 Prior to Symington, Danforth's seat in the Senate was held by Democratic Party heavyweights Thomas Hart Benton and Harry S. Truman.Danforth was elected in 1968 at the age of 32 to be Missouri Attorney General, the first Republican elected statewide in 40 years.On his staff of assistant attorneys general were Kit Bond, John Ashcroft, D. Brook Bartlett, and Clarence Thomas.