Sir Knight Robert Joseph Dole: Twentieth Century Statesman Throughout the twentieth century, many noted members of the United States Senate have also been Masons. Politically, they range from some of the most liberal; for example, Hubert Humphrey and George McGovern; to some of the most conservative; for example, John Bricker and Jesse Helms. They have included such respective party stalwarts as Democrat Robert Byrd and Republican Everett Dirksen as well as political mavericks typified by Robert LaFollette, George Norris, and Burton Wheeler. Seated comfortably near the center, albeit slightly to the right, in this panorama of statesmen is a man who occupied center stage for nearly twenty-eight years. Like the other aforementioned Senate notables, it has not been Robert Dole's destiny to attain the highest office in the land. Yet, like the Senate giants of the nineteenth century; Clay, Calhoun and Webster; Sir Knight Dole may be as remembered by posterity as they have been, while lesser figures who occupied the White House such as Tyler, Fillmore and Pierce are largely forgotten. Like many Americans who have attained stature, Robert Joseph Dole comes from modest, albeit honorable, beginnings. Born in Russell, Kansas, on July 22, 1923 to Doran R. and Bina Talbott Dole, Bob grew up a typical Midwestern small town youth. Like many Great Depression era families, the Doles struggled with the hard times that characterized the thirties. Doran Dole advanced from running an egg and cream station to managing a grain elevator. Mrs. Dole was a Singer sewing machine sales agent. When a minor oil boom hit Russell, the family rented rooms in their home to oilfield
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workers and moved into the basement. Young Bob had a paper route and then worked in a local drugstore. He also displayed an interest in high school sports, competing in football, basketball and track. Following high school graduation in the spring of 1941, Bob entered the University of Kansas with intentions of studying medicine. American entry into World War II in December 1941 changed the course of millions of American lives. After finishing his second year of college, Bob Dole enlisted in the United States Army. He became a member of the 10th Mountain Division and saw extensive combat duty in Italy. While leading an attack on a German machine gun unit in the Po Valley on April 14, 1945, parts of an exploding shell hit Lieutenant Dole. His combat career ended suddenly, and the young officer now began a fight for life. His right shoulder was virtually gone, some neck and spinal vertebrae were fractured and several slivers of metal penetrated his body. Three years of hospital rehabilitation followed including three major operations. Slowly the wounded soldier recovered the ability to stand, walk, and use his left arm and hand. During his period of recovery, Dole met and married Phyllis Holden, a young physiotherapist who had helped with his recovery. When he reentered college, Phyllis took lecture notes for him until he learned to write with his left hand. The couple later had a daughter Robin. Their marriage, however, ended in January 1972. In 1975, he married again to Elizabeth Hanford of Raleigh, North Carolina Discharged from the Army in 1948 with the rank of Captain. Bob Dole now displayed a determination to return to college
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