Host intro: Bob Dole's doing an Air France commercial. Pete du Pont of the National Center for Policy Analysis likes it. His only question is, what next?
Unlike a number of politicians I can think of, I would buy a used car from Dole. Or an airline ticket.
But what's he going to do with the rest of his time?
I hope he becomes a talk show regular. His appearance on David Letterman the night after the election was his best of 1996: relaxed, funny, and self-deprecating in an unscripted and human way.
I hope he writes a thoughtful, enlightening political memoir that tells his own story and describes the abilities and limits of statecraft. Bill Bradley did it. Bob Dole can.
I hope he becomes the most sought-after speaker on the college lecture circuit. His story is an inspiring, timeless one. What he tells kids can act as an antidote to much of what modern society teaches them.
And I hope Bill Clinton offers him the head of the Medicare commission so Dole can tell him, on all the major networks, "commission this." Clinton lied about Dole's position on Medicare throughout the entire campaign, and Dole should let him stew in it now.
But Bob Dole's a gentleman, and he'd probably just politely decline. We could all learn something from that too.
Those are my ideas, and at the NCPA, we know ideas can change the world. I'm Pete du Pont, and I'll see you tomorrow.
Host outro: Tomorrow, Pete du Pont has some thoughts on the future of Fidel Castro.