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John Bachelor (JB): The Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association invites you to Meet the Member. Now, here is the producer and editor of Meet the Member, Joseph McCaffrey.

Joseph McCaffrey (JM): Good evening, the new Senator from the state of Kansas, Bob Dole, is a man who has a reputation of coming from behind. He was once about given up for dead. That was during World War II, but he made it. He not only made it, but he recovered so well, that he began a career which led him to his present eminence.

Forty-five-year-old Dole is a tall, handsome man who shakes hands with his left hand because the right arm and hand is a surgeon's product of transplanted bone and muscle — his personal memory of World War II. Bob Dole was born in Russell, Kansas, then a village of 3,000. His father operated a cream and egg station, and he attended the local grade and high schools, going on to the University of Kansas. He waited on tables to help pay his way, winning spots on the freshman basketball, football, and track teams. Then he went into the service and quickly was picked for Officers Training School. In December of 1944, he was a second lieutenant and platoon leader in Italy with the 10th Mountain Division.

The push across the Po Valley was about to begin. His first wound was, what he later called, minor — a grenade sliver in his leg — but then, only a couple of days later, high explosive shell fragments riddled his body and left Dole, at the age of 21, for dead on the battlefield. He was finally picked up, taken to a field hospital, and there followed 39 long months in hospitals overseas and here in this country, and eventually Percy Jones General Hospital at Battle Creek Michigan.

It was while at Battle Creek, where other future senators were also hospitalized with the time — Phil Hart of Michigan, Dan Inouye of Hawaii — that Dole met a pretty brunette named Phyllis Holden. She was a registered occupational therapist on the hospital staff, and when she inquired about Dole’s chances, doctors told her he could not possibly live. At that time Dole had dropped to 122 pounds from his 194, was still paralyzed in all limbs, was developing blood clots in his lungs. He became a guinea pig for Streptomycin — then the newest wonder drug — one of four patients in the nation receiving that medicine on strictly a trial, experimental basis. With Dole, it worked, and just like in the storybooks of old, he made his come back and he married his therapist, and the couple now has a daughter, Robin, who is 14.

Taking advantage of the G.I. Bill of Rights, Dole moved on to law school, and at the age of 26 was elected to the Kansas State Legislature. He was elected county attorney from Russell County in 1960. When veteran Republican, Wint Smith, decided to retire, Dole bid for his seat in the House of Representatives. He served in the House until he made the bid for the Senate, upon the announcement by the respected Frank Carlson that he was retiring. Last November, Dole won the Senate seat with ease. And now, begins what observers are predicting will be an outstanding senatorial career.

Bob Dole has come a long way because of his patience, his courage, and his faith. Bob Dole, at the age of 45, is still on his way. And I'll be back in one minute.

JB: Tonight, Senator Bob Dole of Kansas was the member we met on Meet the Member. Tomorrow night, we'll meet Leonard Farbstein of New York.

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JB: Meet the Member has been brought to you by the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association, representing leading manufacturers of prescription drugs. John Bachelor speaking.

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