FOCUS LESSON [Curriculum Standard: Power, Authority and Governance]

"A NOMINATION
STEEPED IN CONTROVERSY"

page 20 The Fight for Justice

This week’s cover story focuses on the dispute over John Ashcroft, President-elect Bush’s nominee for Attorney General. "The Fight for Justice" illuminates the character and conduct of the former Missouri governor, exploring reasons why Ashcroft’s nomination has been contested as well as supporters’ responses to the nomination challenge.

BEFORE READING
1. What does the Attorney General of the United States do? Who is the current Attorney General?

2. What happened with the nomination of Linda Chavez to be Secretary of Labor?

COMPREHENSION AND ANALYSIS
1. "The Fight for Justice" and the accompanying sidebars delineate many of the paradoxes of John Ashcroft’s personal and political life. As students read the articles, direct them to mark examples of these contradictions.

2. In a two-column chart, list arguments for and against Ashcroft’s appointment as Attorney General. Why does President-elect Bush say he picked Ashcroft? How are Bush’s sentiments echoed in quotations found throughout the articles?

3. Who is opposed to Ashcroft’s nomination, and on what grounds? What objections do civil rights organizations have to Ashcroft? How do Ashcroft and his allies respond?

4. Summarize Ashcroft’s personal background. Which factors do you feel are most relevant in predicting his behavior as Attorney General?

5. Review Ashcroft’s term as Attorney General of Missouri. Where did he stand on school desegregation and on racial issues in general?

6. Describe Ashcroft’s term as Governor of Missouri. Why did he have a difficult time becoming a state senator? What distinction does Ashcroft make between "enforcement" and "enactment"? How does this bode for his possible tenure as Attorney General of the United States?

7. Explain the Ronnie White situation and the effect it has had on various constituencies. What other issues pose challenges for Ashcroft to overcome?

8. "The strength of Ashcroft’s personal beliefs is what scares so many people and what thrills so many others." Review the article and explain this statement.

9. How many votes does Ashcroft need to be confirmed? To what extent has the tide begun to turn against him? What strategies is Ashcroft using to handle the situation?

10. Where do you think most Americans stand on Ashcroft? Where do you stand? Now that you know more about him, do you support or reject his nomination? Why? Take a vote in class.

APPLICATION AND INVESTIGATION
1. The nomination process. How do nominees become part of the President’s Cabinet? What is the procedure for selection, investigation, nomination and confirmation?

2. Controversial nominees. Look into past confirmation battles, including Supreme Court nominees Clarence Thomas and Robert Bork, Cabinet nominees John Tower and Zoë Baird, and Surgeon General nominee C. Everett Koop. Who nominated each candidate, what controversy ensued and what was the outcome?

3. The role of attorney general. Research former U.S. Attorneys General. What were they known for? Consider Robert Kennedy, John Mitchell, Janet Reno and others.

4. Defending a position. Agree or disagree in writing with Ashcroft’s 1972 statement that "it is not logical to criticize the government if you aren’t willing to do your part to improve it."