KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Former Kansas Sen. Bob Dole died in his sleep early Sunday morning, according to a tweet by the Elizabeth Dole Foundation. He was 98.
Dole, who served in the U.S. Senate from 1969 to 1996, previously announced he was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer.
"It is with heavy hearts we announce that Senator Robert Joseph Dole died early this morning in his sleep," the tweet said. "At his death, at age 98, he had served the United States of America faithfully for 79 years."
According to the Associated Press, during Dole's time in Congress, he served as the committee chairman, majority leader, minority leader, and ran for president three times — including his loss to Bill Clinton in 1996.
In his U.S. Senate biography, Dole was described as a "tough negotiator who also excelled at forging bipartisan alliances to enact legislation."
In 1977, Dole joined forces with Democrat George McGovern to bring changes to the federal food stamp program.
Dole also served in the U.S. Army and was seriously injured during World War II.
For his efforts in the military, Dole was awarded a Purple Heart and Bronze Star.
Dole received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2018, an accomplishment that only seven other senators had achieved prior to him.
Following the news of his death, local and national political leaders paid tribute to Dole. President Joe Biden was among those commenting on Dole's legacy.
