Editing John Danforth

{{short description|American politician (born 1936)}}
{{redirect|Senator Danforth|the South Dakota Senate member|George Jonathan Danforth}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix    = [[The Reverend]]
| name                = John Danforth
| image               = John Danforth.png
| office              = 24th [[List of ambassadors of the United States to the United Nations|United States Ambassador to the United Nations]]
| president           = [[George W. Bush]]
| term_start          = July 23, 2004
| term_end            = January 20, 2005
| predecessor         = [[John Negroponte]]
| successor           = [[John Bolton]]
| office1             = [[Special counsel#United States appointment at the federal level|Special Counsel]] for the [[United States Department of Justice]]
| appointer1          = [[Janet Reno]]
| deputy1             = Edward L. Dowd Jr.
| term_start1         = September 9, 1999
| term_end1           = {{circa}} July 23, 2000
| predecessor1        = ''Position established''
| successor1          = ''Position not in use''
| office2             = Chair of the [[United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation|Senate Commerce Committee]]
| term_start2         = January 3, 1985
| term_end2           = January 3, 1987
| predecessor2        = [[Bob Packwood]]
| successor2          = [[Fritz Hollings|Ernest Hollings]]
| jr/sr3              = United States Senator
| state3              = [[Missouri]]
| term_start3         = December 27, 1976
| term_end3           = January 3, 1995
| predecessor3        = [[Stuart Symington]]
| successor3          = [[John Ashcroft]]
| office4             = 37th [[List of attorneys general of Missouri|Attorney General of Missouri]]
| governor4           = [[Warren E. Hearnes]]<br>[[Kit Bond]]
| term_start4         = January 13, 1969
| term_end4           = December 27, 1976
| predecessor4        = [[Norman H. Anderson (politician)|Norman H. Anderson]]
| successor4          = John Ashcroft
| birth_name          = John Claggett Danforth
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1936|9|5}}
| birth_place         = [[St. Louis]], [[Missouri]], U.S.
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| spouse              = Sally Dobson (m. 1957)
| children            = 5
| relatives           = [[William Henry Danforth|William Danforth]] (brother)<br>[[William H. Danforth]] (grandfather)
| education           = [[Princeton University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|AB]])<br>[[Yale University]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]], [[Master of Divinity|MDiv]])
| profession          = Politician, priest, lawyer
}}
'''John Claggett Danforth''' (born September 5, 1936) is an American politician, attorney, diplomat, and [[Episcopal priest]] who served as the [[Attorney General of Missouri]] from 1969 to 1976 and as a [[United States Senator]] from 1976 to 1995. A member of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]], he later served as [[Special counsel#United States appointment at the federal level|Special Counsel]] for the [[U.S. Department of Justice]] from 1999 to 2000 and as the [[United States Ambassador to the United Nations]] from 2004 to 2005.

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Danforth graduated from [[Princeton University]] and [[Yale University]]. [[George H.W. Bush]] considered [[1988 Republican Party vice presidential candidate selection|selecting him]] as a vice-presidential running mate in [[1988 United States presidential election|1988]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jr |first=B. Drummond Ayres |last2=Times |first2=Special To the New York |date=1988-11-09 |title=The 1988 Elections Man in the News: James Danforth Quayle; A Partner Seasoned by the Campaign |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/09/us/1988-elections-man-james-danforth-quayle-partner-seasoned-campaign.html |access-date=2025-04-20 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> and Bush's son, [[George W. Bush]], considered [[2000 Republican Party vice presidential candidate selection|doing the same]] in [[2000 United States presidential election|2000]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-01-12 |title=Cheney, Danforth emerge as Bush's top choices – July 22, 2000 |url=http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/07/22/bush.veepstakes/ |access-date=2022-01-31 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080112095858/http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/07/22/bush.veepstakes/ |archive-date=12 January 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Danforth was born in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of Dorothy (Claggett) and Donald Danforth.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=C4gYAAAAIAAJ&q=Dorothy+Claggett+Donald+Danforth|title=Current Biography Yearbook|date=Sep 17, 1992|publisher=H. W. Wilson Company|access-date=Sep 17, 2020|via=Google Books}}</ref> He is the grandson of [[William H. Danforth]], founder of [[Ralston Purina]]. Danforth's brother, [[William Henry Danforth]], was former chancellor of [[Washington University in St. Louis]].

