John D. Ashcroft (R)

Overview

At a Glance

• Implemented federal Excellence in Education Act in 1985
• Lead campaign to pass Proposition A, which created a 15-year plan for growth and maintenance of Missouri's infrastructure
• Authorized a work-share program that would save jobs that might otherwise be lost due to layoffs
• Promoted and signed Missouri Victim's Bill of Rights
• Promoted and signed Missouri's first hate-crime law
• Created the Department of Health
• Launched the Agri-Missouri Program and Main Street Program
• Established the Bright Flight Scholarship, the Missouri Scholars Academy, and First Steps
• Started the Consensus Revenue Estimating process and backed establishment of the Cash Operating Reserve Fund and the Rainy Day fund
• Chaired the NGA (1991-1992)

Personal History

John Ashcroft was born on May 9, 1942, and grew up in Springfield, Missouri, where he attended public schools. He graduated with honors from Yale University in 1964. Ashcroft met his wife, Janet, while both were studying law at the University of Chicago, and they earned their law degrees together in December 1967. The couple has three children: Martha, Jay, and Andrew. Ashcroft is affiliated with the Assemblies of God church.

After returning to Missouri, the Ashcrofts practiced law together and taught at Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield. They co-authored two textbooks: “College Law for Business” and “It's the Law”. Additionally, Ashcroft has published numerous articles in law reviews and professional journals. He is the author of several books, including “Lessons from a Father to His Son”, “On My Honor: The Beliefs That Shape My Life”, and “Never Again: Securing America and Restoring Justice”.

In addition to his public service career, Ashcroft is well-known in Missouri for his interests outside of government, which include sports, gospel singing, and songwriting.

Political History

In 1972, John Ashcroft ran in the Republican primary for a congressional seat in southwest Missouri but narrowly lost to Gene Taylor. After this defeat, Missouri Governor Kit Bond appointed Ashcroft as State Auditor to fill the vacancy left when Bond ascended to the governorship. However, Ashcroft was narrowly defeated in the 1974 election for the same position by Jackson County Executive George W. Lehr, who argued that Ashcroft lacked the necessary qualifications to serve as State Auditor since he was not an accountant. Following this, Ashcroft was hired by Missouri Attorney General John Danforth as an Assistant Attorney General. When Danforth was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1976, Ashcroft successfully ran for the office of Missouri Attorney General, winning re-election in 1980 by securing 96 out of Missouri's 114 counties.

In 1984, Ashcroft was elected governor and re-elected in 1988, becoming the first (and to date, only) Republican to serve two full consecutive terms in Missouri's history. He won the 1984 gubernatorial election against Democratic Lt. Governor Ken Rothman with 57% of the vote, carrying 106 counties. In 1988, Ashcroft achieved an even larger victory over opponent Betty Cooper Hearnes, the wife of former governor Warren Hearnes, receiving 64% of the vote—the largest margin of victory for governor in Missouri since the Civil War.

In 1994, Ashcroft was elected to the U.S. Senate, succeeding John Danforth, with 60 percent of the vote against Democratic Congressman Alan Wheat. Although he briefly considered a presidential run in 1998, Ashcroft ultimately opted to defend his Senate seat in the 2000 election, successfully winning the Republican primary against Marc Perkel. In the general election, Ashcroft faced Governor Mel Carnahan. The race tightened significantly after Carnahan's tragic death in a plane crash on October 16, 2000, just weeks before the election. Following this tragedy, Ashcroft suspended his campaign. Carnahan's name remained on the ballot, and upon his election, Lieutenant Governor Roger Wilson expressed intentions to appoint Carnahan's widow, Jean Carnahan, to the Senate if her husband won. After these developments, Ashcroft resumed campaigning, but Jean Carnahan ultimately won the election with 51% of the vote.

Following his defeat in December 2000, Ashcroft was appointed U.S. Attorney General by President-elect George W. Bush. He announced his resignation on November 9, 2004, after Bush was re-elected, with the resignation taking effect on February 3, 2005. Later that year, Ashcroft founded the Ashcroft Group, LLC, a consulting firm based in Washington, D.C.

As governor, Ashcroft enacted stricter standards and sentencing for gun-related crimes, increased funding for local law enforcement, and implemented stricter gun restrictions in schools. Additionally, Ashcroft led reforms in public education, advocating for public school choice, graduation tests, alternative teacher certification, and assessments at colleges and universities. He also worked on implementing the federal Excellence in Education Act of 1985.

Historical Significance

Former Governor John Ashcroft was highly regarded during his time in office. Fortune magazine recognized him as one of the nation's top ten education governors, while a Newsweek survey ranked him among the most effective governors. Ashcroft's commitment to quality education was demonstrated by his implementation of the Excellence in Education Act of 1985, which was praised as the most significant improvement in Missouri's school law history. This act provided scholarships for teacher education majors, guaranteed starting salaries for teachers, offered tuition reimbursement for ongoing education, established a career ladder, and provided grants for locally generated teacher improvement projects. Additionally, it mandated the creation of district policies on student discipline and authorized the establishment of an academy for training school administrators.

Under Ashcroft's administration, the Missouri Victims' Bill of Rights was enacted, allowing crime victims to be informed about and present at criminal proceedings. This legislation granted victims’ rights to restitution, protection from defendants, and information regarding the escape or release of offenders. Furthermore, despite his initial opposition, Missouri enacted its first hate-crimes legislation during Ashcroft's tenure, which established penalties for ethnic intimidation and crimes motivated by race, color, religion, or national origin, as well as for vandalism against properties associated with ethnic groups.