http://www.tampabayonline.net/news/news101o.htm

This article says the Dole will make an announcement tomorrow. It is copywrited; therefore, only the link.

MoVe Immediate

-- MVI (vtoc@aol.com), January 03, 1999

Answers

Thanks MVI,

Elizabeth Dole is planning to step aside as president of the American Red Cross in a step her political supporters hope will lead to her running for president, Newsweek magazine reported...

http:// www.tampabayonline.net/news/news101o.htm

At least we know she is predisposed to emergency and diaster preparedness. This could be a very good thing!

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), January 03, 1999.

Beg to differ, Diane.

1. Elizabeth Dole has pretty good name recognition with JQP. No dirt on her, that I'm aware of.

2. The American Red Cross is well known & well respected.

3. 1+2= strong leadership. As "we the people" are somewhat lacking in the leadership department, I had been looking to the American Red Cross, with Elizabeth Dole at the helm, as a legitimate, non- political voice in the Y2K wilderness now that we are at T minus 10 & counting.

4. As we all know, the next presidential election isn't until November, 2000. She did not need to step down at this time. Yes, fundraising takes a great deal of time. And I would guess she couldn't begin the process of filing while still with the Red Cross. Still, by stepping down she has, for all intents & purposes, lost her best chance to be of service to this country PRIOR to TSHTF.

My gut tells me she is simply bailing out of this fast sinking ship.

BTW Diane, many thanks for all you do!

-- Bingo1 (howe9@pop.shentel.net), January 03, 1999.

Bingo,

She still retains all the American Red Cross connections. As a Presidential candidate she could command media attention, especially if she goes against the Clinton "happy face" spin machine. The Y2K stage is set. Will she take up the spotlight? It's a bi-partisan platform. Prudent preparation and intelligent, heart-felt explanations would go a long way with the public just now.

Just watched her recently on one of the PBS Washington Week or Meet The Press programs. Forget which one. I was impressed.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), January 03, 1999.

Bingo - think you are right on the money here - my take - she knows what is going t happen, wanted to spread the word, was silenced, resigned.

Kevin - you're looking for CIO CEO bailouts, count Mrs. Dole as one of the early ones.

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), January 04, 1999.

We can only hope that Y2K squelching was the reason she stepped down. I figure we'll know soon. She's the only public figure I can think of that significant numbers might listen to. But I think there will be enough anger at the messenger that whoever takes this up as a serious campaign issue is likely to lose the election as a result. So, is she willing to be the sacrificial lamb to wake up those who can still be woken in time?

-- Brooks (Brooksbie@hotmail.com), January 04, 1999.

a presidential candidacy could be the perfect opportunity to get the message out about y2k, IF she chooses to do it. time will tell.

-- Jocelyne Slough (jonslough@tln.net), January 04, 1999.

Try some of these non-Y2K ideas on for size as to why Dole is leaving ARC:

1. Her 7+ year tenure there makes this one of the longest periods she has held any one job. She has a history of moving on to new challenges when old jobs become mundane. Why should this be any different? Boredom is a valid reason for leaving a job when you don't really have to work, and she doesn't.

2. Contrary to an earlier posting, there is not "a lot of time" between now and the next presidential election if indeed she is serious about running. Estimates are that it will take $20 million before the primary season begins in earnest next March to fund a decent campaign. That's exactly $20 million more than she's got for that purpose, and it takes a long time to rasie that kind of scratch, even when you throw $5,000/plate dinners.

3. Her husband is retired and they are financially secure. She has worked hard all her life, holding more influential positions both inside and outside of government than almost any other woman in American history. By every account, she and her husband have a deeply loving and committed relationship. She's 61, and her husband is years older. Two high-profile careers have meant a lot of time apart over the years. Maybe she just wants the chance to spend more time with her husband doing the things they enjoy doing together while they still can?

4. If the presidential run doesn't work out, she knows she can make out like a bandit on the lecture circuit.

5. If the presidential run doesn't work out, she might have an "in" somewhere else doing something new and more exciting for her (see item 1 above).

