Dole, Elizabeth Hanford, 1936-

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Mary Elizabeth "Liddy" Alexander Hanford Dole (born July 29, 1936) is an American politician and author who served in the Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, and George H. W. Bush presidential administrations. She also served in the United States Senate from 2003 to 2009.

A native of Salisbury, North Carolina and a graduate of Duke University, Harvard University, and Harvard Law School, Elizabeth Hanford moved to Washington, DC after earning her law degree, building a formidable resume over the following decades. She began her career in 1967 as a staff assistant to the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare in the Lyndon B. Johnson administration. After leaving in 1968, Hanford worked for the President’s Committee for Consumer Interests, which later became the Office of Consumer Affairs when President Richard M. Nixon took office. She also served as a member of the Federal Trade Commission as an advocate for consumer issues. Originally a Democrat, she changed her party affiliation to Independent while working in the Nixon White House; after her 1975 marriage to Kansas Senator Robert Dole, she switched her party affiliation to Republican.

When Ronald Reagan was elected President in 1980, he appointed Dole as director of the White House Office of Public Liaison. Three years later, Reagan named her as the first woman to hold the Cabinet post of U.S. Secretary of Transportation, a position she held from 1983 to 1987. After George H. W. Bush won election as President in 1988, Dole became Secretary in the Labor Department, serving from 1989 to 1991 when she resigned to become the president of the American Red Cross, remaining in that role until resigning in 1999 to undertake an abortive run for the Republican nomination for President of the United States.

When longtime incumbent North Carolina Senator Jesse Helms announced his retirement in 2002, Dole decided to seek his seat. She easily won the GOP primary, taking 80 percent of the vote against six opponents. Although she faced criticism for having lived outside North Carolina for decades, she emphasized her roots in the state and traveled to all 100 North Carolina counties to meet with voters. On Election Day, Dole defeated Bowles with 53 percent of the vote. Though a heavy favorite for reelection in 2008, Dole would lose by a nine-point margin to Democratic State Senator Kay Hagan.

