Long before she raised her hand to become a senator to preserve the constitution and serve America, and even before she established her well-known foundation, Elizabeth Dole was devoted to the military community.
“I have spent most of my life in Washington, DC, but Salisbury, North Carolina, will always be my home,” Dole told WATM. “My family and my community instilled values in me that guide me to this very day. I especially idolized my older brother, John. I was his shadow growing up. When America entered World War II, I was still only a young girl, but John was 13 years my senior and eligible to serve. When he was sent off to the Pacific aboard the Windom Bay, my mother constantly interrupted my radio programs to turn on the news in hopes of being reassured, in some way, about John. She made so many trips to the mailbox that I did my best to flood her with postcards when I went away to summer camp.”
She further explained how this experience left her with a personal understanding of how war impacts the families left behind. Dole also remembers when service to country wasn’t confined to a small percentage of Americans but was widely commonplace.
After graduating from Duke University, she made her way to Harvard Law School, where she wasn’t exactly welcomed with open arms.
“There was the time that a fellow student at Harvard Law School brashly confronted me, asking, ‘Elizabeth, what are you doing here? What are you doing in this law school? Don’t you realize you’re taking the place of a man, a man who would use his legal education?’ It wasn’t something that stopped at school either,” Dole shared.
In the early 1960s, Dole’s career took off as she entered the political arena, initially working as a legislative assistant and then as a key figure in various public service roles. Her early career included working with the Federal Trade Commission and later serving as a staff member for the United States Senate. These experiences laid the groundwork for her future roles in public service and politics.
“Even when I worked for the White House Office of Consumer Affairs, I was turned away from a meeting at a men’s-only club in Washington. When I told the doorman that I was Elizabeth Hanford, sent by the White House, he said I could have been Queen Elizabeth and he still wouldn’t let me in,” she recalled. “However, I have persevered, believing that while things are often harder than they should be for women, we still must do all that we can to lead the changes that we believe in.”
And change things she did.
“I imagine my academic and professional ambitions surprised my parents at every turn, but their examples gave my life direction. My father was thorough, analytical, and industrious, with a compassionate heart for others. My mother, like many women of her time, never collected a paycheck, but she supported and participated in an endless list of civic causes,” Dole explained. “Through those values and our closely held faith, I was always driven to dedicate my energy to making a positive difference in the lives of others.”
Her time in the White House had her working for President Ford as the Director of the Federal Trade Commission and eventually as the Secretary of Transportation for President Reagan. In between working, she met and married the love of her life, Senator Bob Dole.
“I met Bob long after his military service; however, I saw how his wounds continued to shape his life, even years after separating from the Army. In 2011, when his health challenges led to an 11-month hospitalization at Walter Reed, my eyes were opened to the crisis facing millions of military caregivers—the young spouses, parents, and other loved ones caring for wounded, ill, and injured service members and veterans,” she said. “The caregivers I met at Walter Reed opened up about the emotional shock of their veterans’ injuries, their confusion about the medical decisions now in their hands, their frustration with the bureaucracy of our health system, and, in too many cases, a hopelessness about the future. Those conversations inspired me to take on their cause.”
During her tenure as a U.S. Senator for North Carolina (2003-2009), Dole made significant contributions to the military community. She was a staunch advocate for military personnel, veterans and their families, leveraging her position to support various initiatives and legislation. She played a key role in securing funding for military bases and programs, and she championed efforts to improve healthcare and benefits for veterans. Her work included supporting legislation to enhance the readiness and modernization of the armed forces. She was also instrumental in addressing the needs of military families, particularly in advocating for better support systems and resources.
Dole established the Elizabeth Dole Foundation in 2012. The foundation focuses on supporting and advocating for military and veteran caregivers, recognizing the critical role they play in the well-being of service members and veterans. Its mission includes raising awareness, providing resources, and influencing policy to improve the lives of those who care for military personnel and their families.
“After Bob was released from the hospital, I established the Elizabeth Dole Foundation to learn more about the challenges facing military caregivers,” she shared. “We commissioned the RAND Corporation to conduct the first nationwide, comprehensive, evidence-based research on those caring for the wounded at home, and it confirmed the critical lack of support offered to these hidden heroes and their tremendous personal sacrifices. The findings made it abundantly clear: Our nation had to respond.”
When she reflects on her time in service to the military population, Dole said she’s humbled by what they were able to do but knows there’s still work to be done.
“Our nation puts so much on the shoulders of caregivers that we must always remember that these incredible Americans were not trained for this role, and we have done relatively little to ensure they are prepared,” she outlined. “These caregivers were once wives and husbands, moms and dads, siblings and friends, with their own priorities and dreams for life. Then, with little warning, they were thrust into this caregiving role and expected to make hard medical decisions, navigate complex bureaucracies, manage at-home care, and juggle all the responsibilities of the household. If America is going to count on these hidden heroes to voluntarily provide so much critical care to our veterans, then we must give them the support and guidance they need.”
The foundation has worked diligently to ensure that its work remains apolitical in what could be a tumultuous political climate.
“I am proud that caregivers have always received support from leaders on both sides of the aisle. We have been very intentional in making this a bipartisan issue. Elected officials of every stripe have found common ground around caregiving, which gives me hope that we can continue making progress on addressing caregivers’ challenges in the future,” she added.
Lastly, she had a special message for the caregivers.
“I understand the hesitancy to think of yourself as a caregiver when you are caring for someone you love, especially a spouse. However, there are practical reasons for recognizing that you hold this special role, such as qualifying for benefits and support programs and having more control over your loved one’s care,” she implored. “Acknowledging that you are a caregiver also connects you to others who share your experience and can offer words of advice or an empathetic ear. If you care for a service member or veteran, regardless of when they served or the nature of their wounds or illnesses, please visit ElizabethDoleFoundation.org. We will help you find the resources you need and welcome you to an active online community of peers traveling the same caregiving journey.”
You can learn more about the mission of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation here.