frontline: the choice '96: Stories of Bob

Explore these memories, anecdotes and analyses of Bob Dole as recounted by his friends, adversaries, family, colleagues and biographers.

These are close-up portraits of his life and conduct which have been drawn from more than 500 research interviews conducted for FRONTLINE's "The Choice '96" documentary which aired just prior to the 1996 election in which the candidates were Bob Dole and Bill Clinton.

R.W. Apple... Washington Bureau Chief, The New York Times
Recollections of the '74 senatorial Roy-Dole campaign in Kansas.
Rick Armitage...Former Dole staffer
What it was like working for Dole.....deciphering "a man of contradictions"
Dean Banker, Bub Dawson, Adolf Reisig....Childhood friends
Their remembrance of Dole's hometown of Russell, Kansas and the Dust Bowl......describing Kansas/Dole humor......memories of Bob Dole's family.
Ross K. Baker......Political Science professor, Rutgers University
Analyzing Dole's legislative career......the quid pro quos he achieved ......his Senate friendships....and, his one close friend
Sidney Blumenthal....Writer, The New Yorker and author of The Permanent Campaign
The nature of the Nixon/Dole relationship......Bob Dole's tears at Nixon's funeral
Frank Carafa....World War II veteran who rescued Lt. Dole on the battlefield
First impressions of Lt. Robert Dole.....why Dole's uncomfortable talking about the war
Richard Ben Cramer.....Author of What It Takes about the '88 presidential candidates
Dole's central loneliness...Why Dole and Cinton are "brothers under the skin".... the first marriage......"A day in the life" of Bob Dole.......and, Elizabeth
Senator David Durenburger....(R.) Minnesota
Dole's Senate style ......what it's like relaxing with Bob...an explanation of the consummate dealmaker
John Erlichman.....Domestic Policy Advisor and Special Assistant to President Nixon
About the conventional wisdome he was Nixon's hatchet man...."resisting White House instructions"..... Nixon's sacking
Judy Harbaugh...Dole staffer in the Nixon era
What it was like working for Dole...the meaning of his Methodist faith......reflections on his hometown of Russell, Kansas....memories of Phyllis Dole, his first wife
David Harris....Vietnam war opponent and author
Analyzing Dole and Clinton's responses to the Vietnam War
Senator Mark Hatfield..... (R. Oregon) Worked closely with Dole in the Senate
Sketching a portrait of Dole in the Senate.....the kind of company Dole kept..... Dole's '85 battle to cut the deficit
Bob Healy...Former Executive Editor of The Boston Globe and World War II veteran who covered the Vietnam War
Memories of an encounter with Dole just after Nixon's firing.......war's impact on Dole's life and actions
Hendrik Hertzberg....Political writer for The New Yorker
Describing Dole's "doubleness"... and his "existential bitterness".... and analyzing Dole humor
Nicholas Jenkins.....Professor of English, Harvard University
Why Dole and Clinton cry......charting the engine of their ambitions
Elliott Kaplan...Lawyer and friend of David Owen
T he meaning of Dole's dumping of David Owen, a close campaign advisor
David Maraniss.....The Washington Post reporter who has written about Dole during the '96 campaignbr> On the "misinterpreting of Dole"....describing his "emotional relationship" with Nixon...
an analysis of Dole's nature, record and leadership capacity
George McGovern.....Former Senator from South Dakota (D)
Redefining Dole after '72.......the passage of the Food Stamp program....
Scott Morgan and Scott Richardson... Former Dole staffers
What it's like to work for Bob Dole......the 'Woody Woodpecker episode'....about those Dole jokes
Gloria Dole Nelson.....Bob Dole's sister
The rearing, loving and discipline in the Dole family ....what Dawson's Drug Store taught my brother..
Dennis Oetting......David Owen's best friend
His explanation of why Dole dumped David Owen.......Owen's letter from prison
Larry O'Donnell...Former Chief of staff of the Senate Finance Committee
Dole's artistry in dealmaking ... and, his Senate reputation.....
George Pyle...Editor, Salina Journal, Salina, Kansas
Bob Dole as 'Darth Vader'.....the driven pursuit of politics as a career......the David Owen story.... the funniest Bob Dole joke....explaining Kansas conservatism.....analyzing Bob Dole's "core"
Dr. Bill Roy....Former Kansas congressman who challenged Dole for his Senate seat in 1974
Recalling the ugly '74 campaign....Dole's 'apology' years later
Norma Jean Steele.....Sister
Bob as a young boy... describing the Dole family's schedule..... Bob's favorite song after the war
Dr. Leonard Sweet....United Methodist Minister and Dean of the Divinity School, Drew University
Examining Dole's Midwestern Methodist faith......Doran Dole....
Bill Wohlford....Former administrative assistant to Dole
What it was like preparing a speech for Dole....describing the Dole management style .......and, the landscape which shaped him
Bob Woodward....Investigative reporter for The Washington Post and author of The Choice What Nixon and Dole saw in each other....analyzing Dole's "survival ingredient" ..... expectations of each man - Dole and Clinton - if elected.....