Kit Bond facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kit Bond
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| United States Senator from Missouri |
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| In office January 3, 1987 – January 3, 2011 |
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| Preceded by | Thomas Eagleton |
| Succeeded by | Roy Blunt |
| Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee | |
| In office January 20, 2001 – June 6, 2001 |
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| Preceded by | John Kerry |
| Succeeded by | John Kerry |
| In office January 4, 1995 – January 3, 2001 |
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| Preceded by | Dale Bumpers |
| Succeeded by | John Kerry |
| 47th and 49th Governor of Missouri | |
| In office January 12, 1981 – January 14, 1985 |
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| Lieutenant | Ken Rothman |
| Preceded by | Joseph P. Teasdale |
| Succeeded by | John Ashcroft |
| In office January 8, 1973 – January 10, 1977 |
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| Lieutenant | Bill Phelps |
| Preceded by | Warren E. Hearnes |
| Succeeded by | Joseph P. Teasdale |
| 28th Auditor of Missouri | |
| In office January 11, 1971 – January 8, 1973 |
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| Governor | Warren Hearnes |
| Preceded by | Haskell Holman |
| Succeeded by | John Ashcroft |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Christopher Samuel Bond
March 6, 1939 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | May 13, 2025 (aged 86) St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Resting place | Bellefontaine Cemetery |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouses |
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| Children | 1 |
| Relatives | Arthur D. Bond (father) |
| Education | Princeton University (BA) University of Virginia (JD) |
| Signature |  |
Christopher Samuel Bond (March 6, 1939 – May 13, 2025), known as Kit Bond, was an American lawyer and politician. He was a member of the Republican Party. Bond served as a U.S. Senator for Missouri from 1987 to 2011. Before that, he was the governor of Missouri for two terms (1973–1977 and 1981–1985). He also served as the State Auditor of Missouri from 1971 to 1973. His first election as governor was important because it ended 28 years of Democratic governors in Missouri.
Kit Bond was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1986. He won against Democrat Harriett Woods. He was re-elected three more times in 1992, 1998, and 2004. In 2009, he announced he would not run for a fifth term. Roy Blunt, another Republican, took his place in 2011. After leaving the Senate, Bond worked as a partner at a law firm called Thompson Coburn.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Kit Bond was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on March 6, 1939. His parents were Elizabeth and Arthur D. Bond. His father was a football captain at the University of Missouri and a Rhodes Scholar. His grandfather, A.P. Green, started a company that made fireclay. This company was a big employer in Bond's hometown of Mexico, Missouri for many years.
Bond went to Princeton University and graduated in 1960. He then studied law at the University of Virginia School of Law, graduating in 1963. He was first in his class there. After law school, he worked as a law clerk for a judge and then practiced law in Washington, D.C..
Starting in Politics
In 1967, Bond moved back to Mexico, Missouri. He ran for Congress in 1968. He came close to winning against the current Democratic U.S. Congressman, William L. Hungate.
In 1969, Bond became an Assistant Attorney General for Missouri. He led the office's Consumer Protection Division. In 1970, at 31 years old, Bond was elected Missouri State Auditor. He defeated the person who had held the job for 17 years. As auditor, he hired more certified public accountants to improve the office.
Serving as Governor of Missouri
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In 1972, Kit Bond was elected governor of Missouri. He was 33 years old, making him the youngest governor in Missouri's history. He was also the first Republican governor in Missouri in 28 years.
During his first term, Bond was seen as a moderate leader. He supported the Equal Rights Amendment, which aimed to ensure equal rights for all citizens regardless of sex. On June 25, 1976, he signed an order that officially canceled an old order from 1838. That old order had called for the expulsion of Mormons from Missouri. Bond also apologized to Mormons on behalf of Missouri.
In 1976, Bond ran for re-election but lost to Joseph P. Teasdale. Bond later said he lost because he didn't respond to his opponent's negative attacks. After this, Bond returned to practicing law.
In 1980, Bond ran for governor again and won, defeating Teasdale. His second term faced money problems for the state. One of his important achievements was helping to make the Parents As Teachers program available across the state. This program helps parents support their children's early learning.
In 1984, Bond decided not to run for a third term as governor. John Ashcroft, a Republican whom Bond had appointed as State Auditor, became the next governor. Ashcroft later served with Bond in the U.S. Senate.
Time in the U.S. Senate
After Senator Thomas Eagleton decided not to run again, Kit Bond was elected U.S. Senator for Missouri in 1986. He was re-elected three more times. In 2009, he announced he would not seek a fifth term. Roy Blunt won the election in 2010 and took Bond's place.
Key Issues and Actions
Kit Bond supported expanding free trade with developing countries. He voted for agreements like the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). He believed in making trade relations with countries like China and Vietnam permanent.
Bond voted to ban members of Congress from receiving gifts from lobbyists. However, he generally opposed other campaign finance reforms. He voted against the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, which aimed to change how political campaigns are funded.
On social issues, Bond consistently voted against same-sex marriage. He supported a proposed constitutional ban on it. He also signed a declaration in 1983 supporting a group called the Northern Cherokee Nation.
Committee Work
During his time in the Senate, Kit Bond served on several important committees:
- Committee on Appropriations: This committee decides how the government's money is spent.
- Committee on Environment and Public Works: This committee deals with environmental issues and public projects.
- Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship: This committee focuses on issues affecting small businesses.
- Select Committee on Intelligence: Bond was the Vice Chairman of this committee, which oversees U.S. intelligence agencies.
After Government Service
After leaving the Senate in 2011, Kit Bond joined the law firm of Thompson Coburn. He also served as a co-chair of the Housing Commission at the Bipartisan Policy Center. In 2011, he started his own firm, Kit Bond Strategies.
Missouri Moon Rock Mystery
Near the end of his political career, Kit Bond and his team helped solve a mystery. For much of 2010, Missouri officials thought their state museum had a special "goodwill Moon rock" from the Apollo 17 mission. It turned out they only had a display with Moon dust from Apollo 11.
When Bond was clearing out his Senate office in December 2010, it was discovered that he had accidentally taken the Apollo 17 display when he left the governor's office years earlier. He returned the display to the governor of Missouri, Jay Nixon, who then gave it to the Missouri State Museum.
Personal Life
Kit Bond's son, Sam, graduated from Princeton University in 2003. He became an officer in the United States Marine Corps and served in Iraq.
Bond's first wife, Carolyn, filed for divorce in 1994, and it was finalized in 1995. In 2002, Bond married Linda Pell, who is now Linda Bond. She works for a fundraising firm that supports Republican groups.
In 2009, Bond co-authored a book with Lewis Simons called The Next Front: Southeast Asia and the Road to Global Peace with Islam.
Kit Bond had permanent vision loss in one eye. He believed it was due to a childhood eye condition that was not diagnosed.
Kit Bond passed away in St. Louis on May 13, 2025, at the age of 86.
Places Named After Kit Bond
Several places in Missouri are named after Kit Bond, honoring his service:
- Christopher S. Bond Bridge (Hermann, Missouri)
- Christopher S. Bond Bridge, Kansas City
- Christopher S. Bond United States Courthouse, Jefferson City
- Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center – University of Missouri (Columbia)
- Christopher S. "Kit" Bond Science and Technology Incubator – Missouri Western State University
- Kit Bond Visitor Center (USACE project office) Stockton, Missouri
Images for kids
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Kit Bond's signature.
See also
In Spanish: Kit Bond para niños
