Former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole marked off Allen County as his 104th county stop in his Coming Home Tour Thursday afternoon. Dole appeared at St. John’s Parish Hall to visit with Allen Countains and endorse Lynn Jenkins and Pat Roberts in the upcoming election.
“I’m not a politician anymore but I still go to the law office and do some work,” he said. “I work on disability and with veterans.”
On Saturday Dole, 91, will join the Republican Party on its bus tour.
“I’m not running for election but I thought I would go along for the ride,” he said.
Dole talked about his proudest moment in his political career as working for the preservation of Social Security. He also talked about “Dolls for Dole,” women who helped campaign for him.
“I was running against a man named Doyl and people didn’t know the difference,” he said. “The Dolls would wear a white blouse, red skirt and go around the parades and events serving Dole pineapple juice to voters.”
Jefferson fourth- and fifth-graders attended the event to ask the former politician questions. Many youngsters wanted to know about Dole’s experience in World War II. Dole told them he was shot and on the ground for eight hours before he was rescued. He spent 39 months in the hospital and continues to work for better veterans’ healthcare.
“These men and women are coming back in very bad shape,” Dole said about current soldiers. “We need to take care of them.”
One student asked Dole if he was sad when he lost to President Bill Clinton. With his sense of humor in tact Dole responded quickly.
“I slept like a baby that night,” he said. “I would wake up every two hours and cry.”
Dole gave advice for the younger generation about being future leaders.
“Listen to your teachers and parents and do your homework,” Dole advised. “Public service doesn’t have to be in politics. Try to help one person a year.”
He completed his tour in Garnett later Thursday afternoon.
Dole wraps up tour with stop in Iola
