BOB DOLE 1995 Clinton's Comeback Preview

Season Eighteen of our continuing series on the life and career of Bob Dole takes us into one of the most dramatic and consequential years in modern American politics: 1995.

At the beginning of the year, Republicans appeared to be at the height of their power. Fresh off the Republican Revolution of 1994, Bob Dole stood as the overwhelming favorite for the Republican presidential nomination, and many believed the White House was within reach.

By the end of the year, however, the political landscape had changed dramatically.

In this special season preview, we look ahead to the major stories that will define our upcoming episodes, including:

• Bob Dole's long-awaited announcement for President of the United States
 • The tragic Oklahoma City bombing and its political aftermath
 • The stunning fall of Bob Packwood and its impact on the Senate
 • The crowded Republican presidential field challenging Dole's path to the nomination
 • Colin Powell and his brief flirtation with a presidential campaign that captivated the nation
 • The assassination of Yitzhak Rabin and the shockwaves it sent through the world and the Middle East peace process
 • The growing crisis in Bosnia and the difficult decisions facing American leaders
 • The two federal government shutdowns that would redefine the relationship between Congress and the White House

At the center of it all stands Bob Dole — Senate Majority Leader, Republican standard-bearer, and a man attempting to navigate a rapidly changing political environment while pursuing the presidency he had sought for decades.

Meanwhile, President Bill Clinton begins one of the most remarkable political recoveries in modern history. Written off by many after the 1994 elections, Clinton would spend 1995 rebuilding his presidency and setting the stage for a comeback that few saw coming.

This season is a story of ambition, tragedy, triumph, political warfare, and unexpected turns.

A year that changed Washington.

A year that reshaped two presidencies.

And a year that would determine the course of the 1996 election.

Welcome to Season Eighteen.

Bob Dole: 1995 — Clinton's Comeback.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_09 0:03

Bob Doe, 1995. Clinton's comeback.

SPEAKER_10 0:12

Ladies and gentlemen. Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to introduce our own great senator and the next president of the United States, all goal.

SPEAKER_02 1:04

Something else I learned the hard way, that while self-reliance is an essential part of the American character, so is the spirit of community that reaches out to those wounded in body or soul. When I went off to war, it was to defend a community of values unique in all the world. I came back sustained by the love and generosity of friends and neighbors who renewed my sense of life's possibilities.

SPEAKER_09 1:42

And then the Oklahoma City bombing.

SPEAKER_03 1:56

168 kills, 680 injured, and another 324 buildings damaged or destroyed.

SPEAKER_06 2:08

The bombing in Oklahoma City was an attack on innocent children and defenseless citizens. It was an act of cowardice and it was evil.

SPEAKER_02 2:27

And over these years, they have given me the opportunities for service which I can never hope to repay. And because they restored my spirit in a time of trial, I have dedicated myself to restoring the spirit of America. And so today.

SPEAKER_07 3:39

So I now announce that I will resign from the Senate. And I leave this institution. Not with malice. But with love. Good luck. Godspeed.

SPEAKER_05 4:04

Senator, the first time you went public about this, we did that first interview, you and I together, and you said, I don't want to be remembered uh as the senator who was forced to resign. Is that inevitable now?

SPEAKER_08 4:16

Oh, yes, is it going to go down in history this way? Yes. Would I like to be remembered for the uh author of the tax reform act and debt? Would I like to be remembered for saving Hell's Canyon, uh, that great gorge between Oregon and Idaho you bet. But I uh I understand after uh three years of headlines in the press uh that I won't go down remembered just for this one thing in this one case. Do I like it? No. Can I stop it? No. Uh therefore go on with life.

SPEAKER_02 4:50

Well, I I was very important. I said yesterday it's like uh football game. The first half played here, the second half played New Hampshire.

SPEAKER_06 4:57

I always can be attached to the whole field. We're gonna change Washington. Senator Dole and Mr.

SPEAKER_10 5:02

Forbes are just about to persuade everybody in Iowa that what they're saying about each other is actually true. We're within the margin of Arab second uh fascinating.

SPEAKER_09 5:16

You dump Rabin.

SPEAKER_00 5:18

Four or five jobs ran out of Rabin collapsed into the arms of a security bank. Rabin killed not by a Palestinian, but by a 24-year-old Israeli extremist who opposed the peace process.

SPEAKER_06 5:30

The world has lost one of its greatest men. A warrior for its nation's freedom, and now a martyr for his nation's peace.

SPEAKER_02 5:44

The view many Americans see this morning is a sobering one. We are troubled about the direction our country is taking. Our badges are under constant assault from our public and cultural institutions. We feel threatened by the random incidents of violent crime. Too many of our schools, which are once passports to opportunity, have become demoralizing places. Welfare has become a misery subsidy, fostering illegitimacy and generations of dependency. And yet the deficit keeps growing, taxes keep increasing, and the government keeps demanding more and more authority over our lives.

SPEAKER_04 6:33

Ultimately, however, I had to look deep into my own soul, standing aside from the expectations and enthusiasm of others. Because I believe I have a bond of trust with the American people. The kind of passion and the kind of commitment that I felt every day of my 35 years of soldier. Passion and commitment that despite my every effort, I do not yet have a political life. Because such a life requires a calling that I do not yet hear. Therefore, I cannot go forward. I will not be a candidate for president or for any other elective office in 1996.

SPEAKER_02 7:40

An America, an America with a strong heart. Strong again in heart and sure of mind. And I would like to lead us there.

SPEAKER_01 7:58

Good evening. President Clinton is about to address the nation from the Oval Office at the White House. The President will be trying to convince a skeptical American public and Congress about the need to send about 20,000 U.S. troops to help oversee the Bosnian peace accord.

SPEAKER_06 8:18

Last week, the warring factions in Bosnia reached a peace agreement as a result of our efforts in Dayton, Ohio, and the support of our European and Russian partners. Tonight, I want to speak with you about implementing the Bosnian peace agreement and why our values and interests as Americans require that we participate. Make it harder for families to do the work that they have to do, weaken our obligations to our parents and our children, and make our country more divided. So I will continue to fight for the right balanced budget.

SPEAKER_02 9:44

He's on record for all of those. We just suggest that he settled on the seven-year plan and get on board and begin to work this out.

SPEAKER_09 10:09

The year of his comeback.

SPEAKER_02 10:20

And what has been sacrificed to keep us free. And who would do all in his power to lead America back to her place in the sun. My friends, I have the experience. I have been tested and tested and tested in many, many ways. I am not afraid to lead, and I know the way. To ensure that the next century will dawn on a new beginning of American greatness, prosperity, and freedom. Let us do it together. Let us begin today. God bless the United States of America. Thank you very much.