Elizabeth Dole has had a remarkable public service career, serving five U.S. Presidents and winning 54% of the vote in November 2002 to serve the people of North Carolina in the United States Senate.

 

A native of Salisbury, North Carolina, Elizabeth Dole graduated with distinction from Duke University in 1958 and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.  She earned a degree from Harvard Law School in 1965 and also holds a master’s degree in education and government from Harvard.

 

From 1969 to 1973, Elizabeth Dole served as Deputy Assistant to President Nixon for Consumer Affairs.  Her resume includes six years (1973-1979) as a member of the Federal Trade Commission and two years (1981-1983) as Assistant to President Reagan for Public Liaison.

 

In February 1983, Elizabeth Dole joined President Reagan’s Cabinet as Secretary of Transportation—the first woman to hold that position.  As the Transportation Secretary, she was the first woman to serve as the departmental head of a branch of the military, the U.S. Coast Guard.

 

Elizabeth Dole was sworn in by President Bush as the nation’s 20th Secretary of Labor in January 1989.  She worked to increase safety and health in the workplace and advocated upgrading the skills of the American workforce.

 

Elizabeth Dole left President Bush’s cabinet in 1991 to become only the second woman since founder Clara Barton to serve as President of the American Red Cross, an organization larger than many of the Fortune 500.  To demonstrate her appreciation for volunteers, the heart and soul of the American Red Cross, Elizabeth Dole volunteered her first year at the Red Cross, accepting no salary.  During her tenure, 91 cents of every dollar spent went to programs and services.

 

In January 1999, Elizabeth Dole concluded her service at the Red Cross and sought the Republican presidential nomination.  In her campaign, she became the first viable woman candidate from a major political party.

 

Elizabeth Dole’s awards are numerous, ranging from honors for civic service and leadership in government to accolades for her charitable commitments and dedication to issues surrounding women in the workplace.  She has received honorary doctorate degrees from more than 40 colleges and universities and has been named consistently by the Gallup Poll as one of the world’s top ten most admired women every year since 1996.