Danforth attended [[Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School|St. Louis Country Day School]]. He graduated from [[Princeton University]] in 1958 with an A.B. in religion after completing his senior thesis, "Christ and Meaning: An Interpretation of Reinhold Niebuhr's Christology."<ref>{{Cite thesis|last=Danforth|first=John Claggett|date=1958|title=Christ and Meaning: An Interpretation of Reinhold Niebuhr's Christology|url=http://dataspace.princeton.edu/jspui/handle/88435/dsp01tm70mw77t|publisher=Princeton University}}</ref> He received degrees from [[Yale Law School]] and [[Yale Divinity School]] in 1963.

== Career ==
Danforth practiced law at the New York law firm [[Davis Polk & Wardwell]] from 1964 to 1966. He was a partner at the law firm of Bryan, Cave, McPheeters and McRoberts in St. Louis from 1966 to 1968.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Danforth-tapped-for-U-N-post-Former-senator-2715979.php|title=Danforth tapped for U.N. post / Former senator has reputation for integrity|first=Robin|last=Wright|date=June 5, 2004|website=SFGATE}}</ref>

Before Danforth entered Republican politics, Missouri was a reliably Democratic state with its [[List of United States senators from Missouri|U.S. senators]] and [[List of Governors of Missouri|governors]] usually being Democrats. Danforth's seat in the Senate was previously held by Democrats [[Thomas Hart Benton (senator)|Thomas Hart Benton]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/United_States_congressional_delegations_from_Missouri#Historical_members |title=United States congressional delegations from Missouri: Historical members: Class 1 senators from Missouri |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=March 10, 2021 }}</ref> [[Harry S. Truman]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/08/03/us/former-governor-wins-missouri-gop-primary-for-governor.html |title=Former Governor Wins Missouri G.O.P. Primary for Governor |date=August 3, 1994 |newspaper=The New York Times |agency=Associated Press |access-date=March 10, 2021 |page=A22 |quote=Danforth, a Republican, is retiring after three terms from the seat once held by Harry Truman }}</ref> and [[Stuart Symington]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/239/ |title=Alien Nation?: This Week's Interview: John Danforth |date=September 29, 2006 |work=PBS |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081021155531/http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/239/ |archive-date=October 21, 2008 |quote=Danforth succeeded retiring Senator Stuart Symington }}</ref>

===Missouri Attorney General===
In 1968, Danforth was elected [[Missouri Attorney General]], the first Republican elected to the office in 40 years,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/morning_call/2015/10/danforth-cites-long-friendship-in-choosing-hawley.html |title=Danforth cites long friendship in choosing Hawley in AG race |date=October 16, 2015 |work=St. Louis Business Journal |first=Diana |last=Barr |access-date=March 9, 2021 }}</ref> and the first from his party elected to statewide office in 22 years.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/08/06/GOP-88-Personality-SpotlightNEWLNJohn-Danforth-Vice-presidential-possibility/7220586843200/ |title=GOP '88 Personality Spotlight: John Danforth: Vice presidential possibility |work=[[United Press International]] |date=August 6, 1988 |access-date=March 9, 2021 }}</ref> On his staff of assistant attorneys general were future Missouri Governor and U.S. Senator [[Kit Bond]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mow.uscourts.gov/outreach/bond_courthouse |title=About the Christopher S. Bond U.S. Court House |website=United States Courts: Western District of Missouri |access-date=March 10, 2021 |quote=Bond became an assistant attorney general under former U.S. Senator John Danforth }}</ref> future Missouri Governor, U.S. Senator and U.S. Attorney General [[John Ashcroft]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2017-06-08/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-john-ashcroft |title=10 Things You Didn't Know About John Ashcroft |work=U.S. News & World Report |date=June 8, 2017 |first=Shelbi |last=Austin |access-date=March 10, 2021 }}</ref> future Supreme Court Justice [[Clarence Thomas]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/article/6091a9564d4b4a4d98c6145ecda02901 |title=Clarence Thomas: Sen. Danforth is 'the reason why I'm here' |date=May 5, 2017 |work=Associated Press |first=Jim |last=Salter |access-date=March 10, 2021 }}</ref> and future federal judge [[D. Brook Bartlett]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/08/05/archives/death-of-missouri-winner-roils-democratic-politics-death-of-winner.html |title=Death of Missouri Winner Roils Democratic Politics |date=August 5, 1976 |newspaper=The New York Times |first=Paul |last=Delaney |access-date=March 10, 2021 }}</ref> Danforth was reelected in 1972.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/US/9909/03/waco.danforth/ |title=Former Sen. Danforth likely head of independent Waco probe, official says |date=September 3, 1999 |work=CNN |access-date=March 10, 2021 |quote=He won re-election as attorney general in 1972. }}</ref>

