Former Kansas senator and Republican presidential candidate Robert Joseph Dole passed away early Sunday morning at the age of 98.
According to a statement released by the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, the World War II veteran and longtime politician passed in his sleep.
“It is with heavy hearts we announce that Senator Robert Joseph Dole died early this morning in his sleep. At his death, at age 98, he had served the United States of America faithfully for 79 years. More information coming soon,” the Foundation shared in a tweet.
It is with heavy hearts we announce that Senator Robert Joseph Dole died early this morning in his sleep. At his death, at age 98, he had served the United States of America faithfully for 79 years. More information coming soon. #RememberingBobDole pic.twitter.com/57NtGfqtmL
Advertisement— Elizabeth Dole Foundation (@DoleFoundation) December 5, 2021
Dole served as top Republican in the Senate for some 11 years — a feat beaten only by current Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell — and is one of only eight senators in history to have received a Congressional Gold Medal.
His response, when he received the honor in January of 2018, was simple and self-deprecating: “I want to thank all those who’ve said such kind words about me. They’re probably not true, but they were nice.”
He was former President Gerald Ford’s 1976 running mate, and at 73 he became the oldest to ever make a first-time run for the presidency, clinching the Republican nomination in 1996 but losing to Bill Clinton.
Dole had been in poor health for several years – and had confirmed in February of this year that he was suffering from stage 4 lung cancer — but had continued to make an effort to serve others and honor his friends as colleagues.
And when former President and fellow World War II veteran George H.W. Bush passed away, Dole not only attended the public visitation but asked to be helped to his feet so that he could salute his fallen friend.
Bob Dole was the type of man who at 96, unable to walk and struggling badly with his health, wanted to be held up so he could salute the casket of a fellow WWII veteran and former president pic.twitter.com/udvVDSYg17
— Sunny McSunnyface (@sunnyright) December 5, 2021
This is an excerpt from The Daily Wire.
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