton as Presidential nominee in 1996 that creates a dent in his political career. It was for the third time failure at White House.
In 1996 he resigned from the Senate and focused on running the White House. He further declared that he would be at the White House or home.
He entered the race and faced the first challenge right from Pat Buchanan to secure the nomination. However, he lost the election against Bill Clinton as people recognized 73-year-old Dole as an old school and out of touch.
Besides his political career in Washington, Dole advocated for the veterans of the nation for several years. It includes his serving as a co-chair of the 2007 presidential commission that investigated Walter reed medical center.
Journalist Ben Cramer in his book “What It Takes” about the 1988 election described Bob dole as a very cheerful and peaceful personality who was always up for jokes, even on him. Even, when Biden won the election last year, Dole was one of the key Republicans to say that Biden had won, and in an interview with the USA Today he said that Biden had “sort of Trumped out”