===United States Senate===
[[File:Reagan Contact Sheet BW 4787 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Danforth greeting [[President of the United States|President]] [[Ronald Reagan]], 1981]]

====Elections====
In 1970, Danforth ran for the [[United States Senate]] for the first time, against Democratic incumbent [[Stuart Symington]]. He lost in a close race.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1970/11/04/archives/symington-wins-4th-senate-term-missouri-democrat-at-69-edges-a.html |title=Symington Wins 4th Senate Term |date=November 4, 1970 |first=B. Drummond Jr. |last=Ayres |newspaper=The New York Times |page=35 |access-date=March 9, 2021 }}</ref>

In 1976, Danforth [[1976 United States Senate election in Missouri|ran to succeed]] Symington, who was retiring.<ref name=nytfight>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/10/18/archives/hearnes-is-facing-difficult-fight-to-succeed-symington-in-senate.html |title=Hearnes Is Facing Difficult Fight To Succeed Symington in Senate |date=October 18, 1976 |newspaper=The New York Times |first=Paul | last=Delaney |page=33 |access-date=March 11, 2021 }}</ref> He had little opposition in the Republican primary.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=328080 |title=MO US Senate – R Primary |date=August 3, 1976 |website=Our Campaigns |access-date=March 11, 2021 }}</ref> The Democrats had a three-way battle among Symington's son [[James W. Symington]], former Missouri Governor [[Warren Hearnes]], and rising political star Congressman [[Jerry Litton]].<ref name="nytfight" /> Litton won the primary, but he and his family were killed when the plane taking them to their victory party in Kansas City crashed on takeoff in [[Chillicothe, Missouri]].<ref name=crash>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/08/04/archives/missouri-senate-nominee-dies-in-crash-after-upset-victory-missouri.html |title=Missouri Senate Nominee Dies In Crash Alter Upset Victory |date=August 4, 1976 |newspaper=The New York Times |page=1 |first=Paul |last=Delaney |access-date=March 11, 2021 }}</ref> Hearnes, who had finished second in the primary, was chosen to replace Litton as the Democratic nominee.<ref name="nytfight" /><ref name="crash" /> In the general election, Danforth defeated Hearnes with nearly 57% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1976election.pdf#page=26 |title=Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 2, 1976 |website=Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives |first=Benjamin J. |last=Guthrie |page=26 |access-date=March 11, 2021 }}</ref>

In 1982, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate was [[Harriett Woods]], a relatively unknown state senator from the St. Louis suburb of [[University City, Missouri|University City]]. She was active in women's rights organizations and collected union support and was a cousin of Democratic Senator [[Howard Metzenbaum]] of [[Ohio]]. Her speeches denounced [[Ronald Reagan]]'s policies so vigorously that she ran on the nickname "Give 'em Hell, Harriett" (a play on the famous [[Harry S. Truman|Truman]] phrase). Danforth defeated Woods 51% to 49%, with Woods's pro-choice stance said to be the reason for her loss.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.umsl.edu/~whmc/guides/whm0490.htm |title=WHMC-St. Louis sl 490 Woods, Harriett F. (1927– ), Addenda, 1975–1983 |publisher=Umsl.edu |date=1982-01-12 |access-date=2010-03-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100601195825/http://www.umsl.edu/~whmc/guides/whm0490.htm |archive-date=2010-06-01 }}</ref>

In 1988, Danforth defeated Democrat [[Jay Nixon]], 68%–32%. He chose not to run for a fourth term and retired from the Senate in 1995. He was succeeded by former Missouri governor [[John Ashcroft]]. Nixon was later elected Missouri Attorney General, and, in [[2008 Missouri gubernatorial election|2008]], governor of Missouri.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-04-27 |title=Jay Nixon |url=https://theforum.sph.harvard.edu/expert-participants/jay-nixon/ |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=The Forum at Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health |language=en-US}}</ref>

