Changes

|terms=January 4, 1995 – January 3, 2001

|terms=January 4, 1995 – January 3, 2001

|preceded=John C. Danforth

|preceded=John C. Danforth

|former=y

|status=f

|succeeded=[[Jean Carnahan]]

|succeeded=Jean Carnahan

}}

}}

{{Officeholder/governor

{{Officeholder/governor

|preceded=[[Kit Bond]]

|preceded=[[Kit Bond]]

|former=y

|former=y

|succeeded=[[Mel Carnahan]]

|succeeded=Mel Carnahan

}}

}}

{{Officeholder/attorneygeneral

{{Officeholder/attorneygeneral

|number=38th

|number=38th

|deputy=n

|deputy=n

|governor=[[Joseph P. Teasdale]]<br/>[[Kit Bond]]

|governor=Joseph P. Teasdale<br/>[[Kit Bond]]

|terms=1977-1985

|terms=January 10, 1977 – January 14, 1985

|preceded=John Danforth

|preceded=John Danforth

|former=y

|former=y

|number=

|number=

|deputy=y

|deputy=y

|governor=[[Joseph P. Teasdale]]

|governor=Joseph P. Teasdale

|terms=1975-1976

|terms=1975–1976

|preceded=

|preceded=

|former=y

|former=y

|succeeded=-

|succeeded=-

}}

}}

'''John David Ashcroft''' (born May 9, 1942) was the 79th [[United States Attorney General|Attorney General of the United States]], succeeding [[Janet Reno]] and succeeded by [[Alberto R. Gonzales]].

'''John David Ashcroft''' (born May 9, 1942) was the 79th [[United States Attorney General|Attorney General of the United States]], succeeding [[Janet Reno]] and succeeded by [[Alberto R. Gonzales]].

Barred by the Missouri constitution from seeking reelection in 1992 to a third 4-year term as state governor, Ashcroft mounted a successful campaign in 1994 for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by the retiring Danforth.

Barred by the Missouri constitution from seeking reelection in 1992 to a third 4-year term as state governor, Ashcroft mounted a successful campaign in 1994 for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by the retiring Danforth.

On January 5, 1999, he announced that he would defend his Senate seat in his 2000 reelection. In his bid for reelection to the Senate, Ashcroft faced a challenge from then-Governor [[Mel Carnahan]]. Carnahan died in an airplane crash two weeks prior to the November general election. Carnahan received a majority of votes, in hopes the incumbent Democratic Governor would fill the vacancy with his spouse. While the question of whether a dead person could be elected to the Senate appeared headed to the Courts, Ashcroft was asked by President-elect [[George W. Bush]] to serve as U.S. Attorney General, and accepted.

On January 5, 1999, he announced that he would defend his Senate seat in his 2000 reelection. In his bid for reelection to the Senate, Ashcroft faced a challenge from then-Governor Mel Carnahan. Carnahan died in an airplane crash two weeks prior to the November general election. Carnahan received a majority of votes, in hopes the incumbent Democratic Governor would fill the vacancy with his spouse. While the question of whether a dead person could be elected to the Senate appeared headed to the Courts, Ashcroft was asked by President-elect [[George W. Bush]] to serve as U.S. Attorney General, and accepted.

In 2002, the American government spent $8000 of taxpayer's money on curtains so that Ashcroft would not have to be photographed in front of a statue of a bare-breasted figure of Justice during his press conferences.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/1788845.stm</ref>

In 2002, the American government spent $8000 of taxpayer's money on curtains so that Ashcroft would not have to be photographed in front of a statue of a bare-breasted figure of Justice during his press conferences.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/1788845.stm</ref>

Ashcroft composed a song called "Let the Eagle Soar" which he sang at the Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in February 2002.  

Ashcroft composed a song called "Let the Eagle Soar" which he sang at the Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in February 2002.  

In March 2004, Ashcroft entered the George Washington Medical Center with gallstone pancreatitis. During this time, he seriously considered resigning over the [[National Security Agency eavesdropping program]] targeting Americans for whom some evidence not amounting to [[probable cause]] exists that they are somehow involved with terrorism, particularly after [[White House]] counsel [[Alberto Gonzales]] and [[Chief of Staff]] [[Andrew Card]] were sent to his bedside to get his signature to renew the program, which was on the point of expiring. It swiftly became clear that Ashcroft's deputy [[James Comey]] and [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] director [[Robert Mueller]] were also prepared to resign, so President Bush approved the first of two rounds of changes to the program to bring it into compliance with existing law, the [[Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act]] of 1978. The continuing need for the program was demonstrated by the [[2004 Madrid bombing]], which helped persuade Ashcroft and other officials that they should not resign over it.

In March 2004, Ashcroft entered the George Washington Medical Center with gallstone pancreatitis. During this time, he seriously considered resigning over the National Security Agency eavesdropping program targeting Americans for whom some evidence not amounting to [[probable cause]] exists that they are somehow involved with terrorism, particularly after [[White House]] counsel [[Alberto Gonzales]] and [[Chief of Staff]] Andrew Card were sent to his bedside to get his signature to renew the program, which was on the point of expiring. It swiftly became clear that Ashcroft's deputy [[James Comey]] and [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] director [[Robert Mueller]] were also prepared to resign, so President Bush approved the first of two rounds of changes to the program to bring it into compliance with existing law, the [[Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act]] of 1978. The continuing need for the program was demonstrated by the 2004 Madrid bombing, which helped persuade Ashcroft and other officials that they should not resign over it.

On November 9, 2004, Ashcroft announced his resignation from his post as Attorney General. As is often the case for Cabinet members, he has gone on to a much more lucrative lobbying position.

On November 9, 2004, Ashcroft announced his resignation from his post as Attorney General. As is often the case for Cabinet members, he has gone on to a much more lucrative lobbying position.

In March 2006, the ''[[New York Times]]'' reported that Ashcroft was setting himself up as something of an "anti-Abramoff".<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/17/politics/17ashcroft.html?ex=1300251600&en=d3cb6a5208e2b1a0&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss</ref>

In March 2006, the ''[[New York Times]]'' reported that Ashcroft was setting himself up as something of an "anti-Abramoff".<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/17/politics/17ashcroft.html?ex=1300251600&en=d3cb6a5208e2b1a0&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss</ref>

==References==

==References==

 

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ashcroft, John}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ashcroft, John}}

[[Category:United States Attorneys General]]

[[Category:United States Attorneys General]]

[[Category:Missouri Governors]]

[[Category:Missouri Governors]]

[[Category:Republican Governors]]

[[Category:Republican Governors]]

[[Category:Republicans]]

[[Category:Republicans]]

[[Category:Former United States Senators]]

[[Category:Former United States Senators]]

[[Category:Christians]]

[[Category:Christians]]