Told to be presidential by his moronic handlers: "Bob, we know you have a quick wit, but people won't take you seriously if you're cracking wise. Bob, people say you have a mean streak and that you're dark, keep your passions in and you won't have a blowout. Better to be a little reserved than melt down."
And so the Bob Dole we saw in '96 was a man fighting against all his natural tendencies resulting in blank, zip, dullsville.
Bob Dole spoke at my daughter's college graduation in'93. He was FANTASTIC!. She had absolutely no interest in politics then,though she did know who he was. She was quite impressed. He didn't give one of those speeches where you wish someone would just kill you and end your agony. He was truly funny. The only sour note was that he was introduced by George Mitchell.