John Ashcroft (1942-) Inducted - Wednesday, May 10, 2006 Sculptor: Sabra Tull Meyer Speaker: Rod Jetton Where is John Ashcroft in the Hall of Famous Missourians? John Ashcroft is one of Missouri’s most prominent politicians. He began his career in Missouri government in 1973 when he was appointed to the position of Missouri State Auditor by Governor Kit Bond. In 1976, he was elected to the first of two terms as Missouri Attorney General. Ashcroft was then elected to the position of Missouri Governor in 1984. During his time as Missouri Governor, Ashcroft balanced eight consecutive budgets and served as Chairman of the Education Commission of the States. Fortune magazine rated him one of the top ten education governors in the country, while Financial World and City and State magazines credited him with making Missouri one of the best financially managed states in the country. In 1994, he was elected to the U.S. Senate, where he worked to combat illegal drugs, increase the quality of public education, reduce crime and safeguard the rights of crime victims. In 2000, he was nominated for the position of United States Attorney General by president-elect George Bush. He was confirmed by the Senate and served in the position until 2005. As Attorney General he was best known for his support of the passage of the Patriot Act and his belief in strict anti-terrorism laws. Ashcroft was one of the most influential voices in the Bush administration’s war on terrorism.