Elizabeth Hanford Dole was born July 29, 1936, in Salisbury, North Carolina. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Duke University (1958) and from Harvard Law School (1965). She also holds a master's degree in Education and Government from Harvard University.

During the 1960s, Dole headed the White House Office of Consumer Affairs under Presidents Johnson and Nixon (1969-1973). Thereafter, she served as a member of the Federal Trade Commission (1973-1979) and as assistant to President Reagan for public liaison (1981-1983). In 1983, Dole became President Reagan's secretary of transportation, becoming the first woman to hold that position; she served in that post until 1986.

President Bush appointed her secretary of labor, and Dole remained in the cabinet for the duration of the Bush presidency (1989-1993). Aside from her career in government, Dole has served on the Duke University Board (1974-1985) and on the Board of Overseers for Harvard University (1990-1996).In November 2002, she won election to U.S. Congress as a senator from North Carolina.