In January 2001, when Missouri Democrats opposed Ashcroft's nomination for U.S. Attorney General, Danforth's name was invoked. Former U.S. Senator [[Thomas Eagleton|Tom Eagleton]] reacted to the nomination by saying: "John Danforth would have been my first choice. John Ashcroft would have been my last choice."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://judiciary.senate.gov/oldsite/te011601hw.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303174814/http://judiciary.senate.gov/oldsite/te011601hw.htm |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |url-status=dead |date=January 19, 2001 |title=Testimony for the Judiciary Committee Hearing on the Nomination of John Ashcroft |website=U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee }}</ref>

====Tenure====
{{expand section|date=January 2021}}
During the 1991 Senate confirmation hearings for [[Supreme Court of the United States|U.S. Supreme Court]] nominee [[Clarence Thomas]], Danforth used his clout to support Thomas, who had served Danforth during his state attorney general years and later as an aide in the Senate.<ref name="auto1"/>

Danforth portrayed himself as a political moderate, but voted like his right-wing Republican colleagues, including sustaining filibusters. He was once quoted as saying he joined the Republican Party for "the same reason you sometimes choose which movie to see—[it's] the one with the shortest line."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/nov/15/usa.marktran|title=Names in the frame|first=Mark|last=Tran|date=Nov 15, 2004|access-date=Sep 17, 2020|via=www.theguardian.com}}</ref>

Danforth is a longtime opponent of [[capital punishment]], as he made clear on the Senate floor in 1994.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/article.php?did=1940 |title=New Voices – Conservative Voices |publisher=Deathpenaltyinfo.org |access-date=2013-12-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070713112245/http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/article.php?did=1940 |archive-date=2007-07-13 }}</ref>

In 1988, [[George H. W. Bush]]'s presidential campaign vetted Danforth as a potential running mate. Bush selected Indiana Senator [[Dan Quayle]] instead.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=123349&page=1|title=Danforth, Cheney on Bush V.P. Short List|date=2006-01-06|website=ABC News|language=en|access-date=2019-03-07}}</ref>

===UN Ambassador===
[[Image:John Danforth being sworn in by Clarence Thomas.jpg|thumb|left|Danforth's swearing in to be the United States Ambassador to the United Nations by [[Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court|Justice]] [[Clarence Thomas]], his former assistant, 2004]]

On July 1, 2004, Danforth was sworn in as the [[United States Ambassador to the United Nations]], succeeding [[John Negroponte]], who left the post after becoming the [[U.S. Ambassador to Iraq]] in June. He is best remembered for attempts to bring peace to the Sudan but stayed at the UN for just six months. Danforth was mentioned as a successor to Secretary of State [[Colin Powell]]. Six days after the announcement that [[Condoleezza Rice]] was going to take the position, Danforth submitted his resignation on November 22, 2004, effective January 20, 2005. His resignation letter<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.un.int/usa/JCD%20Resignation.pdf |title=Resignation letter from Ambassador Danforth to President G.W. Bush |access-date=2004-12-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050128202017/http://www.un.int/usa/JCD%20Resignation.pdf |archive-date=2005-01-28 |date=November 22, 2004 |first=John C. |last=Danforth |website=United Nations }}</ref> said, "Forty-seven years ago, I married the girl of my dreams, and, at this point in my life, what is most important to me is to spend more time with her."<ref>{{cite web|author=Christine Lagorio |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/un-rep-resigns-after-5-months/ |title=U.N. Rep Resigns After 5 Months |work=CBS News |date=2004-12-02 |access-date=2010-03-16}}</ref>

==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>

==Personal life==
Danforth married the former Sally Dobson in 1957.<ref name="auto"/> They have five children and 15 grandchildren.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cathedral.org/event/holy-eucharist-4-2019-09-22/|title=StackPath|website=cathedral.org}}</ref>

==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''. [https://books.google.com/books?id=Ll85BgAAQBAJ Description] & [https://books.google.com/books?id=Ll85BgAAQBAJ preview]. Random House, 2015. {{ISBN|978-0812997903}}

