Editing John Danforth (section)

==Post-Senate career==
[[File:Branch Davidians 65410u (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Danforth talks with reporters about his investigation of the 1993 incident involving the FBI and the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas, 1999]]
[[File:Danforthreport-final.pdf|thumb|Report to the Deputy Attorney General Concerning the 1993 Confrontation at the Mt. Carmel Complex, [[Waco, Texas]], John Danforth, Independent Counsel, November 8, 2000. Federal government document.]]

===Political activity===
In 1999, [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] [[United States Attorney General|U.S. Attorney General]] [[Janet Reno]] appointed Danforth to lead an investigation into the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]]'s role in the 1993 [[Waco Siege]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/1999/09/danforth-on-the-case.html |title=Danforth on the Case |date=September 7, 1999 |work=Slate |first1=Jodi |last1=Kantor |author1-link=Jodi Kantor |first2=Matt |last2=Alsdorf |access-date=March 10, 2021 }}</ref> Danforth appointed Democratic [[U.S. Attorney]] Edward L. Dowd Jr. for the Eastern District of Missouri as his deputy special counsel.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.stltoday.com/business/local/danforth-exits-bryan-cave-joins-dowd-bennett-law-firm/article_a71b0d39-fa06-5bff-8057-26e80ea9e5ea.html |title=Danforth exits Bryan Cave, joins Dowd Bennett law firm |date=June 3, 2015 |newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |first=Lisa |last=Brown |access-date=March 10, 2021 |quote=When Danforth was appointed special counsel to investigate the FBI's 1993 raid ..., Dowd assisted the former senator as deputy special counsel }}</ref> He also hired Bryan Cave partner [[Tom Schweich|Thomas A. Schweich]] as his chief of staff.<ref name="whispering" /> [[Assistant U.S. Attorney]] [[James Martin (attorney)|James G. Martin]] served as Danforth's director of investigative operations for what became known as the "Waco Investigation" and its resulting "[[Waco siege#Danforth's report|Danforth Report]]".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.stltoday.com/business/local/dowd-bennett-llp-adds-james-martin-as-a-partner/article_81c52329-2e2f-5233-b5ad-b97ce6869e8c.html |title=Dowd Bennett LLP adds James Martin as a partner |date=January 31, 2014 |newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |first=Robert |last=Kelly |access-date=March 10, 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/waco/keystories.htm |title=The Waco Investigation |year=1999 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=March 10, 2021 }}</ref>

In [[George W. Bush 2000 presidential campaign|July 2000]], Danforth's name was leaked as being on the short list of potential vice presidential nominees for Republican nominee [[George W. Bush]], along with Michigan Governor [[John Engler]], New York Governor [[George Pataki]], Pennsylvania Governor [[Tom Ridge]], and former U.S. Secretary of Transportation, U.S. Secretary of Labor and former [[American Red Cross]] President [[Elizabeth Dole]]. One week before the [[2000 Republican National Convention]] was held in Philadelphia, campaign sources said that [[Dick Cheney]], the man charged with leading the selection process for the nominee, had recommended Danforth,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/07/22/bush.veepstakes/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080112095858/http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/07/22/bush.veepstakes/ |archive-date=January 12, 2008 |url-status=dead |title=Cheney, Danforth emerge as Bush's top choices |work=CNN |date=July 22, 2000 }}</ref> but Bush selected Cheney himself.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://edition.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/time/2000/07/31/decided.html |title=How Bush Decided |date=August 1, 2000 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |first1=James |last1=Carney |first2=John F. |last2=Dickerson |via=CNN |access-date=March 9, 2021 }}</ref> Bush wrote in his book ''[[Decision Points]]'' that Danforth would have been his choice if Cheney had not accepted.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/how-fair-is-hollywoods-treatment-of-dick-cheney/article_2a76c90d-32fd-51a7-a4c8-7b1253b6b50f.html |title=How fair is Hollywood's treatment of Dick Cheney? |date=December 29, 2018 |newspaper=[[Casper Star-Tribune]] |first=Nick |last=Reynolds |quote=Danforth ...,  who Bush later concurred would have been his selection for the post if Cheney refused it }}</ref>{{additional citation needed|date=March 2021|reason=book not mentioned as being where Bush revealed this info}} In September 2001, Bush appointed Danforth a special envoy to Sudan.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2001/09/20010906-3.html |title=President Appoints Danforth as Special Envoy to the Sudan |date=September 6, 2001 |website=The White House |via=U.S. National Archives and Records Administration |access-date=March 11, 2021 }}</ref> He brokered a peace deal<ref>{{Cite news|title=HISTORIC PEACE AGREEMENT: Q&A / JOHN DANFORTH, former special envoy to Sudan 'Sudan could be a possible model' for all of Africa|last=Bixler|first=Mark|date=12 Jan 2005|work=Atlanta Journal-Constitution}}</ref> that officially ended the civil war in the South between Sudan's Islamic government and the U.S.-backed Christian rebels, but elements of that conflict still remain unresolved (as has the separate [[Darfur conflict]]). Known as the [[Second Sudanese Civil War]], the conflict ended in January 2005 with the signing of a peace agreement.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/09/international/africa/sudan-government-and-rebels-in-deal-to-end-fighting-in.html |title=Sudan Government and Rebels in Deal to End Fighting in South |date=January 9, 2005 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=March 11, 2021 }}</ref>

