Former AG John Ashcroft to speak on leadership April 2

Former Attorney General John Ashcroft will lecture on ?Leadership in Challenging Times? when he visits Skidmore College Wednesday, April 2.

	John Ashcroft

The talk, free and open to the public, begins at 7:30 p.m. in Gannett Auditorium of Palamountain Hall. Skidmore?s Young Republican Assembly is sponsoring the event, with support from the Young America?s Foundation. Other campus sponsors are the College?s Department of Government, First-Year Experience, and Office of Academic Affairs.

Appointed by President George W. Bush as the 79th attorney general of the United States, Ashcroft served from 2001 to 2005. He was responsible for the Justice Department?s emphasis on national security in the wake of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Ashcroft went to Washington from Missouri, where he had served as a U.S. senator (1995-2001) and as governor (1985-1993). His career in public service began in 1973 when he became Missouri?s auditor; he later served two terms at Missouri?s attorney general.

Ashcroft began his career as a teacher of business law at Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield. He is the author of a book honoring his father titled Lessons from a Father to His Son, and co-wrote multiple editions of two college law textbooks with his wife, Janet.

Tom Qualtere, president of the Skidmore Young Republican Assembly, said the group is excited about Ashcroft?s visit. ?He?s a former member of the Bush administration. We admire his contributions to recent history and support his legacy. He has a great story to tell and this visit gives us an opportunity to hear a point of view from the history maker himself.?