DOLE SHOWCASES SENSE OF HUMOR FORMER SENATOR JOKES WITH AUDIENCE AT REAGAN LIBRARY.

Byline: Cecilia Chan Staff Writer

SIMI VALLEY - Former senator and presidential candidate Bob Dole, more recently known for hawking Pepsi and Viagra, kept the audience laughing Wednesday.

The 1996 GOP presidential nominee poked fun at himself and touted his book ``Great Political Wit'' to 360 people at a lecture series sponsored by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum.

The 1998 book compiled quips from statesmen and ranked the presidents on their humor - Abraham Lincoln came in at No. 1.

``It's always occurred to me if you don't have a sense of humor and can't laugh at yourself, it's a pretty tough life,'' the five-term Kansas senator and World War II veteran said.

Dole, who served as majority leader in the Reagan administration, praised the former president for his ``star quality'' and extolled the qualities of America.

After retiring from elective politics, where he gained a reputation for being mean-spirited, Dole, 77, began to display his dry sense of humor - from his light-hearted Visa commercial to guesting on late-night talk shows with Jay Leno and David Letterman and a cameo appearance on ``Saturday Night Live.''

Today, Dole is a special counsel at a Washington, D.C., law firm; the chairman of the World War II Memorial Campaign that has raised $170 million; and a frequent guest on TV news programs.

Dole, who was wounded in Italy and lost the use of his right arm, also gave tribute to World War II veterans, noting they are dying at a rate of 1,200 a day.

``It's almost to the point where we can tell whatever story we want and there's nobody around to contradict us,'' he said.

After a 20-minute talk, Dole took questions from the audience.

Chatsworth resident Leon Fenwick said he enjoyed listening to someone known for his integrity.

``I thought his tribute to the veterans was good because they are disappearing,'' said the 70-year-old Fenwick, whose father and uncle were prisoners of war on Wake Island. ``They are disappearing and fast. It was a great generation.''

Thousand Oaks resident Alice Evans, 61, also enjoyed the lecture.

``I thought it was wonderful,'' Evans said. ``It was very much worth the effort to come to listen to him. I am so glad to hear he still has his sense of humor.''