John Ashcroft through the years

J.R. Reed, Corporate Manager, McDonnell Douglas Corp. Missouri Governor John Ashcroft prepares for a demonstration flight in the McDonnell Douglas F-15 fighter aircraft at the company's headquarters in St. Louis, Mo."It's a marvelous piece of machiner -- the performance is awesome," said Ashcroft. Photo from September 1985.

Missouri Governor John Ashcroft opening the Show Me State Games on April 17, 1988.

Missouri Governor John Ashcroft speaks at Lincoln Days on March 6, 1987.

Former Attorney General John Ashcroft, right, is hugged by President Bush, left, on stage at the 2008 Republican Governors Association gala at the National Building Museum, Monday, Feb. 25, 2008, in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Missouri Governor John Ashcroft during Salute to Agri-Business on May 22, 1988.

Former Senator and Governor of Missouri John Ashcroft is shown as he is introduced by President-elect Bush, not shown, in Austin, Texas, Friday, Dec. 22, 2000. Civil rights groups will publicly confront Democratic senators and demand that they vote against their former Republican colleague, John Ashcroft, for attorney general, civil rights activist Jesse Jackson said Monday, Jan. 1, 2001. Ashcroft has been known for his staunch anti-abortion stand and for leading a drive to kill the nomination MissouriSupreme Court Judge Ronnie White, who is black, to the federal bench. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)