Kit Bond

Kit Bond – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Learn about Christopher “Kit” Bond (born March 6, 1939 – died May 13, 2025) — the American politician from Missouri who served as both governor and U.S. Senator — his major contributions, political philosophy, and memorable quotes.

Introduction

Christopher Samuel “Kit” Bond (March 6, 1939 – May 13, 2025) was a prominent American Republican politician from Missouri. Over a long career, he served two non-consecutive terms as Governor of Missouri and four terms as U.S. Senator. Known for his focus on defense, infrastructure, appropriations, and constituent-oriented projects, he was often seen as a bridge-builder between local priorities and federal resources. His legacy includes significant federal investment in Missouri, institutional leadership, and leadership in state and national Republican politics.

Early Life and Education

Bond was born in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of Elizabeth (née Green) and Arthur D. Bond. His father was captain of the 1924 Missouri Tigers football team and was a Rhodes Scholar; on his maternal side, his grandfather A. P. Green founded a major fireclay manufacturing enterprise, A.P. Green Industries.

Bond’s education:

• He graduated from Deerfield Academy in 1956.

• He then attended Princeton University, earning an A.B. from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs in 1960.

• He earned his J.D. from University of Virginia School of Law in 1963 (graduated first in his class).

• After law school, he clerked (1963–64) for Judge Elbert Tuttle of the U.S. Court of Appeals (Fifth Circuit).

• From 1964 to 1967, he practiced law with the firm Covington & Burling in Washington, D.C.

Thus, Bond combined a strong pedigree, elite education, and early legal experience before entering politics.

Political Career & Achievements

Early Offices: Auditor & Governor

Bond’s first major elected office was Missouri State Auditor (1971–1973). As auditor, he made organizational reforms, including hiring additional certified public accountants.

In 1972, at age 33, Bond ran for governor and won, becoming the youngest governor in Missouri’s history and the first Republican to hold that office after a long Democratic dominance. He served from 1973 to 1977.

He lost re-election in 1976 to Joseph P. Teasdale (a Democrat) but made a comeback in 1980, winning again and serving a second term from 1981 to 1985. His second term was marked by fiscal challenges, but he pushed for expanding Missouri’s Parents as Teachers program statewide.

He declined to run for a further term in 1984 and instead turned to federal politics.

U.S. Senate (1987–2011)

Bond was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1986, defeating Democrat Harriett Woods, and took office January 3, 1987. Over his senatorial tenure, he was re-elected in 1992, 1998, and 2004.

He announced in 2009 that he would not seek another term, retiring when his fourth Senate term ended in January 2011.

Committee roles and legislative focus:

• Bond served on the Senate Appropriations Committee, which gave him influence over federal spending and the ability to channel projects to Missouri.

• He was also a member of the Environment & Public Works, Small Business and Entrepreneurship, and Select Committee on Intelligence (serving as vice chairman).

• On issues, he supported free trade, voting in favor of NAFTA, CAFTA, and pushing for normalized trade relations with China and Vietnam.

• In debates over interrogation and intelligence, Bond opposed requirements that CIA interrogations strictly conform to Army field manuals, drawing criticism for some statements.

• On environmental matters, his record was mixed; watchdog groups sometimes criticized his votes as anti-environment.

As a senator, Bond’s legacy is strongly tied to his work in securing federal investments for Missouri infrastructure, civic projects, and local development.

Post-Senate and Later Life

After retiring from the Senate, Bond joined the law firm Thompson Coburn. He later founded Kit Bond Strategies, a consulting/advisory firm.

He also served as co-chair of the Housing Commission at the Bipartisan Policy Center.

Bond remained active in public policy, advocacy, and mentoring younger leaders in Missouri.

Bond passed away on May 13, 2025, in St. Louis, Missouri, at the age of 86.

Historical Milestones & Context

• 1939: Born March 6 in St. Louis, Missouri.

• 1963–64: Law clerk to Judge Elbert Tuttle, U.S. Court of Appeals (Fifth Circuit)

• 1971–1973: Missouri State Auditor.

• 1973–1977: First term as Governor of Missouri.

