Note to readers: The following Roger Simon column was first published in March 1996.

YORBA LINDA, Calif. — The sun shone brilliantly on the polished black granite marker atop the grave of Richard Nixon. Bob Dole and his wife, Elizabeth, stood silently before it and read the inscription carved into it.

"The greatest honor history can bestow is the title of peacemaker," it said.

Which is how Richard Nixon wanted everyone to remember him. How people actually do remember him is something beyond his control.

The last time Bob Dole was here, he cried. It was Richard Nixon's funeral, and during Dole's tribute to him, the tears coursed down his cheeks. And nobody back then was talking about how difficult it was to "humanize" Bob Dole.

That Bob Dole had delivered a howler of a political joke at the expense of Richard Nixon was also not talked about. Describing a meeting of the then three living ex-presidents, Carter, Ford and Nixon, Bob Dole had said it was a meeting of "See no evil, hear no evil — and evil!"

The line never failed to bring down the house.

But there was no conflict between laughs one day and tears the next. Politicians are nothing if not flexible.

And now, this day, with the Republican nomination assured, Bob Dole was hitting all the symbolic high points on his way to the convention in San Diego in August. And so he paid a visit to the Nixon birthplace and library, which, as the highway signs inform you, is also the Nixon burial site.

Pat Nixon is buried here, too. But the inscription on her grave marker is rather more cryptic than her husband's: "Even when people can't speak your language, they can tell if you have love in your heart."

Elizabeth Dole held a plastic-wrapped bouquet of flowers, and Bob whispered to her to kneel and lay it between the two graves. Bob would have done it himself, but kneeling and getting back up again is not something he can do elegantly, given his war wounds.

So Elizabeth dipped down on one knee and put down the flowers and got back up and put her arm around Bob's waist. He waited for a count of three and then turned away, and they walked down to the reflecting pool where Dole gave his standard speech.

The audience was well-dressed and well-heeled. They were big Republican contributors. They sat on white folding chairs on the green grass and listened politely to Dole as if to say: OK, so you've got the nomination wrapped up, but now let's hear how you're going to beat Bill Clinton.

Poll after poll shows Bob Dole losing California to Clinton. And since California provides one-fifth of the electoral votes a presidential candidate needs for victory, it takes on a huge importance in all campaign strategy.

"We're not going to write off California in 1996," Dole told the crowd. "We're going to fight to the bitter end! It's going to be right on, not write off!"

The crowd sat on its hands. So Dole took a deep breath and plunged on.

"I got a memo from Richard Nixon shortly before he died," he said. "He said I'd make it because I had brains, hearts and guts and plenty of each!"

The crowd stared at him. He stared back.

"Nothing is easy," Dole said. "I haven't found it so in my lifetime."

This is the essence of the Dole campaign: Things have been tough for him. He grew up poor. Lived in a basement. Went to war. Lost a kidney and the use of his right arm. Spent 39 months in and out of hospital beds learning to feed himself and dress himself and go to the bathroom by himself.

He fought all the way, and he is fighting now, and he hopes the voters will reward him for his struggle.

It is not a bad theme. And he is not as bad a campaigner as some have said. But some days are tougher than others. Especially when he addresses the well-heeled, people who have not necessarily struggled as he has.

"I know there are polls showing Clinton slightly ahead," Dole said and grimaced. "Twenty points ahead. But those polls will change. I believe you're going to elect someone who knows a little about sacrifice. I'm not perfect, but I would ask this audience if you believe in America to work hard for Bob Dole."

The audience applauded politely.

Earlier this day, on the tarmac of the airport where he landed, he had actually given a better, more revealing talk to the press corps. It was all about Richard Nixon.

"He thought I was particularly good with people," Dole said. "That I had a strong voice. He said age was never a factor as long as your health was good."

Dole went on a little about how he and Nixon had gotten along even though they had had some differences. And then Dole said: "It would be tough for him to get the nomination today."

"He'd be considered too pragmatic," Dole said. Translation: I am considered too pragmatic.

"He'd be considered too moderate," Dole said. Translation: I am considered too moderate.

"Above all," Dole said of Nixon, "he wanted to win."

Translation: Above all, above everything, that's exactly what Bob Dole wants to do.

To find out more about Roger Simon, and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.

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