JUNCTION CITY — For eight years in the U.S. House and another 28-plus years in the U.S. Senate, Bob Dole represented the state of Kansas.
The Russell native and former presidential candidate, 90, is touring Kansas this week saying thank you to the public for their support during his career. One stop was the Hampton Inn in Junction City where he was greeted by local residents during a reception. He displayed his sense of humor in his opening comments and drew a chuckle from the audience when he noted he had no agenda, wasn’t there to raise money or beg for a vote.
“Though I may run again, not sure,” he said tongue-in-cheek. “I just want to say thank you for all the support you’ve given me over the years. I ran for the Senate five times, and I think probably some people in this room, maybe not as old as I am, voted for me at least three or four times. And I thank you for that. And I did the best I could to repay the people who supported me, in fact all the people. You don’t just represent those who supported you.”
Dole credited a law librarian when he was a law student at Washburn University, Beth Bowers, for being the inspiration for his public service career. He was one of four students she convinced to run for the state Legislature. Dole said two of them won, and he was one of those two.
“And I guess that sort of gave me a taste for politics, and she was the inspiration. She was a wonderful lady,” he said.
Dole later was elected county attorney in Russell County and served there for eight years. He then ran for Congress, winning election to the U.S. House by 984 votes.
Dole met with approximately 50 people during his stop in Junction City. Earlier, in Manhattan, there was a large turnout to meet him during a public reception at the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center.