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Ex-Sen. Dole Finds Retirement to Be Profitable

Even Congressional spouses who failed to win the presidency do pretty well in retirement.

At least according to Sen. Elizabeth Dole’s (R-N.C.) financial disclosure form, which was filed Friday after she earned an extension.

In addition to revealing stocks and investments worth anywhere from $755,000 to $2.3 million, the Senator also reported that husband and former GOP presidential nominee Bob Dole made more than $1 million on the speaking circuit.

The single biggest paycheck the ex-Senate Majority Leader took home in 2002, totaling $200,000, was for a speech to the National Association for Variable Annuities in New York.

On average, he raked in about $40,000 per talk, delivered mainly to business leaders and a few universities.

According to the report — initially due May 15 but delivered Friday thanks to an extension — the least he received for his words of wisdom was $3,000 from a cardiovascular and radiology meeting held in Baltimore.

But Dole’s speaking engagement earnings pale in comparison to those of another Senatorial spouse: the one who defeated him in the 1996 presidential campaign.

Bill Clinton’s words of wisdom earned him almost $10 million, according to disclosure forms filed by Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.).

In addition to his speaking fees, Dole also earned $120,000 from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization in director’s fees.

What is not specified is how much the Kansas Republican made from his consulting services.

He is listed as accepting unspecified amounts from Pfizer (the maker of Viagra, for which Dole is a pitchman), Johnson & Johnson and Archer Daniels Midland, to name a few corporate giants.

And he was also paid an undisclosed amount in book royalties from Random House.

Finally, he lists income from three television appearances — including one on “Late Night With Conan O’Brien” and a Pfizer commercial spot — but not the amount earned.

The financial disclosure form requires each Senator to list the name and address of anyone who paid his or her spouse for work in “aggregate of $1,000 or more during the reporting period” but does not require that the amounts be specified.

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