Former Republican senator Bob Dole has died at the age of 98, his family said in a statement Sunday.
“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,” said a statement from the Elizabeth Dole Foundation.
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
— Elizabeth Dole Foundation (@DoleFoundation) December 5, 2021
Dole’s death comes after he announced in February that he had been diagnosed with stage four lung cancer.
“While I certainly have some hurdles ahead, I also know that I join millions of Americans who face significant health challenges of their own,” he said at the time.
Dole, a Kansas native, overcame life-threatening injuries during World War II and went on to become Senate majority leader f0r nearly 11 years, as well as the 1996 Republican nominee for president. At 73, he was one of the oldest first-time presidential nominees. He retired from politics after losing the race.
While Dole wanted to be a doctor in his younger years, he shifted away from that goal after he nearly died and was left permanently disabled in World War II when he was caught in a German machine gun attack in 1945 while trying to rescue an army radioman. Dole lost a kidney, shattered his right shoulder and sustained damage to his neck and spine that left him temporarily paralyzed from the neck down as a result of the attack.
Dole’s left arm remained partially numb for the rest of his life and he never regained use of his right arm.
He earned two Purple Hearts and two awards of the Bronze Star and went on to become only the eighth senator to receive a Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor bestowed by Congress.
“I want to thank all those who’ve said such kind words about me,” Dole said when he received the Congressional Gold Medal, joking that “they’re probably not true, but they were nice.”
Source: National Review
