Born in Russell, Kansas, Bob Dole left the University of Kansas in 1943 to serve in World War II. Injured in Italy in 1945, he made a full recovery except for the use of his right arm and hand. After returning to college, Dole received a law degree. He then served as a Kansas state legislator and as a prosecuting attorney. In 1960 Dole won a seat in the U.S. Congress, where he served until moving to the Senate in 1969. Dole was President Gerald Ford’s running mate in 1976 but they lost the election to Democrats Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondale. Dole himself ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 1980 and 1988. Both campaigns were unsuccessful. Dole served as Senate majority leader from 1984 to 1986 and 1994 to 1996. After winning the Republican nomination in 1996, he resigned from the Senate to focus on the campaign against President Bill Clinton. Dole lost the election.
