John Ashcroft

John David Ashcroft (born in 1942) is a American politician, member of the Republican party, Gouverneur of the Missouri of 1985 with 1993, Senator of Missouri to the Congrès of the United States of 1995 with 2001 and the 79e Attorney General of the United States at the time of the 1st mandate of the President George W. Bush of 2001 with 2005.

Beginning of career

Born with Chicago, Illinois, the May 9th 1942, raised in the Missouri, it is graduate in right of the university of Yale in 1964.

Its political career begins in 1973 within the administration from Missouri. During all its public life, it will put the combat against the traffic and the consumption of Drogue in the middle of its political commitment.

In 1985, it is elected governor of Missouri under the republican colors, function which it preserves until in 1993.

In 1992, its nephews Alex and Adam Ashcroft are stopped for production and possession of Marijuana. They will be condemned to minimal sorrows perhaps thanks to the pressures of their uncle governor.

In 1994, John Ashcroft is elected senator of Missouri to the Congress of the United States and succeeds the Republican senator John Danforth.

In 2000, during the renewal of its seat, its democratic adversary is the governor Mel Carnahan. This one commits suicide at the time of the electoral campaign in an air crash at a few days of the poll. The electoral campaign is suspended but in impossibility of choosing a new candidate, the democratic party convinces the widow of the candidate, Jean Carnahan, of arising to the place of her husband whose name is reproduced on all ballot papers. It is Jean Carnahan who is then elected (for 2 years) at the expense of John Ashcroft.

In December 2000, George W. Bush, lately elected, proposes to him to succeed Janet reno at the station of Attorney General (Minister for justice). Its nomination is confirmed by the senate by 58 votes against 42 in January 2001.

Fundamentalist Christian, John Ashcroft belongs to the church pentecotist of the assembly of God.

Attorney General (2001-2005)

Ashcroft represents the right wing of the Republican party and more particularly the Christian line.

Become one of the more high ranking officials of the Bush administration, her detractors doubt its capacities to remain neutral concerning the application of certain laws or the respect of some right as the Avortement of which it is one of firmest opponents the.

Its proposals as regards fight against terrorism will be often criticized for their brutality even their violation of 1st and 4èmes amendments. He at the origin of Patriot Act is voted in November 2001, after the attacks of September 11th with New York and Washington DC, and is criticized by certain defense organizations of the civic rights.

Its automatic appeal with the terrorist threat to justify its political decisions with the risk to restrict the civil liberties will finish by it making itself suspect of electoral thought backs.

Appear discussed government, it quickly becomes the symbol and the reference of the anti-Bush groups, in particular on behalf of American Civil Liberties Union and the movements pro-abortions.

In May 2004, John Ashcroft is treated for a cancerous tumor with the pancreas.

The November 9th 2004, the shortly after the re-election of Bush, John Ashcroft announces his resignation of the government for health reasons.

The February 3rd 2005, it leaves the ministry for justice between the hands of Alberto Gonzales, the former legal adviser of the White House, promoted Attorney General.

Anecdote

John Ashcroft is also a type-setter interprets songs. Most famous “Let the Eagle Soar” ( That the eagle steals ) was used as caricature in Fahrenheit 9/11, the satire of Michael Moore.

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