Former US Attorney General John Ashcroft, April 22

John Ashcroft, former Attorney General of the United States, will speak at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 22, in Harbach Theatre, Ford Center for the Fine Arts, Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois. The lecture is free and open to the public.

The lecture is sponsored by the Knox Republicans and the Young Americans Foundation. Maurice Harris, president of the student organization, said his student group has been working since last year to bring in a major speaker.

"We wanted to bring in a well-known figure who could spark discussion," said Harris, a senior political science major. "Being from St. Louis, I'm familiar with his accomplished background," Harris said. Ashcroft served as U.S. Attorney General from 2001 to 2005 under President George W. Bush. Ashcroft also has been a U.S. Senator, Missouri governor, attorney general and state auditor.

"Attorney General Ashcroft has extensive experience with the post 9-11 Patriot Act, prosecuting corporate fraud and re-opening civil rights cases from the past," Harris said.

Born in Chicago and reared in Missouri, Ashcroft received his bachelor's degree at Yale University and his law degree at the University of Chicago. His career in public service began as state auditor of Missouri in 1973-75, attorney general of Missouri from 1976 to 1985, Governor of Missouri from 1985 to 1993, and U.S. Senator from Missouri from 1995 to 2001. He served as Attorney General of the United States from 2001 to 2005.

Founded in 1837, Knox is a national liberal arts college in Galesburg, Illinois, with students from 45 states and 44 nations. Knox's "Old Main" is a National Historic Landmark and the only building remaining from the 1858 Lincoln-Douglas debates.

John Ashcroft