Dole, Elizabeth Hanford (1936–)

American politician. Name variations: Mary Elizabeth Hanford, Liddy Dole. Born Mary Elizabeth Hanford, July 29, 1936, in Salisbury, North Carolina; dau. of John Van Hanford (flower wholesaler) and Mary Cathey Hanford (aspiring pianist, church and civic volunteer); Duke University, BA, 1958; attended Oxford University; Harvard University, MA, 1960; Harvard University Law School, JD, 1965; m. Robert J. Dole (US senator, 1969–96, and presidential candidate), 1975.

Republican political organizer and US senator, moved to Washington, DC, as a Democrat (1966), working on issues concerning the handicapped at Department of Health, Education and Welfare; became an independent (1968) and worked in Nixon White House as executive director of President's Committee for Consumer Interests; appointed by Nixon to 7-year term on Federal Trade Commission, became a Republican (1975), the same year she married Bob Dole; served as 1st woman Secretary of Transportation (1983–87), spearheading efforts to increase automobile safety requirements and raise drinking age to 21; served as Secretary of Labor under George Herbert Bush (1989–90), initiating "Glass Ceiling Study" to identify barriers to senior management opportunities for women and minorities and make recommendations for effective change; took active role in husband's campaigns for office of vice-president (1976) and president (1980, 1984, 1990, 1996); served as president of American Red Cross (1991–2000), the 1st woman president since founder Clara Barton; overhauled disaster relief program for aid organization and implemented program to retool blood collection, processing and distribution system; resigned (1999) to organize own campaign for presidency, but abandoned race before primaries; was successfully elected as Republican to US Senate, representing native North Carolina (2002). Received Raoul Wallenberg Award for Humanitarian Service.