With a little thought, I'm sure we could come up with many more valid reasons that don't involve dark consipiracies, paranoia and people being "silenced." Try it some time. You might find it refreshing.

-- Paul Neuhardt (neuhardt@ultranet.com), January 04, 1999.

(This link disappears within a few hours so I wont bother to hotlink it. -- Diane)

Breaking News -- San Jose Mercury News http://www.mercurycenter.com/breaking/docs/020779.htm

Posted at 1:42 p.m. PST Monday, January 4, 1999

Elizabeth Dole weighs presidential run

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- Former Cabinet secretary Elizabeth Dole, who experienced a presidential campaign in 1996 as a loyal wife, Monday stepped down as head of the American Red Cross and said she would consider running for the White House herself in 2000.

A former secretary of labor and transportation, Dole, 62, has long been seen as a powerful, potential candidate to become the first woman president of the United States.

Her husband, former Senate Majority Leader and defeated Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole, has long been urging her to run.

``I'll give it serious consideration along with other options,'' Mrs Dole told reporters Monday. ``We're going to have to talk about it down the road.''

All of Mrs. Dole's skills were on display at the Republican convention in 1996, when she waded into the audience with a microphone to deliver an electrifying address that broke new ground in political speechmaking.

Those skills were evident again Monday as Mrs Dole accepted praise and applause for her eight-year stint as president of the American Red Cross, during which she revived a struggling organization, and delivered a polished and gracious speech.

``At this important time in our national life, I believe there may be another way for me to serve our country,'' Mrs. Dole said.

``The Red Cross has been a glorious mission field but I believe there may be other duties yet to fulfill.''

``So I will be leaving you. I have not made definite plans about what I will do next ... Soon I will begin considering new paths and there are exciting possibilities. I will choose one and pursue it with all my might.''

Political analysts believe that with her broad appeal and wide name recognition, Mrs. Dole could be a serious candidate if she decided to contest the Republican nomination.

If she decided not to run, she would certainly remain an attractive vice presidential choice, having come close to being selected as former president George Bush's running mate in 1988. Ironically, the early favorite for the Republican presidential nomination in 2000 is Bush's eldest son, Texas Gov. George W. Bush.

As 1999 begins, the pace of the upcoming presidential campaign is beginning to heat up. Last week, Arizona Sen. John McCain established a presidential exploratory committee.

New Hampshire Sen. Bob Smith, regarded as a long shot for the nomination, opened his presidential campaign office in Washington, D.C. Monday and said he would stage a formal announcement after the impeachment trial of President Clinton.

``Americans want character and integrity from their leaders,'' said Smith, who chairs the Senate Ethics Committee. Missouri Sen. John Ashcroft, a favorite of Christian conservatives, was scheduled to announce his presidential intentions Tuesday.

After flirting with running all last year, Ashcroft seemed poised to announce that he would not seek the presidency but focus instead of keeping his Senate seat in the face of a strong challenge from Democratic Gov. Mel Carnahan, who has already announced his intention of running against Ashcroft.

Vice President Al Gore, the overwhelming favorite for the Democratic nomination, quietly registered his campaign organization last week.

A native of North Carolina, Dole is a Harvard-trained lawyer who served under six presidents beginning with Lyndon Johnson, who was in the White House from1963 until 1969.

In 25 years in government, she served as a member of the Federal Trade Commission, a senior staff member in the Reagan White House and twice in the Cabinet.

Former President Ronald Reagan named her to be transportation secretary in 1983 and she served in that post for more than four years, longer than any of her predecessors.

She served as labor secretary under Bush from 1989-91, before leaving to head the Red Cross, where she won wide praise for her efforts to reorganize what was then a troubled organization.

Norman Augustine, head of the Red Cross board of governors, said Dole had a ``truly amazing blend of compassion and the ability to make tough decisions.''

Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala said Dole had provided outstanding leadership to the Red Cross that had assured the safety and quality of the nation's blood supply.

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), January 04, 1999.