Elizabeth Dole is said to be eyeing presidency

Associated Press, January 4, 1999

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

The magazine reports in its Jan. 11 edition, portions of which were released yesterday, that one of Dole's close advisers described her decision as a "first step" toward a possible campaign for the Republican nomination, but also called it a "nonpolitical event."

Red Cross officials would not confirm the report but announced late yesterday that Dole would make a "major" announcement today at 2 p.m. in Washington.

Newsweek had reported that she was expected to meet over the weekend with the Red Cross executive committee prior to today's announcement.

Dole's supporters said her departure from the Red Cross has been expected for months.

Dole's husband, former senator Bob Dole of Kansas, was the GOP presidential nominee in 1996, and she has consistently scored high in public opinion polls as a potential candidate.