BOB DOLE : 1995 Clinton's Comeback

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In 1974, Bob Dole was up for re-election. He could not have picked a worse moment to be on the ballot as a Republican. Watergate had just unraveled the Presidency of Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford had just pardoned Nixon, and Bob Dole had the added problem of having just gotten a divorce. To make matters worse a popular an effective United States Congressman announced he was going to challenge Dole for his Senate seat. 

That man was Congressman Bill Roy, a Topeka physician. He was a very effective Congressman. He was also an Obstetrician and that meant that at various times he had performed a limited number of legal abortions. This was just on the heels of the Roe vs Wade Decision that legalized abortion. This election would turn out to be the first such election where abortion would take center stage. It would lead to a brass knuckles type brawl to win the Kansas Senate seat, a race still talked about to this day in Kansas. Bob Dole would barely hold off the challenge. This is the first installment of that story. In this episode, we set the stage and we introduce you to the challenger, Dr. Bill Roy. 

If this election had gone the other way, Bob Dole would  most likely have faded into time and his historic career, that put him on two national tickets, and led to so many accomplishments in the halls of Congress would never have happened. Such is history, swinging, as we will learn, on one tenth of one percent of the vote in the 1974 United States Senate race in Kansas. 

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Welcome to the fourth installment of our special tribute series honoring the life and legacy of the Reverend Jesse Jackson — a minister, civil rights leader, presidential candidate, and one of the most recognizable voices in American public life for more than half a century.

Over the course of this series, we’ve revisited the moments that defined Reverend Jackson’s remarkable journey — his speeches, his activism, and the powerful moral language he brought to the national conversation about justice, opportunity, and human dignity.

Today’s episode brings you a montage drawn from two memorial gatherings held in his honor — one in Columbia, South Carolina, and another in Chicago, Illinois, the city where Reverend Jackson built much of his life’s work and where his influence on American politics and civil rights was deeply felt.

From these ceremonies, you will hear remarks from Congressman James Clyburn, longtime leader in the U.S. House of Representatives and a close friend of Reverend Jackson. You’ll also hear from Greenville, South Carolina Mayor Knox White, reflecting on Jackson’s roots in South Carolina and the lasting imprint he left on the state and the nation. And we include words from former President Bill Clinton, who spoke about Jackson’s role in shaping a generation of political leaders and expanding the boundaries of democratic participation.

We do regret that we are unable to include the remarks delivered by Ambassador Andrew Young, former Mayor of Atlanta and former United Nations Ambassador. His words in Columbia were deeply meaningful, but unfortunately they were delivered without a microphone and could not be captured clearly enough for broadcast.

We also want to note that Reverend Jackson’s family asked that these memorial ceremonies remain moments of remembrance rather than political rallies. Out of respect for that request, we made an editorial decision in producing this program. Several speakers — including some very prominent figures — turned their remarks into overtly political speeches. Even when those speakers included former Presidents or a former Vice President, we chose not to include those portions of the program. Our goal here is to honor the spirit of the occasion and the wishes of the family.

What you will hear instead is a carefully assembled tribute — voices remembering Jesse Jackson’s life, his faith, and his commitment to lifting others.

And woven throughout the program, you’ll also hear Jesse Jackson in his own words — excerpts from speeches across the decades, reminding us of the conviction, rhythm, and hope that defined his voice.

From Columbia and Chicago, this is our fourth tribute episode honoring Reverend Jesse Jackson.

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Welcome to this special tribute edition of the podcast.

Four years after his groundbreaking 1984 campaign, Reverend Jesse Jackson returned to the Democratic National Convention — this time in Atlanta, in 1988 — having achieved something extraordinary.

His second presidential run was stronger, broader, and even more disruptive to conventional politics. Jackson won primaries and caucuses across the country, built a multiracial coalition of working-class voters, and demonstrated that progressive populism could compete nationally.

But it was his convention speech that became the enduring moment.

Measured, gracious, and deeply unifying, Jackson spoke not as a rival, but as a statesman. He urged Democrats to reject fear, to embrace compassion, and to recognize the interconnected fate of all Americans. His words carried themes that resonate decades later: dignity, opportunity, fairness, and the belief that the country is strongest when no one is left behind.

The address is remembered not only for its eloquence, but for its tone — reconciliation without retreat, idealism grounded in realism.

In this episode, we honor that legacy by revisiting the full speech.

From the 1988 Democratic National Convention:

Reverend Jesse Jackson.

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I had the honor of appearing on the show "Tripp and Graham have Issues" this past week. It is a new podcast in Myrtle Beach. I was thrilled to do it and we talked pretty extensively on the history of our show and the entire Wallace Podcast Network (WPN). We hope you enjoy this special edition. Here is the write up from their podcast and we encourage you tune into their show too. 

