Never Again: Securing America and Restoring Justice

by John Ashcroft

In this provocative book, the most controversial attorney general in U.S. history tells the untold story behind the war on terror in post-9/11 America. In his own words, John Ashcroft shares his unique perspective on the dangers to and within America from outside forces and explains what he did to repair the serious breaches in the country's security.

Genres: Politics, Biography, Nonfiction, History

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Abram · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book started really slow for me, in fact at one point I had completely dropped it. Then one night I picked it back up in about chapter 3 and from then on I could not put it down. I believe that this is a worthy account of the days fallowing 9-11-2001 by a man intimately involved in the protection of our country. The seriousness of our situation as a country is acutely shown through the experience of this man who was very scrutinized by the majority of the Democratic party. It also depicts the unfortunate situation of the polarization of partisan politics and complete lack of common sense shown by particular members of the Senate at a time when the best interests of the country should have been put in highest priority. I think this account represents a honest view point by a man that did his best to protect the United States of America from Al Qaeda Terrorists.

[Jane McNerney · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me way too long to finish this one.

This felt like a "I'm-running-for-something-so-I'm-writing-a-book" book. But since it's so old, it'd be hard to know what John Ashcroft ended up running for. It certainly wasn't President.

I didn't know about his Senate race and I think a lot can be learned / said about his Senate election, and not challenging the results. I love how he has a farm in Missouri. I appreciated the parts about September 11 (which comprised the majority of the book).

I don't think I'd recommend it, though. Nothing too eye opening or astounding. Not so different than a normal politician's book.

[Todd Stockslager · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review title: Defending America, defending Ashcroft

John Ashcroft was Attorney General during the dark days of September 11 and its aftermath, and he takes his autobiography title from the charge given him by President Bush to protect America from a repeat of that terrorific event. The pressure was clearly intense, the challenge daunting, the situations chaotic, especially in those early days. and the results in the retrospective of the decade since astoundingly good.

From Ashcroft's narrative the results are even better than we as ordinary citizens can now because

1. we don't realize how poorly organized, staffed, and prepared America's law enforcement, military, and intelligence communities were for just such a confluence of events, despite the warning shots like the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Centers and the mounting record of terror against American targets in the middle East afterward.

2. we aren't aware of how many possible followups to September 11 have been averted by the heightened readiness since then.

While Ashcroft gives valuable insights into these topics, writing in 2006, he is limited in what he can say by his closeness to the events in both time and position. His first draft of history is therefore written in broader brush strokes than I would have liked, both to protect the intelligence aspects of the war on terror and, I suspect, protect and defend his own role in it. Which gets to my biggest hesitancy in recommending this book. From day 1 of his account, which starts with his lost reelection campaign for the U.S. Senate against his opponent tragically killed in a plane crash just weeks before the election, Ashcroft seems too defensive by half and sitting on a tripwire waiting to accuse everyone of being against him for his campaign decisions, his religious beliefs, his political stances, and maybe his choice of tie color and style on a given day.

Granted, as Ashcroft goes through his account of the bitter confirmation hearings battle, the attacks on his character for being pro-life while upholding the federal law defending abortion, and charges of both underacting and overreacting in the war on terrorism, he was certainly under intense scrutiny and faced often unfair criticism. But those were sensitive days and emotionally charged issues and periods of history; a man more confident and sure of his motives, beliefs, actions, and abilities might have been more forgiving and less defensive.

In the end though, judging Ashcroft by the outcome, he did his job better than we American citizens could have hoped, and better than anyone else might have. Near the end of Never again he makes the best statement anyone could make in defense of his actions in the war on terrorism, a statement that still rings true and resonates powerful today as American men and women in uniform remain in harm's way on battlefields across the globe:

Why should we send our young people into danger around the world in our fight against terrorism if we are going to coddle and succor terrorists in our own country? It would be a travesty if because of our lack of moral resolve and the will to won we turn our own country into a haven for terrorists that they no longer have in other lands.

