Letter to Senator Dole concerning lowering the voting age to eighteen and Dole's response

Item

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s-con_225_015_009_tr.txt

Transcription (Scripto)

Read Full Text Only (TXT)

Extent (Dublin Core)

2 Pages

File Name (Dublin Core)

s-con_225_015_009

Title (Dublin Core)

Letter to Senator Dole concerning lowering the voting age to eighteen and Dole's response

Date (Dublin Core)

1970-05-25

Date Created (Dublin Core)

1970-05-25

Congress (Dublin Core)

91st (1969-1971)

Topics (Dublin Core)

See all items with this valueVoting age--Law and legislation

Policy Area (Curation)

Government Operations and Politics

Creator (Dublin Core)

Dole, Robert J., 1923-2021

Record Type (Dublin Core)

correspondence

Rights (Dublin Core)

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/

Language (Dublin Core)

eng

Collection Finding Aid (Dublin Core)

https://dolearchivecollections.ku.edu/index.php?p=collections/findingaid&id=31&q=

Physical Location (Dublin Core)

Collection 003, Box 225, Folder 15

Institution (Dublin Core)

Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS

Archival Collection (Dublin Core)

Robert J. Dole Senate Papers-Constituent Relations, 1969-1996

Full Text (Extract Text)

(Page 1)
This document is from the collections at the Dole Archives, University of Kansas http://dolearchives.ku.edu
(handwritten)
Bob, please read
(end handwritten)
(redacted)
Kansas, 66207
May 10, 1970
The Honorable Robert Dole
Senate Building
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
I am writing of my concern for the voting bill which was passed in the Senate.
Why was the portion about lowering the voting age to 18 attached at the end of the bill? Should it not have been a separate issue, and why wasn't it?
Why wasn't there publicity in our newspapers
(handwritten)
he agrees and that's why he voted against the bill
(end handwritten)
and publications that this whole voting bill was coming to a vote? When anything as controversial as lowering the voting age to 18 is to come up, then there should be publicity in our local papers so that our representatives can get a response of the people who elect them. I feel that in Johnson County sometimes we don't have true representation.
I do not know how you voted on the bill referred to, so perhaps some of these remarks do not apply precisely to you, but I do feel that the Senate as a whole since they passed the bill with the clause about lowering the voting age to 18 needs to think more seriously about the long-range outcome of our country. The philosophy of our government is a very important thing. When people say that the 18 to 21 year age group are mature, I do not agree -- this is not to say that they haven't read many, many, books, done a lot of discussion, but they are not mature (as a group), because maturity only comes with growing a few more years, you don't learn it, you earn it, you experience it.
Have all the elected representatives in Washington further thought into the area of lowering the right to buy and consume liquor to 18, is that what we want? I think not. Entering into legal and financial contracts when they are not full-scale wage earners yet, is another dangerous move, which could lead to a great upswing in bankruptcies, is that what we want? The large group of people in 18 to 21 year group could vote for programs which they cannot carry their financial burden to implement them, because they are not wage-earners yet.
I hope there is a chance the House will vote against the bill or the section as to lowering the voting age to 18, or that the Senate has a chance to delete it. At least I suggest doing and taking such steps to avoid lowering the voting age.
Sincerely,
(redacted)
(Page 2)
May 25, 1970
(handwritten)
Leg Voting age
(end handwritten)
(redacted)
Overland Park, Kansas 66207
Dear (redacted):
Thank you for your letter of May 10 concerning the lowering of the voting age to 18.
I share your views that the lowering of the voting age should be a separate issue. In my opinion, this should be resolved by an amendment to the Constitution, which in turn would be referred to each state for ratification.
I am not opposed to the lowering of the voting age to 18. As a matter of fact, I have long supported efforts to lower the voting age, and sponsored legislation as a member of the Kansas House of Representatives, over 15 years ago, to extend voting privileges to those 18 and above in state elections.
In my opinion, it is high time we recognized that if we are able to call upon 18 year old's to fight for their country, certainly they should be extended the privilege of voting in national elections.
Thanks again and let me know if I may be of assistance in any way.
Sincerely yours,
BOB DOLE
U. S. Senate
BD: em