Talk:Bob Dole/Archive 3

Long infobox
Is there a way to shorten his infobox like what was done with Joe Biden and Chuck Grassley? Maybe hide his early offices or committee leadership posts? --TDKR Chicago 101 (talk) 18:17, 18 February 2021 (UTC)
 * I don't really think it's necessary, since this is a relatively low-traffic article in comparison. Additionally, he's a Senator; he doesn't really have anything major other than his committee posts. Thanoscar21talkcontribs 22:58, 18 February 2021 (UTC)
 * How do you feel about the Dole infobox at Simple English Wikipedia. That's the kind of infobox I was aiming for here. --TDKR Chicago 101 (talk) 13:29, 8 May 2021 (UTC)

Image
Shouldn’t this wiki have his official portrait like other former senators, it was used in the 1976 election, & just cuz it was used in the 1996 election doesn’t mean it should be used on his wiki, we should bring back his 1980’s photo. Agree?, (this may be updated) Ulepickid60 (talk) 01:24, 26 April 2021 (UTC)
 * Bob Dole is best known for his time as the GOP nominee for president in 1996. There really isn't a reason to have a photo of Dole from the 1980s when his he is best known for his 1996 run. There is a reason why Hillary Clinton's page does not choose her Secretary of State, Senate or First Lady portraits for the lead, rather a photo from 2016, during her 2016 pres. run, which is what she is best known for. @Ulepickid60 states that "just cuz it was used in the 1996 election doesn’t mean it should be used on his wiki", which makes zero sense. There is nothing bigger in American politics than a presidential election. Therefore "Bob Dole, PCCWW photo portrait.JPG" must be restored in the lead. --Righanred (talk) 21:06, 24 May 2021 (UTC)

Should his affair be mentioned?
I was wondering why Dole ran such a poor campaign in 1996, never really focusing on one key theme or issue. In retrospect it seems obvious that his only hope, given the good economy, was to have focused everything on the issue of "character," which was Clinton's main weakness. Dole seemed to start doing this, with a speech early in the campaign attacking Hollywood, but he never followed it up. Why not? Then I realized the answer: it was because he had had an affair during his first marriage, and if he had made "character" the key issue, the newspapers (which knew about it but were restraining themselves) would have had a field day about the hypocrisy. I think this should be mentioned in the article, because it helps to explain why he lost in 1996. He wasn't a poor campaigner--he was constrained in how he could campaign.

For the story of the affair see: A Big Story-- but Only Behind the Scenes: Media Fretted Over Reporting Dole Affair Howard Kurtz Washington Post Staff Writer.The Washington Post (1974-Current file); Washington, D.C. [Washington, D.C]13 Nov 1996: D1.

For the story of the unfocused campaign see: Dole's quest: No hits, lots of errors Warren, Ellen; Thomas Hardy TRIBUNE STAFF WRITERS.Chicago Tribune (1963-1996); Chicago, Ill. [Chicago, Ill]07 Nov 1996: D1. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 168.91.230.28 (talk) 13:39, 10 June 2021 (UTC) Do you know if the Newsweek, Time, or New Yorker articles, or the longer Post article, are online? Kurtz wrote this in his capacity as a media correspondent, and something more explicitly focused on Dole would be preferable. -- Tamzin (she/they) &#124; o toki tawa mi. 16:30, 10 June 2021 (UTC)
 * If we can dig up the other sources that Kurtz mentions here, I think that that would justify a sentence or two in § Personal life, although a more recent reäppraisal would be nice too. Tying that explicitly to the campaign's failure would be a step farther, and we should be careful of impermissible synthesis, but this quote from Kurtz is a step in that direction: "Newsweek reported that Dole's operation was "obsessed with the potential Post story" and regarded it as a "mortal threat." Time offered a similar account, asserting that Dole refrained from attacking President Clinton's personal character because he "was worried that a story would break about his character." And the New Yorker said that "Dole feared a media frenzy that would doom his candidacy.""

Can't find the New Yorker online but here are the Newsweek and Time: https://www.newsweek.com/dont-look-now-176396 http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/elections/time.special/pollster/index.shtml

Some guys tried to assasinate bob dole during his presidential run?
I kind of remeber listening to an NPR reporter talk to the guys who tried to assasinate bob dole during his presidential run. Is my memory correct? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 50.44.236.56 (talk) 18:28, 16 August 2021 (UTC) Bob Dole never became President.

