Robert J. Dole Campaign Media Collection, 1976-1997
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Brief Description:

The Dole Campaign Media Collection, which spans the years 1976-1998, consists of audiovisual materials which were used in various ways for the purposes of Senator Robert J. Dole’s 1988 and 1996 Presidential campaigns.

A majority of the collection contains draft and final versions of Dole’s campaign ads. Also included in significant numbers are recordings of aired material from major news networks, B-Roll footage from the Dole campaign trail, audio-only recordings of radio spots, and acquired recordings of campaign ads produced by Dole’s opponent candidates. While the majority of these materials are from the years 1987-1988 and 1995-1996, footage from other years is also included which probably contributed to campaign advertisements.

The various preliminary drafts and alternative versions of campaign ads, along with B-Rolls and personal notes, contribute to some understanding of how a campaign ad is pieced together, vetted, and approved before being sent to air. Other materials, such as news programs or footage of opponents’ speeches and ads, may show how Dole’s campaign researchers drew from a variety of sources to craft specific, targeted messages.

Held at:
Robert and Elizabeth Dole Archive and Special Collections
The Dole Institute of Politics
2350 Petefish Drive
Lawrence, KS 66045
Phone: 785-864-1405
Email: dolearchives [at] ku.edu
Record Series Number: 05/029
Volume: 125.0 Boxes
Arrangement: Chronological
Access Restrictions: Some materials within the Dole Archive are restricted because of their sensitive nature or because they contain personal or confidential information. These records are protected by federal laws such as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Examples of restricted records are personnel files, medical records, financial records, and any materials containing personal information such as addresses and social security numbers. Restricted materials are identified at the box and/or folder level within the finding aid. Questions about these materials may be directed to the Senior Archivist of the Dole Archives. The casework files in the collection have been retained, but are restricted indefinitely. Access may be allowed on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the Dole Archives and only after a proposal has been reviewed and approved by the University of Kansas Human Subjects Committee.
Rights/Use Restrictions: Copyright restrictions apply in different ways to different kinds of materials. Many of the documents and other historical materials in the Archive are in the public domain and may be reproduced and used in any way. There are other materials in the library carrying a copyright interest that must be used according to the provisions of Title 17 of the U.S. Code. The Archive issues a warning concerning copyright restrictions to every researcher who requests copies of documents. Although the copyright law is under constant redefinition in the courts, it is ultimately the responsibility of the researcher to properly use copyrighted materials.
Technical Access Notes: The Dole Archives does not have the technology on-site to play or digitize this material. Digitization from a third party vendor of our selection is available for a fee. Digitization may take 3-4 weeks to complete. Please inquire for more details.
Related Materials: For additional campaign media, see the Robert J. Dole Film Collection, the Dole Audio Cassette Collection, and the Dole Audio Reel Collection.