• 1981–1985: Second term as Governor of Missouri.

• 1987–2011: Served four terms in the U.S. Senate.

• 2009: Announced retirement from Senate.

• 2025: Died May 13.

His long career spanned eras of shifting U.S. politics—from Cold War to post-9/11—and he adapted to changing priorities while maintaining a strong focus on Missouri’s needs.

Legacy and Influence

Bond’s political legacy is multifaceted:

1. Federal investment for Missouri
   Through his role on appropriations, he succeeded in channeling federal dollars into Missouri infrastructure, restoration projects (such as Kansas City’s Liberty Memorial), and local development.

2. Building Republican strength in Missouri
   As a two-time Republican governor and long-serving senator, Bond helped solidify GOP institutional presence in a state that had been more Democratic in previous decades.

3. Mentorship and institutional legacy
   Colleagues have noted that Bond mentored many younger leaders and instrumental figures in Missouri politics.

4. Bridging local and national roles
   His ability to combine constituency service with national policy influence (especially in appropriations and defense) is characteristic of successful long-tenure senators.

While he had critics—some arguing that leveraging federal spending veered into “pork barrel” politics—his defenders note that many projects funded were of genuine long-term benefit to the state.

Personality, Style & Political Traits

• Pragmatic and results-driven
  Bond was less ideologue and more practitioner—focused on delivering for constituents (roads, federal grants, infrastructure) rather than partisan showmanship.

• Relationship builder
  Even when partisan tension existed, he was known for building working relationships, especially through appropriations, bipartisan committees, and local stakeholders.

• Constituent-first orientation
  His approach often prioritized local priorities, and many Missouri residents credited Bond for being accessible and attentive to local issues.

• Welcoming of institutional power
  He understood and wielded his senate roles (appropriations, committees) effectively rather than seeking the limelight alone.

• Long horizon perspective
  Bond’s projects and investments often assumed long-term benefits rather than short political gains.

Famous Quotes of Kit Bond

Here are several notable quotations attributed to Kit Bond:

“The death tax should be completely and permanently repealed now in order to make the Tax Code fairer and simpler and to eliminate the harmful drag this tax has on the economy.”

“Workers come to America to fill jobs unwanted by Americans, but they are staying and they are not going home.”

“Our ports are owned by local governments who are responsible for the ports. It is the Coast Guard and Customs that provide security. The federal government will never outsource our security.”

“As the Senator from Vermont was kind enough to note, I did have the experience of being commander in chief of our National Guard in Missouri for 8 years.”

“Reducing the budget for Amtrak makes no sense unless the Administration is prepared to implement a reform strategy which can be supported by the budget request.”

“If we don’t act now, the death tax will come back in just a few years. Under current law the death tax is phased out in 2010 but comes back in full force in 2011. That is a ridiculous and untenable policy.”

These quotes reflect recurring themes in his public rhetoric: tax reform, national security, infrastructure, and federal responsibility to local jurisdictions.

Lessons from Kit Bond

From Bond’s long public life, we can draw multiple lessons:

1. Longevity builds leverage
   A long tenure gives a legislator institutional seniority, committee clout, and the ability to channel benefits to their state.

2. Focus on tangible delivery
   Rather than rhetoric alone, Bond’s strength lay in securing physical projects, infrastructure, and funding that voters could see and use.

3. Balancing local and national
   Successful senators often must straddle the local interests of their state and broader national policy imperatives; Bond did so by combining appropriations with national issues (defense, trade).

4. Mentorship matters
   By investing in upcoming leaders and working across generations, a politician can extend influence beyond personal tenure.

5. Institutional respect
   Understanding and respecting the norms of Senate committees, appropriations rules, and internal relationships helps maintain effectiveness over time.

Conclusion

Kit Bond’s career offers a portrait of an American politician who merged the local and the national, who understood that influence in Washington often comes through institutional roles rather than speeches, and who left a tangible legacy in his state. Longtime Missourians remember his concrete contributions to infrastructure, advocacy of economic development, and his role in steering federal investment to local needs. His story is useful to anyone studying how legislators can wield real influence through workhorse roles rather than headline-grabbing maneuvers.

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