View source for 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           = [[Anne W. Patterson|Anne Patterson]] (acting)
| 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 not in use''
| 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              = {{marriage|Sally Dobson|1957}}
| children            = 5
| relatives           = [[William Henry Danforth|William Danforth]] (brother)<br>[[William H. Danforth]] (grandfather)
| education           = [[Princeton University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[Yale University]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]], [[Master of Divinity|MDiv]])
}}
'''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 |first=B. Drummond Jr |last=Ayres |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 a succession of Democrats, including [[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> [[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> and [[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> 

===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> Among 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====
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> However, Danforth wanted to continue living mainly in Missouri, where his family was still based, and formally declined to run as vice president on July 11, 2000.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-jun-14-mn-40880-story.html|title=Danforth Scratches Himself Off V.P. List|author=Associated Press|publisher=Los Angeles Times|date=July 14, 2000|accessdate=November 4, 2025}}</ref>  Bush ultimately 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}} a ''[[New York Times]]'' article which was published on July 28, 2000, also acknowledged that the decision to select Cheney as Bush's vice presidential nominee was in fact secretly made "weeks" before it was formally announced on July 25, 2025.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/07/28/us/2000-campaign-selection-gatekeeper-running-mate-cheney-s-road-candidacy.html|title=The 2000 Campaign: The Selection; Gatekeeper to Running Mate: Cheney's Road to Candidacy|publisher=New York Times|date=July 28, 2000|accessdate=November 4, 2025}}</ref> On September 6, 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 remained unresolved (as had 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> While speaking at a [[Log Cabin Republicans]] meeting on April 30, 2006, Danford publicly expressed opposition to the proposed [[Federal Marriage Amendment]] which would have barred same sex marriages in the U.S. Constitution, describing it as "silly" and comparing it to [[Prohibition]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.stlpr.org/delete1/2006-05-01/danforth-compares-same-sex-marriage-ban-to-prohibition|title=Danforth compares same-sex marriage ban to Prohibition|publisher=St. Louis Public Radio|date=May 1, 2006|accessdate=November 4, 2025}}</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, 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]

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