On June 11, 2004, Danforth presided over the funeral of [[Ronald Reagan]], held at [[Washington National Cathedral]].<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.post-gazette.com/news/nation/2004/06/12/Text-Homily-of-former-Sen-John-Danforth-at-Reagan-funeral/stories/200406120089|title=Text: Homily of former Sen. John Danforth at Reagan funeral|website=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette}}</ref> Danforth also officiated at the funerals of ''[[Washington Post]]'' executive [[Katharine Graham]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/24/us/at-katharine-graham-funeral-parade-of-boldface-names.html |title=At Katharine Graham Funeral, Parade of Boldface Names |date=July 24, 2001 |newspaper=The New York Times |first=Francis X. |last=Clines |access-date=March 9, 2021 }}</ref> former United States Senator [[Harry Flood Byrd Jr.]] of Virginia,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://richmond.com/news/local/government-politics/va-governor-six-predecessors-attend-byrd-funeral/article_7960e5b9-3293-5484-96ea-1194c1f5dc97.html |title=Va. governor, six predecessors attend Byrd funeral |date=August 4, 2009 |newspaper=Richmond Times-Dispatch |first=Jeff E. |last=Schapiro |access-date=March 9, 2021 }}</ref> and Missouri State Auditor [[Tom Schweich]].<ref name=whispering>{{cite news |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/danforth-in-eulogy-decries-whispering-campaign-against-schweich/article_6d81a9c8-0d79-5a1e-9210-9515777afd0f.html |title=Danforth, in eulogy, decries 'whispering campaign' against Schweich |date=March 4, 2015 |newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |first1=Virginia |last1=Young |first2=Kevin |last2=McDermott |access-date=March 9, 2021 }}</ref>

On March 30, 2005, Danforth wrote an [[editorial|op-ed]] in ''[[The New York Times]]'' critical of the Republican party. The article began: "By a series of recent initiatives, Republicans have transformed our party into the political arm of conservative Christians".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/30/opinion/30danforth.html?ex=1269838800&en=047f7bb6ae981400&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&_r=0|title=In the Name of Politics|first=John|last=Danforth|date=March 30, 2005|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=November 10, 2013}}</ref> He also penned a June 17, 2005, piece headlined "Onward, Moderate Christian Soldiers".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/17/opinion/17danforth.html?ei=5088&en=25349ae86c8966e1&ex=1276660800&adxnnl=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1384150866-9k/YNSwbfMPdP/LrTMW7cg|title=Onward, Moderate Christian Soldiers|first=John|last=Danforth|date=June 17, 2005|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=November 10, 2013}}</ref> In 2015, Danforth joined 299 other Republicans in signing an [[amicus brief]] calling on the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] to legalize [[same-sex marriage in the United States|same-sex marriage]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://time.com/3734626/gay-marriage-supreme-court-republicans/|title=GOP Politicians Call for Supreme Court to OK Gay Marriage|first=Zeke J.|last=Miller}}</ref>

Contributing to the anthology ''Our American Story'' (2019), Danforth addressed the possibility of a shared American narrative and focused on the "great American purpose" of "hold[ing] together in one nation a diverse and often contentious people." He encouraged continued work "to demand a functioning government where compromise is the norm, to integrate all our people into one indivisible nation, and to incorporate separated individuals into the wholeness of the community."<ref>{{cite book |editor-last1=Claybourn |editor-first1=Joshua |editor-link1=Joshua Claybourn |title=Our American Story: The Search for a Shared National Narrative |date=2019 |publisher=Potomac Books |location=Lincoln, NE |isbn=978-1640121706 |pages=66–74 }}</ref> Danforth is a member of the Reformers Caucus of [[Issue One]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.issueone.org/reformers/#reformer-full-list|website=Issue One|title=ReFormers Caucus Members|access-date=2021-03-09}}</ref>