Military rank
Honorary military ranks should be distinguished from active service ranks when presented. I suggest that the rank in the infobox be changed to:

US-O3_insignia.svg Captain (active)

US-O6 insignia.svg Colonel (honorary)

73.71.251.64 (talk) 19:03, 5 December 2021 (UTC)
 * Agree 70.161.8.90 (talk) 23:58, 5 December 2021 (UTC)
 * I've appended "(honorary)" to his rank of colonel in the infobox. Carlstak (talk) 01:30, 6 December 2021 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 7 December 2021
Biden ordered flags be flown at half-staff through Dec. 9 to honor Dole. 2607:FEA8:C1F:9200:38E5:9380:E42E:ED23 (talk) 04:29, 7 December 2021 (UTC)

✅ Jehochman Talk 03:17, 8 December 2021 (UTC)

Remove template spam
The talk page is the best place to discuss article improvements. There is no need for a warning template in the Senate section. Yes, the section is short and could be longer, but any editor can see that. It is self-evident. The template is just clutter that damages the encyclopedia. Jehochman Talk 18:46, 6 December 2021 (UTC)
 * He had such a long career that I have to think that we're missing important details of it. Just in terms of comparison to the other guy called a "lion of the Senate", Ted Kennedy is really long and detailed. – Muboshgu (talk) 21:30, 6 December 2021 (UTC)


 * Thank you Muboshgu! That’s what I’ve been saying under his nomination for In the News. If he was a one term senator then a short senate section would make sense or wouldn’t disputed. However he has been compared as a Lion of the Senate meaning he had a long influential career in the Senate. His short senate section barely covers his tenure in depth besides his final years in the Senate. The template isn’t spam, if it was there wouldn’t be any improvement tags at enwiki. The point of this tag is to encourage editors that Dole’s senate career section is short and more info is encouraged. If there’s an acknowledgment that the section is short or could be longer then that means that the tag is appropriate and certainly not spam. TDKR Chicago 101 (talk) 22:27, 6 December 2021 (UTC)


 * I am not so much interested in personal reflections. Please list specific topics that need to be covered so we can fix them. Preferably, cite and quote a source to show that your opinion is accurate. In order to sustain the template, you should point to a specific topic that is missing and say how this causes a material problem with WP:NPOV or some other policy. What about the incompleteness of this section will cause such a risk of giving the reader a distorted view that we are required to warn the reader? Jehochman Talk 13:14, 7 December 2021 (UTC)
 * Well, his bio at the Dole Institute includes the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act among his accomplishments. NPR talked about him and his advocacy for disability rights, and his playing an important role in this law. Our page doesn't mention the ADA, which leaves me wondering what else it isn't mentioning. – Muboshgu (talk) 03:53, 8 December 2021 (UTC)
 * A big think you. This is a good start. Jehochman Talk 14:25, 8 December 2021 (UTC)

Varisty letter in the Army?
Since he was in the Army from 1942 to after the war, how did he get a varsity letter at Univ Kansas in 1944? 70.161.8.90 (talk) 23:57, 5 December 2021 (UTC)

How did he earn "varsity letters in 1942 and 1944" when he was serving overseas and getting wounded in 1943 to 1945? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Meraloma55 (talk • contribs) 05:36, 6 December 2021 (UTC)
 * I looked at the ref. It only lists him on the football team in 1942, but not in 1944. I also lists letter winners with a * but this is NOT by Dole's name, so I have fixed the article accordingly. It does list him as playing the "end" position. Seven Pandas (talk) 22:56, 8 December 2021 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 9 December 2021
The order to fly flags at half-staff in honor of late Sen. Dole has been extended through sunset on Saturday.

✅ PianoDan (talk) 22:41, 9 December 2021 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 10 December 2021
2601:58C:C500:C580:3924:B88E:1D01:CAAB (talk) 16:24, 10 December 2021 (UTC) Bob Dole of Russle, Kansas liked the BBQ Restaurant right of I-70 He liked his Home Town
 * Red question icon with gradient background.svg Not done: it's not clear what changes you want to be made. Please mention the specific changes in a "change X to Y" format and provide a reliable source if appropriate. ScottishFinnishRadish (talk) 16:32, 10 December 2021 (UTC)