Dole, Elizabeth Hanford (1936-…), a Republican, had a long career in public service in the United States. Dole represented North Carolina in the U.S. Senate from 2003 to 2009. Her other posts included the Cabinet positions of secretary of transportation and secretary of labor in the federal government, and the presidency of the American Red Cross. In 1975, she married Robert J. Dole. Her husband was the 1996 Republican candidate for president of the United States. He lost to Democratic incumbent President Bill Clinton (see Dole, Robert J.).
Elizabeth Dole was born in Salisbury, North Carolina, on July 29, 1936. Her maiden name was Elizabeth Hanford. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Duke University and a master’s degree and a law degree from Harvard University.
Dole held several important positions during the presidency of Richard M. Nixon. From 1969 to 1971, she served as executive director of the President’s Committee on Consumer Interests. She was deputy director of the Office of Consumer Affairs from 1971 to 1973. Nixon appointed her to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in 1973. Dole remained on the FTC until 1979. From 1981 to 1983, Dole was President Ronald Reagan’s assistant for public liaison. She served as Reagan’s secretary of transportation from 1983 to 1987. She was secretary of labor under President George H. W. Bush in 1989 and 1990.
In 1991, Dole became president of the American Red Cross. She resigned from the post in August 1999 to campaign for the Republican nomination for president in the 2000 election, but pulled out of the race in October 1999. In 2002, Dole won election to the U.S. Senate seat that was occupied by Senator Jesse A. Helms, who did not run for reelection. Dole took office as a senator in January 2003. She failed to win reelection in 2008.
