Ashcroft returns to Jeff City for Nixon inauguration
John Ashcroft at the state Capitol with Betty Hearnes
Though the crowd itself wasn’t particularly large at today’s inaugural, the stage was packed with political luminaries from both sides of the aisle.
Among them: Former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, who served Missouri both as a U.S. senator and governor.
Ashcroft was seated next to former Missouri First Lady Betty Hearnes, who herself challenged Ashcroft for governor as the Democratic nominee in 1988.
Ashcroft was one of five former governors on stage with Gov. Jay Nixon. The others were U.S. Sen. Christopher “Kit” Bond, Roger Wilson, Bob Holden and, of course, Matt Blunt.
Former Gov. Mel Carnahan – killed in a 2000 plane crash — was represented by his widow, Jean, and children Russ, the congressman, and Robin, the Secretary of State, who was sworn in to her second term.
