When asked to do so by Senate Democrats, Ashcroft declined to directly criticize a neo-Confederate magazine that published his statements in support of Robert E. Lee and the Confederacy, and would not rule out future speaking engagements at Bob Jones University if he is confirmed as attorney general. Ashcroft spoke at the South Carolina college's commencement ceremony in May 1999, accepting an honorary degree at a time when the university had a policy banning interracial dating. I do not endorse racial intolerance when I appear places. Ashcroft reiterated yesterday that he had not been aware of the dating policy. Had I been fighting the Civil War, I would have fought with Grant. . . .
Slavery is abhorrent.
Microsoft officials have harbored hopes that the case would be dropped under a Republican administration. Ashcroft got his first public commitment from a Democrat yesterday when Sen. Zell Miller of Georgia said he would vote to confirm Ashcroft. I believe him when he says he will live by the oath he takes to uphold and enforce the laws of this land, even those he disagrees with. It seems there are two Senator Ashcrofts, one in the Senate and one for attorney general. I have rarely seen such a dramatic change in such a short period.