Danforth known for putting principles above parties

July 23, 2000
Web posted at: 8:29 p.m. EDT (0029 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The siege at Waco, Texas, not a shot at the United States vice-presidency, may have been uppermost on John Danforth's mind until recently. But since May he has been mulling a certain "political possibility."

Danforth, who emerged this weekend as a leading contender for the post of Texas Gov. George W. Bush's running mate, spent the last ten months heading an investigation of the FBI's 1993 assault on the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas.

But on Friday, when he released a preliminary report absolving federal agents of wrongdoing in the siege, the former Missouri Republican senator admitted at a news conference that in May "an unexpected political possibility was sort of thrust my way."

John Danforth gives a radio interview on Sunday following services at The Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion in University City, Missouri

"At that time it was clear to me that if there was any chance of that coming to pass, it would mean I would have to step down as special counsel and I did not want to step down as special counsel without taking responsibility for the work product," he said.

Employed Clarence Thomas

To many people, Danforth is best known as the senator who once employed Clarence Thomas, now a Supreme Court justice. But those who know Danforth best sometimes jokingly call him "St. Jack" -- a man of high integrity who put principle above partisan politics during his years of elective service.

In the Senate, Danforth had a reputation as a conservative-to-moderate Republican with a strong sense of personal ethics, a dislike for stridently partisan politics and a knack for finding common ground. Those qualities brought him respect from both Republicans and Democrats during his 18 years as a senator.

Danforth, 63, who served two terms as Missouri's attorney general, was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1976. He received an undergraduate degree in divinity and a law degree from Yale, and was a lawyer in New York and St. Louis before entering politics. He also is an Episcopal priest.

Danforth's election to the Senate marked the ascension of Republicans in Missouri politics. Once a strongly Democratic state, Missouri now is served by two Republican senators considered Danforth proteges -- John Ashcroft and Christopher "Kit" Bond.

He was among the most wealthy senators of his time, thanks to his family fortune in the Ralston Purina conglomerate. But it was Thomas' Supreme Court nomination hearings that introduced Danforth to many Americans.

Thomas gained recognition in Republican party politics with Danforth's help. He served as assistant attorney general to Danforth in Missouri, worked briefly as a lawyer for Monsanto Chemical Corp. on Danforth's recommendation, and joined Danforth in Washington as a staffer after the senator's election.

When then-president Bush nominated Thomas, Danforth was a staunch Senate supporter, even after Anita Hill's claims of sexual harassment against Thomas.

Called for Clinton's impeachment

Danforth again made news in 1997 and 1998, calling several times in speeches and public appearances for the impeachment of President Bill Clinton but warning against partisan politics in the impeachment process.

"It would be a very bad thing for our country if we came out of all of this and said, in effect, 'Well, it's okay to commit perjury before a grand jury, it's not all that bad,' or 'It's okay to obstruct justice,'" he said in a January 1998 interview on PBS' "NewsHour with Jim Lehrer."

But he also said the partisan atmosphere that had entered the impeachment proceedings had damaged the process.