Here is their link: 

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2590218/episodes/18782174

Tripp and Graham uncover the issues of Randall Wallace: author, podcaster, local political figure.  We discuss presidents like Nixon and Dole, American and Myrtle Beach History and other topics.

RandallWallace.com

The Nixon Conspiracy: Watergate and the Plot to Remove the President by Geoff Shepard

Podcast: The Richard Nixon Experience by Randall Wallace

                 BOB DOLE: The Life That Brought Him There by Randall Wallace

Questions or comments at  , [email protected] ,  https://twitter.com/randal_wallace   , and http://www.randalwallace.com/
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Today’s episode is a special rebroadcast and tribute — a return to one of the defining voices of modern American political history.

In 1984, at the Democratic National Convention in San Francisco, Reverend Jesse Jackson stepped onto the national stage not simply as a candidate, but as a movement leader. His campaign had galvanized millions — expanding the electorate, registering new voters, and bringing together what he called the Rainbow Coalition: Black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, young, old, urban, rural — Americans whose voices too often went unheard.

Jackson’s speech that night was more than rhetoric. It was a moral argument about inclusion, economic justice, peace, and the unfinished promise of democracy. He spoke of common ground rather than division, of hope rather than cynicism.

For many listeners then — and many historians now — it marked a turning point. It broadened the language of coalition politics and challenged the party, and the country, to imagine a larger “we.”

In this tribute episode, we revisit that historic address — not as a relic, but as a living document of aspiration and courage.

Here now, from the 1984 Democratic National Convention:

Reverend Jesse Jackson.

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Welcome to a special edition of the program.

Today we focus on what may prove to be one of the most consequential military operations of the 21st century — Operation Epic Fury — the coordinated action undertaken by the United States and Israel against the Iranian regime.

President Donald J. Trump has described this operation as decisive and necessary — aimed at dismantling what he and his administration have long called the world’s leading state sponsor of terror and ending Iran’s pursuit of nuclear capability. Standing alongside him, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has framed the action as essential to Israel’s survival and to the broader security of the Middle East.

Supporters of the operation see this as a historic turning point — the possible end of a regime they believe has destabilized the region for decades through proxy warfare, threats against Israel, suppression of its own people, and hostility toward the West.

This episode includes editorial commentary from me, Randal Wallace. I want to be clear with our audience at the outset: I strongly support this operation and the leadership shown in carrying it out. Throughout this program, I will offer my analysis and perspective on why I believe this action was justified, necessary, and long overdue.

At the same time, we will examine the strategic implications, the global reaction, and what the potential end of the Iranian regime could mean for the people of Iran, for Israel, for the United States, and for the future balance of power in the Middle East.

This is a serious moment in history. The stakes are enormous. The consequences — geopolitical, economic, and humanitarian — will unfold in real time.

Thank you for joining us for this important conversation.

Questions or comments at  , [email protected] ,  https://twitter.com/randal_wallace   , and http://www.randalwallace.com/
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Episode 429 – Bob Dole: The Life That Brought Him There (Part 10)
 Watergate

Part 10 takes listeners inside one of the most seismic political crises in American history — and does so through the eyes and voice of Bob Dole.

As the Watergate complex break-in spiraled into a constitutional confrontation, Washington changed overnight. This episode weaves together archival news coverage and oral history reflections to recreate how the scandal unfolded in real time — the investigations, the hearings, the shifting political ground, and the growing pressure on President Richard Nixon.

At the center of it all is Dole’s perspective: what he believed as events developed, how he interpreted the mounting revelations, and how he navigated the political and personal stakes during a moment when party loyalty, institutional responsibility, and public trust were all colliding.

Listeners will hear not only the immediacy of the crisis as it broke, but also Dole’s later reflections — shaped by decades of hindsight — on what Watergate meant for the presidency, for Congress, and for the country. His retrospective insights add depth and nuance, revealing how time can reshape understanding of even the most explosive events.

Part 10 is both a historical reconstruction and a personal reckoning — a look at Watergate not just as a scandal, but as a defining test of leadership, loyalty, and constitutional order, told through the experience of a man who lived it from inside the Senate chamber.

Questions or comments at  , [email protected] ,  https://twitter.com/randal_wallace   , and http://www.randalwallace.com/
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Episode 428 – Bob Dole: The Life That Brought Him There (Part 9)
 Out as RNC Chairman

Power in Washington can rise quickly — and shift just as fast. Part 9 explores the dramatic turning point when Bob Dole’s tenure as chairman of the Republican National Committee comes to an abrupt end and George H. W. Bush is brought in to take the helm.

Through a series of revealing phone conversations, listeners are taken inside the political maneuvering at the highest levels of the Nixon White House. We hear the tone, strategy, and personal dynamics in calls between President Richard Nixon and Bush, as well as between Nixon and Dole, offering a rare window into how leadership decisions were made during one of the most volatile periods in modern political history.