Well said and well done, Mr. Ashcroft. Never again.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although a great exploration of some controversial topics, Never Again unfortunately falls a little flat. The tone of the book makes you feel that Ashcroft is still running for political office, as he never admits to anything negative about himself and works hard to show readers how amazingly sensitive and compassionate he is. The best parts of his book are the chapters on his confirmation hearing and his testimony before the 9/11 Commission. The rest of the book is mostly a belaboring of these same points, plus lengthy anecdotes about specific instances of domestic terrorism that people may not be aware of. Worth reading mostly for dispelling some of the misinformation out there regarding the Patriot Act.

[Gulo · Rating 3 out of 5]

My one takeaway quote:

"'How we've always done it' is the process of fighting the last war, which is the bane of losing generals. To experience success and victory, we must fight the next war rather than the last. If you are still fighting the last war rather than getting ready for the next, you will always be at a disadvantage, whether it is watering flowers or dealing with national security. I decided this early on at Justice: if the traditional way was the most effective way of doing something, then we'd maintain it. But if it was not functioning at optimum levels, we would be doing the country a disservice by continuing to do things 'like we've always done then.'"

- J. Ashcroft

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a few books from leaders during the events of 9/11. It is interesting to understand events from different perspectives. What we knew? What we didn't know? How we responded? Why we responded the way we did? I respect Mr. Ashcroft and his political career. He tried to do the right thing in a complicated justice system that badly needed updating. I recommend this to anyone interested in politics or history.

[Joann · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read centering on 9/11 and the subsequent war on terror. The author’s midwestern forthrightness made the account around his experience with terrorists a compelling read. I fear, though, that much of allowed 9/11 to happen has reoccurred. As he stated, the terrorists are very, very patient. And how quickly we forget.

[Mark Voreis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very insightful memoir of a good man.

[Nancy]

Very good, educational, should be required reading for all Americans.

[Tim Chavel · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Ashcroft served as attorney general of the United States from February 2001 to January 2005. Prior to his appointment, he served in the United States Senate and as the governor of Missouri. I have always like John Ashcroft. He is a very religious man and a man of integrity.

This book details the struggle to set policy after the 911 attack on our nation. Many of the programs AG Ashcroft and President Bush put into play, I think took away some of our freedoms as Americans and opened the door to future Presidents (including the current one) to take away more freedoms. I feel the AG and President had the best interest of our nation at heart but went to far to sacrifice our freedom for security. I just had a couple of quotes to share from this book:

When I was serving as the attorney general of Missouri, three other state attorneys general and I visited President Ronald Reagan at the White House. Regan was his usual affable self, when for some reason the subject turned to capital punishment. He told us that he had wrestled with the issue as governor of California, because it is such a difficult matter to end willfully another person’s life. Reagan launched into a story about an elderly couple from California who sent him a gift and a note shortly after the first capital punishment was undertaken in California. Paraphrasing the contents of the note, Reagan said it read largely like this:

Dear Governor Reagan,
I’m seventy years old. My wife and I run a small liquor store, and we want you to have this gift because you saved our lives. Two thugs came into our store, and they had me on the floor. They had taken the money out of the cash register and one man had a knife at my throat, ready to kill me. I yelled at him, “You’ll get the death penalty for doing this!” And the thug dropped the knife and ran out of the store. Thanks for saving my life.

Reagan believed the death penalty was a deterrent to murder in that case, and I agree. I’m convinced that in the long run capital punishment saves lives.

“The will to win is not the most important thing; the will to prepare to win is most important.” – Vince Lombardi

If you want to know about the inside story of 911 you will enjoy this book!

