John Danforth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Danforth
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| 24th United States Ambassador to the United Nations | |
| In office July 23, 2004 – January 20, 2005 |
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| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | John Negroponte |
| Succeeded by | John Bolton |
| Special Counsel for the United States Department of Justice | |
| In office September 9, 1999 – c. July 23, 2000 |
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| Appointed by | Janet Reno |
| Deputy | Edward L. Dowd Jr. |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Position not in use |
| Chair of the Senate Commerce Committee | |
| In office January 3, 1985 – January 3, 1987 |
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| Preceded by | Bob Packwood |
| Succeeded by | Ernest Hollings |
| United States Senator from Missouri |
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| In office December 27, 1976 – January 3, 1995 |
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| Preceded by | Stuart Symington |
| Succeeded by | John Ashcroft |
| 37th Attorney General of Missouri | |
| In office January 13, 1969 – December 27, 1976 |
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| Governor | Warren E. Hearnes Kit Bond |
| Preceded by | Norman H. Anderson |
| Succeeded by | John Ashcroft |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
John Claggett Danforth
September 5, 1936 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Sally Dobson (m. 1957) |
| Children | 5 |
| Relatives | William Danforth (brother) William H. Danforth (grandfather) |
| Education | Princeton University (AB) Yale University (JD, MDiv) |
| Profession | Politician, priest, lawyer |
John Claggett Danforth (born September 5, 1936) is an American politician, lawyer, and Episcopal priest. He held important jobs like being Missouri's top lawyer and a United States Senator. He also worked for the U.S. government as a special investigator and as the country's ambassador to the United Nations.
Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Danforth went to Princeton University and Yale University. Two U.S. Presidents, George H.W. Bush and his son George W. Bush, thought about choosing him as their running mate for Vice President.
Contents
Early Life and Education
John Danforth was born in St. Louis, Missouri. His father was Donald Danforth and his mother was Dorothy Claggett. His grandfather, William H. Danforth, started the company Ralston Purina. John's brother, William Henry Danforth, used to be the head of Washington University in St. Louis.
John went to St. Louis Country Day School. He graduated from Princeton University in 1958. He then earned degrees from Yale Law School and Yale Divinity School in 1963.
Career Highlights
Before entering politics, Danforth worked as a lawyer. He practiced law in New York from 1964 to 1966. Then he became a partner at a law firm in St. Louis from 1966 to 1968.
At the time, Missouri was mostly a Democratic state. Most of its U.S. Senators and governors were Democrats. Danforth helped change this trend for the Republican Party.
Missouri Attorney General
In 1968, Danforth was elected Attorney General of Missouri. He was the first Republican to win this job in 40 years. He was also the first Republican to win any statewide office in Missouri in 22 years.
Some people who worked for him later became important leaders. These included future Missouri Governor and U.S. Senator Kit Bond, future Missouri Governor and U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, and future Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Danforth was reelected as Attorney General in 1972.
United States Senator
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Senate Elections
In 1970, Danforth first ran for the United States Senate. He ran against the person already holding the job, Democrat Stuart Symington, but lost in a close election.
In 1976, Danforth ran again for the Senate when Symington retired. He won the election with almost 57% of the votes.
In 1982, he ran for reelection and won against Harriett Woods. In 1988, Danforth won his last Senate election against Jay Nixon with a large majority. He decided not to run for a fourth term and left the Senate in 1995. John Ashcroft took his place.
Time in the Senate
During his time as a Senator, Danforth supported Clarence Thomas when he was nominated to the Supreme Court of the United States in 1991. Thomas had worked for Danforth earlier in his career.
Danforth was known as a moderate Republican. This means he often held views that were not too extreme. He was also against the death penalty.
In 1988, George H. W. Bush considered Danforth as a possible Vice President candidate. However, Bush chose Dan Quayle instead.
United Nations Ambassador
On July 1, 2004, Danforth became the United States Ambassador to the United Nations. He worked to bring peace to Sudan. He stayed at the UN for about six months.
Danforth resigned on November 22, 2004, saying he wanted to spend more time with his wife. His resignation became official on January 20, 2005.
After the Senate
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Political Activities
In 1999, U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno asked Danforth to lead an investigation. This investigation looked into the FBI's actions during an event in Waco, Texas, in 1993. His report was called the "Danforth Report".
In July 2000, Danforth was again considered for Vice President by George W. Bush. However, Bush chose Dick Cheney instead. Bush later wrote that Danforth would have been his choice if Cheney had not accepted.
In September 2001, President Bush appointed Danforth as a special envoy to Sudan. He helped create a peace agreement that ended a long civil war in Southern Sudan in January 2005.
Danforth led the funeral service for former President Ronald Reagan at Washington National Cathedral on June 11, 2004. He also officiated at other important funerals.
In 2005, Danforth wrote articles that were critical of the Republican Party. He felt the party was too focused on conservative Christian views. In 2015, he joined other Republicans in supporting same-sex marriage.
Danforth has written about the importance of people with different views working together. He believes in a government where compromise is normal.
Danforth was a mentor to Josh Hawley, who became a U.S. Senator in 2019. However, after the events of January 6, 2021, Danforth said that supporting Hawley was "the worst mistake I ever made in my life."
Private Sector Work
After leaving the Senate in 1995, Danforth returned to working at a law firm. As of 2021, he is a partner at Dowd Bennett, a law firm in Clayton, Missouri.
In 2012, a group that included Danforth as a small investor bought the St. Louis Blues hockey team. This group gained full ownership of the team in 2019.
Danforth has a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame. He is also an honorary board member for Wings of Hope, a group that helps people around the world.
Personal Life
John Danforth married Sally Dobson in 1957. They have five children and 15 grandchildren.
Author
- Resurrection: The Confirmation of Clarence Thomas, Viking, 1994
- Faith and Politics: How the "Moral Values" Debate Divides America and How to Move Forward Together, Viking Press, 2006. ISBN: 978-0670037872
- The Relevance of Religion: How Faithful People Can Change Politics. Description & preview. Random House, 2015. ISBN: 978-0812997903
See also
In Spanish: John Danforth para niños
- List of attorneys general of Missouri
