John Danforth

John Claggett Danforth (born September 5, 1936) is a retired American politician. He began his career in 1968 as the Attorney General of Missouri. He served three terms as a United States Senator from Missouri. He is considered a moderate and conciliator. He has been periodically called out of retirement by both of the major political parties to fill diplomatic roles. In 2004, he served briefly as United States Ambassador to the United Nations.

The Reverend & Honorable John Danforth
24th United States Ambassador to the United Nations
In office July 1, 2004 – January 20, 2005
President	George W. Bush
Secretary-General	Kofi Annan
Preceded by	John D. Negroponte
Succeeded by	Anne Patterson (Acting)
United States Senator from Missouri
In office December 27, 1976 – January 3, 1995
Preceded by	Stuart Symington
Succeeded by	John Ashcroft
37th Attorney General of Missouri
In office January 13, 1969 – December 27, 1976
Governor	Warren E. Hearnes (1965–1973) Kit Bond (1973–1977)
Preceded by	Norman H. Anderson
Succeeded by	John Ashcroft
Personal details
Born	John Claggett Danforth (1936-09-05) September 5, 1936 (age 89) St. Louis, Missouri
Nationality	American
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Sally Dobson Danforth
Alma mater	Princeton University (B.A.) Yale Law School (J.D.) Yale Divinity School

Danforth is an ordained Episcopal priest. He presided over the state funeral of Ronald (2004) and Nancy Reagan (2016).

Family and education

Danforth was born in St. Louis, Missouri. He is the son of Dorothy (Claggett) and Donald Danforth.^[1] He is the grandson of William H. Danforth, founder of Purina Mills. His father was the CEO of its successor, Ralston Purina. Danforth's brother, Dr. William Henry Danforth, is former chancellor of Washington University in St. Louis.

Danforth attended St. Louis Country Day School for high school. He eventually went to Princeton University where he received his bachelor's degree in 1958. While in college Danforth joined Lambda Chi Alpha, a fraternity.^[2] He then attended law and divinity graduate schools at Yale University. He was employed a short time at the New York law firm Davis Polk & Wardwell.