[Howard Olsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ashcroft haters should give this book a try. He is a man who believes in God, Country, and the Constitution, and lives his life accordingly. He has a courtly integrity that is appealing, but has the sense of timing of a master politician. The story of his testimony before the 9/11 Commission, where he revealed the existence of Jamie Gorelick's infamous Wall, is told with relish. Before that moment the 9/11 commission had turned into a partisan Bush-bash. Ashcroft broght it crashing down to earth by reminding Americans that the legal philosophy that led to the creation of the Wall was as dangerous as the CIA/FBI blunders that it exacerbated. Unlike some Republican AG's I could name, ashcroft is a true conservative, and unafraid to do battle with his ideological foes. He devotes a chapter to the (well-deserved) prosecution of Lynn Stewart. He also reminds the reader of his visionary "Phantoms of Lost Liberty" speech, in which he skewers the paranoia of civil rights absolutists. Warning: Ashcroft is from rural Missouri, so the cornball quotient in this book can get pretty high at times.

[Kent · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got this book at the dollar store, so it was worth the price. I like John Ashcroft, but he takes an interesting and historic time and just makes it sooo dull! He's there, in the thick of it, but there's little tension or drama in the writing.

This is a solid documentation of the man's first-hand experience, but it reads like a documentary. Short book, not too many pages, wide margins. I was disappointed.

[Juanita Pryor · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I always enjoy a good political biography, I really found John Ashcroft's details about the events surrounding 9-11 fascinating. We only hear things about our government that the media wants us to hear. It takes a variety of sources to be truly educated and understand what goes on behind the scenes. I applaud men like Ashcroft who will fight "the way things have always been done." So thankful for our public servants!

[Atchisson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A perpetual target for the Left, Ashcroft is and was a decent and loyal public servant. If those that berated him spent half that time learning about him, I'd like to believe that they would have a new appreciation for him. Instead, they would probably just find new things to mock. Don't you just love 'em?

[Corey]

After "thy kingdom come" this was a juxtapose for me mentally. I will do alot of research on this one, will be interesting to see who I become. Is this guy genuine? I want to believe in his portrayed character but he is part of the whole bush issue weve been sold. I remember thinking "holy crap" Breach was true?!!! Much more edits to my review.

[J. Ewbank · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting book. Ashcroft is a principled man adrift in a sea of others who are not. Some of the political animals are principled but not all. He was used and abused by others in his time in Washington.


This was a good book, readable and enlightening.

J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the 'Isms'"

[Andrew · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a shabby excuse for a book. It is simply bromides, with no footnotes, revelations, and very little personal insight. This is an especially poor job given the importance of the topic and the authro's education (University of Chicago School of Law) and resources (former U.S. attorney general and senator).

[Rebecca Tredway · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was reminded last night while watching Breach that I had read Ashcroft's book. Residing in Missouri when Carnahan's widow one the election, I was already a big fan of John Ashcroft. This book makes for an interesting read about some tough political moments in American history.

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A straitforward (as much as can be believed) account of the political events leading up to 9/11. I enjoyed this book so much, I bought copies for all my friends (if I haven't given you one, just ask, I got extras).

[Dave Koch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting historical insights. The first few chapters deal with Ashcroft's political races (less interesting). Later chapters get into his perspective of 9/11 as Attorney General (very interesting).

[Marcus · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is a joke. Unfortunately, however, it wasn't intended to be such.

[Joe Brunory · Rating 2 out of 5]

I listened to the audio while painting. That worked well because my mind wandered back and forth between the two boring tasks. Half genuine, a bit hokey, with a clueless remainder.

[Erika · Rating 1 out of 5]

I bought this at the dollar store. I think I got ripped off.

[Cooksonmom · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was easy to read, not necessarily a page turner, but easily read and digested. Most of the information I had already heard, but it was nice to hear the "behind the scenes" information.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

very interesting. Gives you a glimpse of behind the scenes

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting perspective from a man who lost a election to a dead man?! Read the story

[Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderfully told, I felt close to many of the situations he spoke of. I was surprised of all the attacks his team diffused to keep all American's safe form terror. Good book!