Ashcroft’s America
By: Anthony Bisconti III
On April 24, former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft will visit Lehigh to give a talk entitled “Leadership in Challenging Times.” In preparation for his arrival, it is important to understand what qualifies him to speak on this topic and what defined his tenure in the Department of Justice.
Prior to his work under the Bush Administration, Ashcroft spent a number of years rising in rank as a government official. He began his career in public service in 1973 as state auditor of Missouri. Not long after, he served two terms as the state’s Attorney General. In 1984, Ashcroft was elected Governor of Missouri. Until the end of his post as Governor in 1993, he demonstrated fiscal responsibility and excellence in education reform. He balanced eight consecutive state budgets and established a $120 million surplus, in addition to being ranked as one of the top ten education Governors by Fortune magazine. He also lead an effort to reduce illegal drug use and trafficking in his state. From 1995-2001, Ashcroft served in the U.S. Senate, where he tackled, on a national level, many of the same issues confronted in his time as Governor.
Of course, the period during which John Ashcroft gained much of his notoriety began in 2001 when President George W. Bush nominated him for the position of U.S. Attorney General. During his Senate confirmation hearings, Ashcroft’s record was scrutinized, setting the tone for the controversy that would inevitably surround his tenure. Among a number of issues that concerned many Democrats at the time were Ashcroft’s attitudes toward the death penalty, abortion, gay marriage, and gun control. Despite the opposition, Ashcroft was eventually confirmed by a vote of 58-42.
Shortly after assuming the position, Ashcroft’s place in history was defined in his response to the September 11 terrorist attacks. Consequently, he reprioritized the Justice Department to focus heavily on preventing another terrorist attack. As part of this effort, he played a key role in advocating the USA PATRIOT Act. He promoted the Patriot Act as a tool that would enable law enforcement officials to respond more quickly to potential terrorist plots by eliminating some of the red tape. Furthermore, he touted that the Act would improve communication and information-sharing between the various governmental intelligence agencies.
Controversy enveloped the passage of the Patriot Act, as many accused it of infringing on personal liberties and affording too much power to the government. Ashcroft’s steadfast support of the Patriot Act was an important factor in its initial enactment, as well as subsequent legislation that ensured its effectiveness. Under Ashcroft’s leadership, and with the help of the USA PATRIOT Act, the Department of Justice successfully disrupted over 150 terrorist plots worldwide and convicted nearly 200 individuals on terrorism-related charges.
While Ashcroft’s work was focused on national security, he also spearheaded a number of other issues. Employing the experience gained while approaching similar problems as both a Governor and a Senator, Ashcroft confronted issues such as drug use, gun crime, and racial profiling. During his time as Attorney General, violent crime dropped to its lowest point in thirty years and student drug use reached record lows. Moreover, the Justice Department enacted the first ban on racial profiling by federal law enforcement.
After serving one full term, Ashcroft resigned from his position as Attorney General, describing his own journey, and that of his colleagues at the Department of Justice, as, “one of courage, sacrifice and, ultimately, triumph against long odds.” His leadership may have been widely criticized, but he left in his wake a country that was more secure from threats, both at home and abroad. He was succeeded by former White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales.
John Ashcroft’s April 24 lecture is free and open to the public. It will be held in Packard Auditorium at 7:30pm.