In 2012 Dole, whose husband Robert suffered grave injuries during combat in World War II, founded the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, which supports caregivers and family members of wounded veterans.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Roderick Nordell papers, 1948-2000. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn McNamee, Wally, 1932-2017. Wally McNamee Photographic Archive, ca. 1950-2017 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn PF Bentley Photographic Archive 2002-179; 2002-199; 2002-220; 2011-357., 1979-2001 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Records of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 1966 - 2007. Public Information Films and Television Spots. 1976 - 1977. Elizabeth Hanford Dole Television Spot National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Records of the White House Office of Public Liaison (Reagan Administration). 1/20/1981 - 1/20/1989. Elizabeth H. Dole's External Reports Ronald Reagan Library
referencedIn Duke University. Order of the White Duchy. Order of the White Duchy records, 1925-1968. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
creatorOf Records of the White House Office of Public Liaison (Reagan Administration). 1/20/1981 - 1/20/1989. Elizabeth H. Dole's Chronological Files Ronald Reagan Library
referencedIn Robert J. Dole Campaign Media Collection, 1976-1997 University of Kansas, KU Library
referencedIn Papers, (inclusive), (bulk), 1939-2004, 1955-1989 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn National Organization for Women. Videotape collection of the National Organization for Women. 1977-1988. Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Houston Post, Washington D.C. Bureau, Collection, 1963-1995 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
creatorOf Little, George Edward, 1921-. Papers, 1982-1992. Vermont Historical Society
referencedIn News Service Biographical Files, ., circa 1930s - 2004 University Archives, Duke University.
referencedIn Sive, David. The David Sive Archive: Pioneering Environmental Litigation, 1962-1992. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Bentley, P. F. PF Bentley, photographic archive, 1979-2001. University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn Elizabeth Hanford Dole U.S. Secretary of Transportation Papers, 1983-1987 University of Kansas, KU Library
referencedIn Williams, Helene Kravadze, d. 1993. Helene Kravadze Williams papers, 1932-1987. Historical Society of Washington, D.C.
referencedIn Yeosock, John J. John J. Yeosock photograph collection. U.S. Army Heritage & Education Center
referencedIn June 2000 - Quarterly (#6006) Gerald R. Ford Library
referencedIn Houston Post, Washington D.C. Bureau, Collection, 1963-1995 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Hugh Morton Photographs and Films, late 1920s-2006, (bulk 1940s-1990s) University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. North Carolina Collection.
creatorOf Records of the White House Office of Public Liaison (Reagan Administration). 1/20/1981 - 1/20/1989. Elizabeth H. Dole's Correspondence Ronald Reagan Library
referencedIn Harvard Law School Forums Records Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
referencedIn Hugh Morton Photographs and Films, late 1920s-2006, (bulk 1940s-1990s) University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. North Carolina Collection.
creatorOf Records of the White House Office of Public Liaison (Reagan Administration). 1/20/1981 - 1/20/1989. Elizabeth H. Dole's Memorandums from Senior Staff Ronald Reagan Library
creatorOf Records of the White House Office of Public Liaison (Reagan Administration). 1/20/1981 - 1/20/1989. Elizabeth H. Dole's Economic Recovery Program Files Ronald Reagan Library
referencedIn Gregg, Hugh, 1917-. The presidential campaigns of Bob Dole, 1979-1996. NHAIS, NH Automated Information System
creatorOf Records of the White House Office of Public Liaison (Reagan Administration). 1/20/1981 - 1/20/1989. Elizabeth H. Dole's Presidential Scheduling Proposal Files Ronald Reagan Library
referencedIn Papers and artifacts, 1905-2004. University of Oklahoma, Bizzell Memorial Library
creatorOf Records of the White House Office of Public Liaison (Reagan Administration). 1/20/1981 - 1/20/1989. Elizabeth H. Dole's Reports Ronald Reagan Library
creatorOf Records of the White House Office of Public Liaison (Reagan Administration). 1/20/1981 - 1/20/1989. Elizabeth H. Dole's Telephone Logs Ronald Reagan Library
creatorOf Records of the White House Office of Public Liaison (Reagan Administration). 1/20/1981 - 1/20/1989. Elizabeth H. Dole's Invitation Files Ronald Reagan Library
creatorOf Records of the White House Office of Public Liaison (Reagan Administration). 1/20/1981 - 1/20/1989. Elizabeth H. Dole's Event Files Ronald Reagan Library
referencedIn Don Sturkey Photographic Materials, 1951-2007, (bulk 1951-1989) University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. North Carolina Collection.
referencedIn McNamee, Wally, 1932-2017. Wally McNamee Photographic Archive, ca. 1950-2017 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn National Organization for Women. Videotape collection of the National Organization for Women. 1977-1988. Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Records of the White House Office of Public Liaison (Reagan Administration). 1/20/1981 - 1/20/1989. Elizabeth H. Dole's Cabinet Council Meeting Files Ronald Reagan Library
referencedIn Biographical Reference Collection, ., 1972 - 2004 University Archives, Duke University.
creatorOf Records of the White House Office of Public Liaison (Reagan Administration). 1/20/1981 - 1/20/1989. Elizabeth H. Dole's Chronological Files from Charlotte Ellis Ronald Reagan Library
creatorOf Records of the White House Office of Public Liaison (Reagan Administration). 1/20/1981 - 1/20/1989. Elizabeth H. Dole's White House Staffing Memorandums Ronald Reagan Library
referencedIn The Norma Paulus papers, 1953-2006, 1971-1976 Willamette University Archives and Special Collections
referencedIn President Ford Committee Records. 1975 - 1977. Vice Presidential Campaign Subject Files Gerald R. Ford Library
creatorOf Boyer, Ernest L. Cassette tapes of University of Virginia events [manuscript], 1981-1990. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Records of the White House Office of Public Liaison (Reagan Administration). 1/20/1981 - 1/20/1989. Elizabeth H. Dole's Subject Files Ronald Reagan Library
creatorOf Records of the White House Office of Public Liaison (Reagan Administration). 1/20/1981 - 1/20/1989. Elizabeth H. Dole's Files on Women's Issues Ronald Reagan Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
leaderOf American Red Cross corporateBody
correspondedWith Anna Chennault person
associatedWith Bentley, PF person
associatedWith Bentley, P. F. person
spouseOf Dole, Robert Joseph "Bob", 1923- person
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Duke University corporateBody
associatedWith Duke University. News Service. corporateBody
associatedWith Duke University. Order of the White Duchy. corporateBody
associatedWith Duke University. University Archives. corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Harvard Law School corporateBody
correspondedWith Harvard Law School Forum corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Harvard University corporateBody
associatedWith Houston Post , Washington D.C. Bureau corporateBody
associatedWith Houston Post, Washington D.C. Bureau corporateBody
associatedWith Little, George Edward, 1921- person
associatedWith McNamee, Wally person
associatedWith McNamee, Wally. person
associatedWith Morton, Hugh M. person
associatedWith Morton, Hugh M. person
associatedWith National Organization for Women person
associatedWith National Organization for Women. corporateBody
associatedWith Nordell, Roderick. person
associatedWith Paulus, Norma person
associatedWith Sive, David. person
associatedWith Sturkey, Don. person
memberOf United States. Congress. Senate corporateBody
employeeOf United States., Department of Health, Education and Welfare corporateBody
leaderOf United States Department of Labor corporateBody
leaderOf United States. Department of Transportation corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Federal Trade Commission. corporateBody
leaderOf United States. White House Office of Public Liaison corporateBody
correspondedWith Williams, Helene Kravadze, d. 1993. person
associatedWith Yeosock, John J. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Cambridge MA US
District of Columbia DC US
Durham NC US
Salisbury NC US
Melrose MA US
Subject
Occupation
Teachers
Authors
Cabinet officers
Federal Government Official
Lawyers
Legislative assistants
Senators, U.S. Congress
Activity

Person

Birth 1936-07-29

Female

Americans

English

Information

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SNAC ID: 85410354