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Episode 428 – Bob Dole: The Life That Brought Him There (Part 9)
Out as RNC Chairman

Power in Washington can rise quickly — and shift just as fast. Part 9 explores the dramatic turning point when Bob Dole’s tenure as chairman of the Republican National Committee comes to an abrupt end and George H. W. Bush is brought in to take the helm.

Through a series of revealing phone conversations, listeners are taken inside the political maneuvering at the highest levels of the Nixon White House. We hear the tone, strategy, and personal dynamics in calls between President Richard Nixon and Bush, as well as between Nixon and Dole, offering a rare window into how leadership decisions were made during one of the most volatile periods in modern political history.

This episode examines not just the mechanics of Dole’s removal, but the broader political context surrounding it — a moment when the administration was increasingly consumed by the unfolding Watergate complex scandal. Ironically, stepping away from the RNC chairmanship may have distanced Dole from the day-to-day political machinery that would soon be engulfed in controversy.

Part 9 captures the tension, loyalty, and hard political realities behind a pivotal transition — showing how a setback in the moment may have altered Dole’s long-term political trajectory and spared him deeper entanglement in one of the defining crises of the twentieth century.

Questions or comments at , Randalrgw1@aol.com , https://twitter.com/randal_wallace , and http://www.randalwallace.com/
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Welcome to a very special edition of the program.

Today, we dedicate this episode to a man whose voice, vision, and moral urgency helped shape the American political and social landscape for more than half a century — Reverend Jesse Jackson.

From the civil rights movement to the national political stage, Jackson’s journey is inseparable from the story of modern America. He stood at the crossroads of protest and policy, faith and activism, idealism and pragmatism. He spoke not only of justice, but of possibility — insisting that the circle of opportunity must always widen.

In this tribute episode, we reflect on that remarkable life and legacy.

You’ll hear a retrospective drawn from CNN and Chicago’s ABC News — revisiting the moments that defined a movement leader, presidential candidate, diplomat, and advocate for economic and racial justice.

We’ll listen to a conversation with former Atlanta Mayor and Ambassador Andrew Young, offering personal insight into Jackson’s courage, convictions, and enduring influence.

We’ll also revisit a powerful interview recorded the morning after Barack Obama was elected President of the United States — capturing Jackson’s emotion at a moment many saw as the realization of struggles decades in the making.

From the 1980s, we bring you archival coverage of Jackson speaking at Duke University — where his words challenged audiences to think bigger about equality, responsibility, and shared destiny.

And in a lighter but unforgettable cultural moment, we remember his beloved reading of Green Eggs and Ham — a reminder that leadership can inspire not only through speeches, but through humanity and joy.

Finally, we’ll share a five-minute excerpt from his historic 1988 Democratic National Convention address — a speech that remains one of the most eloquent calls for unity and compassion in American political history.

And we’re honored to announce that, on March 2nd and March 3rd, we will rebroadcast Reverend Jackson’s full 1984 and 1988 Democratic National Convention speeches.

This episode is also dedicated to two individuals whose lives touched our worlds in different, meaningful ways.

To Robert Duvall, an artist whose performances brought depth, dignity, and unforgettable humanity to the screen.

And to Myrtle Beach author, activist, and amateur radio operator E. Gordon Mooneyhan, whom we lost this past year. Gordon was a man of boundless curiosity and creativity — a lover of writing, photography, trains, and ham radio. He authored the Railroad Dining Car Cookbooks, chronicled the lives of friends through his books, held a degree in business administration from Coastal Carolina University, and served his community with quiet dedication — as a member of Seaside Masonic Lodge #419, the Grand Strand Amateur Radio Club, and a volunteer at the Emergency Operations Center during times of crisis.

Today’s program is offered in the spirit that connects all three of these lives — purpose, passion, and the belief that one person’s voice can make a difference.

Thank you for joining us.

Questions or comments at , Randalrgw1@aol.com , https://twitter.com/randal_wallace , and http://www.randalwallace.com/
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Episode 427 – Bob Dole: The Life That Brought Him There (Part 8)
With Nixon’s Help (B)

Part 8 follows Bob Dole deeper into the inner orbit of presidential politics as the Nixon years reshape both America’s place in the world and the future of the Republican Party.

The episode begins with the historic opening to China, as President Richard Nixon makes his groundbreaking trip to Beijing — a geopolitical gamble that stunned the world and redefined Cold War diplomacy. We explore how moments like this elevated the stakes for Republicans in Washington and strengthened Dole’s role as a trusted political ally during a presidency operating on the global stage.

At home, the administration’s controversial wage and price controls reveal the economic pressures of the era and the political balancing act required to defend them. Listeners hear how Dole, now an increasingly visible national figure, navigated these debates while helping maintain party unity.

The episode also examines the landslide election of 1972 and Dole’s pivotal role as chairman of the Republican National Committee. As the party’s chief political strategist, Dole was at the center of messaging, organization, and turnout efforts that helped deliver one of the most decisive victories in presidential history.

A highlight of the episode is an insider look at the political mood of the moment through a revealing conversation between Nixon and his advisor Harry Dent. Their exchange provides a candid assessment of the election results, party dynamics, and the direction of American politics at a moment of overwhelming Republican strength.

“With Nixon’s Help (B)” captures Bob Dole at the intersection of global diplomacy, domestic economic turmoil, and high-stakes party leadership — a period when his influence expanded far beyond the Senate chamber and onto the national political stage.

Questions or comments at , Randalrgw1@aol.com , https://twitter.com/randal_wallace , and http://www.randalwallace.com/
Please Leave us a review at wherever you get your podcasts
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