Danforth was a mentor and political supporter of [[Josh Hawley]], who became [[Attorney General of Missouri]] in 2017 and U.S. Senator in 2019 with Danforth's encouragement; Danforth also supported Hawley's presidential ambitions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/election-2020/ct-josh-hawley-capitol-riot-20210107-paflva2gajfprlir4pyt7ny6mq-story.html|title='The biggest mistake I've ever made': Former Missouri Sen. Danforth rues mentoring Josh Hawley, blames him for Capitol riot|date=January 7, 2021|access-date=January 8, 2021|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|first=Bryan|last=Lowry}}</ref> In the wake of the [[January 6 United States Capitol attack]] and Hawley's efforts to challenge the [[2021 United States Electoral College vote count]], Danforth said that supporting Hawley in the [[2018 United States Senate election in Missouri|2018 election]] "was the worst mistake I ever made in my life".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Levine|first=Marianne|title=Coons calls on Cruz and Hawley to resign|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/07/coons-cruz-hawley-resign-456196|access-date=2021-01-08|website=POLITICO|language=en}}</ref> During the [[2022 United States Senate election in Missouri]], Danforth headed a PAC supporting independent candidate John Wood, considered a long shot to win.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.semissourian.com/story/2959581.html|title= Independent challenge for Eric Schmitt|last= Salter|first= Jim|date= August 4, 2022|website= www.semissourian.com|access-date= August 5, 2022|quote=}}</ref> Wood collected enough signatures to get on the ballot but dropped out after 50 days when [[Eric Schmitt]] won the Republican primary. Danforth spent $6 million on the effort.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article267114856.html |title=Former Missouri Sen. John Danforth spent $6 million on independent candidate's short bid |date=October 11, 2022 |newspaper=The Kansas City Star |first=Daniel |last=DesRochers |access-date=December 22, 2022 }}</ref>

===Private sector===
In 1995, following his departure from the Senate, Danforth again became a partner at the [[Bryan Cave]] law firm.<ref name="auto1"/> As of 2021 Danforth is a partner at Dowd Bennett, a Clayton law firm just outside Saint Louis.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.stlmag.com/longform/John-Danforth-Meditations-StJack-senate-politics/ |title= As politician and priest, John C. Danforth spent a lifetime trying to do good. He's not sure he succeeded. |website=[[St. Louis Magazine]] |date= 18 September 2021 |access-date=September 18, 2021 }}</ref>

In May 2012, [[SLB Acquisition Holdings LLC|a group]] led by Danforth's son-in-law and Summitt Distributing CEO Tom Stillman,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.si.com/hockey/news/st-louis-blues-announce-local-minority-partner-new-radio-deal |title=St. Louis Blues announce local minority partner, new radio deal |date=March 29, 2007 |work=The Hockey News |publisher=Sports Illustrated |agency=The Canadian Press |access-date=March 10, 2021 |quote=Stillman, owner of Summit Distributing, ... and the son-in-law for former U.S. Sen. John Danforth }}</ref> in which Danforth is a minority investor, took controlling ownership of the [[St. Louis Blues]] of the [[National Hockey League]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.stltoday.com/sports/hockey/professional/new-owner-is-fanatic-on-blues-coy-about-beer/article_c0bc9b58-9d22-11e1-bb8b-001a4bcf6878.html |title=New owner is fanatic on Blues, coy about beer |date=May 13, 2012 |newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |first=Nicholas J.C. |last=Pistor |access-date=March 10, 2021 }}</ref> The group acquired full ownership of the team in June 2019.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://fox2now.com/sports/st-louis-blues/stillman-ownership-group-acquires-full-ownership-of-st-louis-blues/ |title=Stillman group acquires full ownership of St. Louis Blues |date=June 19, 2019 |work=[[KTVI]] |access-date=March 10, 2021 }}</ref> Danforth has a star on the [[St. Louis Walk of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web|last=St. Louis Walk of Fame|title=St. Louis Walk of Fame Inductees|url=http://www.stlouiswalkoffame.org/inductees/?view=achievement|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008105312/http://www.stlouiswalkoffame.org/inductees/?view=achievement|archive-date=October 8, 2018|access-date=April 25, 2013|publisher=stlouiswalkoffame.org}}</ref> He is an honorary board member of the humanitarian organization [[Wings of Hope (charity)|Wings of Hope]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Official Wings Of Hope Homepage|url=http://wings-of-hope.org|access-date=2010-03-16|publisher=Wings-of-hope.org}}</ref>