This episode examines not just the mechanics of Dole’s removal, but the broader political context surrounding it — a moment when the administration was increasingly consumed by the unfolding Watergate complex scandal. Ironically, stepping away from the RNC chairmanship may have distanced Dole from the day-to-day political machinery that would soon be engulfed in controversy.

Part 9 captures the tension, loyalty, and hard political realities behind a pivotal transition — showing how a setback in the moment may have altered Dole’s long-term political trajectory and spared him deeper entanglement in one of the defining crises of the twentieth century.

Questions or comments at  , [email protected] ,  https://twitter.com/randal_wallace   , and http://www.randalwallace.com/
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Welcome to a very special edition of the program.

Today, we dedicate this episode to a man whose voice, vision, and moral urgency helped shape the American political and social landscape for more than half a century — Reverend Jesse Jackson.

From the civil rights movement to the national political stage, Jackson’s journey is inseparable from the story of modern America. He stood at the crossroads of protest and policy, faith and activism, idealism and pragmatism. He spoke not only of justice, but of possibility — insisting that the circle of opportunity must always widen.

In this tribute episode, we reflect on that remarkable life and legacy.

You’ll hear a retrospective drawn from CNN and Chicago’s ABC News — revisiting the moments that defined a movement leader, presidential candidate, diplomat, and advocate for economic and racial justice.

We’ll listen to a conversation with former Atlanta Mayor and Ambassador Andrew Young, offering personal insight into Jackson’s courage, convictions, and enduring influence.

We’ll also revisit a powerful interview recorded the morning after Barack Obama was elected President of the United States — capturing Jackson’s emotion at a moment many saw as the realization of struggles decades in the making.

From the 1980s, we bring you archival coverage of Jackson speaking at Duke University — where his words challenged audiences to think bigger about equality, responsibility, and shared destiny.

And in a lighter but unforgettable cultural moment, we remember his beloved reading of Green Eggs and Ham — a reminder that leadership can inspire not only through speeches, but through humanity and joy.

Finally, we’ll share a five-minute excerpt from his historic 1988 Democratic National Convention address — a speech that remains one of the most eloquent calls for unity and compassion in American political history.

And we’re honored to announce that, on March 2nd and March 3rd, we will rebroadcast Reverend Jackson’s full 1984 and 1988 Democratic National Convention speeches.

This episode is also dedicated to two individuals whose lives touched our worlds in different, meaningful ways.

To Robert Duvall, an artist whose performances brought depth, dignity, and unforgettable humanity to the screen.

And to Myrtle Beach author, activist, and amateur radio operator E. Gordon Mooneyhan, whom we lost this past year. Gordon was a man of boundless curiosity and creativity — a lover of writing, photography, trains, and ham radio. He authored the Railroad Dining Car Cookbooks, chronicled the lives of friends through his books, held a degree in business administration from Coastal Carolina University, and served his community with quiet dedication — as a member of Seaside Masonic Lodge #419, the Grand Strand Amateur Radio Club, and a volunteer at the Emergency Operations Center during times of crisis.

Today’s program is offered in the spirit that connects all three of these lives — purpose, passion, and the belief that one person’s voice can make a difference.

Thank you for joining us.

Questions or comments at  , [email protected] ,  https://twitter.com/randal_wallace   , and http://www.randalwallace.com/
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Episode 427 – Bob Dole: The Life That Brought Him There (Part 8)
 With Nixon’s Help (B)

Part 8 follows Bob Dole deeper into the inner orbit of presidential politics as the Nixon years reshape both America’s place in the world and the future of the Republican Party.

The episode begins with the historic opening to China, as President Richard Nixon makes his groundbreaking trip to Beijing — a geopolitical gamble that stunned the world and redefined Cold War diplomacy. We explore how moments like this elevated the stakes for Republicans in Washington and strengthened Dole’s role as a trusted political ally during a presidency operating on the global stage.

At home, the administration’s controversial wage and price controls reveal the economic pressures of the era and the political balancing act required to defend them. Listeners hear how Dole, now an increasingly visible national figure, navigated these debates while helping maintain party unity.

The episode also examines the landslide election of 1972 and Dole’s pivotal role as chairman of the Republican National Committee. As the party’s chief political strategist, Dole was at the center of messaging, organization, and turnout efforts that helped deliver one of the most decisive victories in presidential history.

A highlight of the episode is an insider look at the political mood of the moment through a revealing conversation between Nixon and his advisor Harry Dent. Their exchange provides a candid assessment of the election results, party dynamics, and the direction of American politics at a moment of overwhelming Republican strength.

“With Nixon’s Help (B)” captures Bob Dole at the intersection of global diplomacy, domestic economic turmoil, and high-stakes party leadership — a period when his influence expanded far beyond the Senate chamber and onto the national political stage.

Questions or comments at  , [email protected] ,  https://twitter.com/randal_wallace   , and http://www.randalwallace.com/
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