==See also==
{{wikiquote}}
* [[George H. W. Bush Supreme Court candidates]]
* [[List of attorneys general of Missouri]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category-inline}}
{{wikiquote}}
* {{CongLinks | congbio=D000030 | votesmart= | fec= | congress= }}<!--
Links formerly displayed via the CongLinks template:
* [http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/403171 Congressional profile] at [[GovTrack]]
* [http://www.c-spanvideo.org/person/103 Appearances] on [[C-SPAN]] programs
* [http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/d/john_c_danforth/index.html Collected news and commentary] at ''[[The New York Times]]''
* -->
* {{C-SPAN|103}}
* [https://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2004/bio3586.doc.htm UN Press release on becoming US Ambassador to the UN]

{{s-start}}
{{s-legal}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Norman Anderson (Missouri politician)|Norman Anderson]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of attorneys general of Missouri|Attorney General of Missouri]]|years=1969–1976}}
{{s-aft|after=[[John Ashcroft]]}}
|-
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=Daniel Bartlett, Jr.}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee for [[Missouri Attorney General]]|years=1968, 1972}}
{{s-aft|rows=2|after=[[John Ashcroft]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Jean P. Bradshaw]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee for [[List of United States senators from Missouri|U.S. Senator]] from [[Missouri]]<br>([[Classes of United States senators|Class 1]])|years=[[1970 United States Senate election in Missouri|1970]], [[1976 United States Senate election in Missouri|1976]], [[1982 United States Senate election in Missouri|1982]], [[1988 United States Senate election in Missouri|1988]]}}
|-
{{s-par|us-sen}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Stuart Symington]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of United States senators from Missouri|United States Senator (Class 1) from Missouri]]|years=1976–1995|alongside=[[Thomas Eagleton]], [[Kit Bond]]}}
{{s-aft|after=John Ashcroft}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Bob Packwood]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the [[United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation|Senate Commerce Committee]]|years=1985–1987}}
{{s-aft|rows=2|after=[[Fritz Hollings|Ernest Hollings]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Fritz Hollings|Ernest Hollings]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Ranking Member of the [[United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation|Senate Commerce Committee]]|years=1987–1995}}
|-
{{s-dip}}
{{s-bef|before=[[John Negroponte]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[United States Ambassador to the United Nations]]|years=2004–2005}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Anne W. Patterson|Anne Patterson]]<br>Acting}}
|-
{{s-prec|usa}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Olympia Snowe]]|as=Former US Senator}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[United States order of precedence|Order of precedence of the United States]]<br>''{{small|as Former US Senator }}''|years=}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Donald Riegle]]|as=Former US Senator}}
{{s-end}}

{{USUNambassadors}}
{{US Senate Commerce chairs}}
{{United States senators from Missouri}}
{{Special prosecutors and independent counsels of the U.S.}}
{{MOAttorneysGeneral}}
{{USCongRep-start|congresses= 94th–103rd [[United States Congress]] |state=[[Missouri]]}}
{{USCongRep/MO/94}}
{{USCongRep/MO/95}}
{{USCongRep/MO/96}}
{{USCongRep/MO/97}}
{{USCongRep/MO/98}}
{{USCongRep/MO/99}}
{{USCongRep/MO/100}}
{{USCongRep/MO/101}}
{{USCongRep/MO/102}}
{{USCongRep/MO/103}}
{{USCongRep-end}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Danforth, John}}
[[Category:1936 births]]
[[Category:American Episcopal priests]]
[[Category:Davis Polk & Wardwell lawyers]]
[[Category:Missouri attorneys general]]
[[Category:Missouri Republicans]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Lawyers from New York City]]
[[Category:Lawyers from St. Louis]]
[[Category:National Hockey League owners]]
[[Category:People from Ladue, Missouri]]
[[Category:Permanent representatives of the United States to the United Nations]]
[[Category:Politicians from St. Louis]]
[[Category:Princeton University alumni]]
[[Category:Republican Party United States senators from Missouri]]
[[Category:Special prosecutors]]
[[Category:St. Louis Blues owners]]
[[Category:Yale Divinity School alumni]]
[[Category:Yale Law School alumni]]
[[Category:Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century United States senators]]