KU alumnus and former Sen. Bob Dole, R-Kan., has given a $500,000 gift to the Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas.

The Dole Institute was established at KU in 1997 to foster new thinking on major policy issues and encourage student participation and citizen involvement in public service. It is recognized as one of the nation’s leading bipartisan venues for the civil discussion of politics.

“The Dole Institute is more than a museum, more than an archive, more than a center for programming on our campus and in our state,” said interim director Jonathan Earle. “It is far more than the sum of its parts—and a lot of that is due to Senator Dole’s vision.”

The Dole Institute moved into a distinctive new building on KU’s west campus in 2003. Dole’s personal and professional papers are archived at the institute, which features a spacious lecture hall and media center. Since the 2003 dedication, Dole Institute programs have attracted more than 20,000 people to hear prominent figures such as former President Bill Clinton, former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and civil rights leader John Lewis.

“I wish to thank Chancellor Hemenway, the Dole Institute staff and KU Endowment for their unwavering support,” said Dole, ’45. “I hope my contribution will underscore my commitment to bipartisanship and will encourage others to participate. The institute is all about the future and the students of today who will be the leaders of tomorrow. The institute’s record speaks for itself and I am proud to play a small part in its success.”

KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway praised Dole for his commitment to public service and his generosity.

“From his time in the U.S. military, through his senate career and now beyond, Senator Dole has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to public service and civic involvement,” Hemenway said. “This gift will help continue the important work of our Dole Institute as it educates a new generation of leaders. Through the senator’s continuing generosity, the institute can instill in the next generation the same dedication to public life that Bob Dole has shown.”

Dole, who lives in Washington, D.C., is a native Kansan. He grew up in Russell and attended KU in 1941. He was seriously wounded in 1945 during World War II and was awarded two Purple Hearts and the Bronze Star.

After eight years in the U.S. House of Representatives, he was elected in 1968 to represent Kansas in the U.S. Senate, a position he held for 30 years. He was Gerald Ford’s running mate in the 1976 presidential election. In 1996, he was the Republican presidential candidate opposing Bill Clinton.

Since retiring from elective posts, Dole has remained active in discussions of public policy and supports numerous charitable causes. He is special counsel to the Washington, D.C., law firm Alston and Bird and a member of the firm’s Legislative and Public Policy Group. He was the national chairman of the fundraising campaign for the WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C. In 2007, President George W. Bush appointed Dole to serve as co-chair of the President's Commission on Care for America’s Returning Wounded Warriors to support and simplify the care of injured service members.

The gift will be managed by KU Endowment, the independent, nonprofit foundation serving as the official fundraising and fund-management organization for KU. Founded in 1891, KU Endowment is the first foundation of its kind at a U.S. public university.