View source for Kit Bond

{{Short description|American politician (1939–2025)}}
{{Redirect|Senator Bond}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Kit Bond
| image               = Kit Bond official portrait.jpg
| jr/sr               = United States Senator
| state               = [[Missouri]]
| term_start          = January 3, 1987
| term_end            = January 3, 2011
| predecessor         = [[Thomas Eagleton]]
| successor           = [[Roy Blunt]]
| office1             = Chair of the [[United States Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship|Senate Small Business Committee]]
| term_start1         = January 20, 2001
| term_end1           = June 6, 2001
| predecessor1        = [[John Kerry]]
| successor1          = John Kerry
| term_start2         = January 4, 1995
| term_end2           = January 3, 2001
| predecessor2        = [[Dale Bumpers]]
| successor2          = John Kerry
| order3              = 47th and 49th [[List of governors of Missouri|Governor of Missouri]]
| lieutenant3         = [[Ken Rothman]]
| term_start3         = January 12, 1981
| term_end3           = January 14, 1985
| predecessor3        = [[Joseph P. Teasdale]]
| successor3          = [[John Ashcroft]]
| lieutenant4         = [[Bill Phelps]]
| term_start4         = January 8, 1973
| term_end4           = January 10, 1977
| predecessor4        = [[Warren E. Hearnes]]
| successor4          = Joseph P. Teasdale
| office5             = 28th [[State Auditor of Missouri|Auditor of Missouri]]
| governor5           = Warren Hearnes
| term_start5         = January 11, 1971
| term_end5           = January 8, 1973
| predecessor6        = Haskell Holman
| successor6          = [[John Ashcroft]]
| birth_name          = Christopher Samuel Bond
| birth_date          = {{birth date|1939|3|6}}
| birth_place         = [[St. Louis]], [[Missouri]], U.S.
| death_date          = {{death date and age|2025|5|13|1939|3|6}}
| death_place         = St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
| party               = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| spouse              = {{ubl |{{marriage|Carolyn Reid|1967|1994|end=div}} |{{marriage|Linda Pell|2002}}}}
| children            = 1
| relatives           = [[Arthur D. Bond]] (father)
| education           = [[Princeton University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[University of Virginia]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])
| signature           = Kitbondsignature.gif
| module              = {{Listen |pos=center |embed=yes |filename=Sen. Kit Bond Opposes Schumer and Kyl Amendments to the Energy Policy Act of 2005.ogg |title=Bond's voice |type=speech |description=Bond opposing amendments regulating [[nuclear medicine]]<br/>Recorded June 23, 2005}}
}}
'''Christopher Samuel Bond''' (March 6, 1939 – May 13, 2025) was an American attorney and politician from [[Missouri]]. A member of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]], he served as a [[United States Senate|U.S. Senator]] from 1987 to 2011, following two non-consecutive terms as the [[governor of Missouri]] from 1973 to 1977 and 1981 to 1985, and two years as [[State Auditor of Missouri]] from 1971 to 1973. His first election as governor ended a 28-year Democratic streak in that office.

Elected to the U.S. Senate in [[1986 United States Senate election in Missouri|1986]], Bond defeated [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] [[Harriett Woods]] by a margin of 53–47%. He was re-elected in [[1992 United States Senate election in Missouri|1992]], [[1998 United States Senate election in Missouri|1998]], and [[2004 United States Senate election in Missouri|2004]]. On January 8, 2009, he announced that he would not seek re-election to a fifth term in [[2010 United States Senate election in Missouri|2010]], and was succeeded by fellow Republican [[Roy Blunt]] on January 3, 2011.<ref name="bond2010">{{cite web|url=http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/01/08/Sen-Kit-Bond-of-Mo-announces-retirement/UPI-17941231455897|title=Sen. Kit Bond of Mo. announces retirement|publisher=United Press International|date=January 8, 2009|access-date=November 17, 2009}}</ref> Following his retirement from the Senate, Bond became a partner at [[Thompson Coburn]].<ref name=Carney>{{cite news |last= Carney |first= Timothy |date= January 5, 2011 |url= http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/2011/01/great-2010-cashout-kit-bond-k-street-not-selling-dc-house |title= The Great 2010 Cashout: Kit Bond to K Street, not selling D.C. house |work= Washington Examiner }}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==Early life, education, and law career==
A sixth-generation Missourian, Bond was born in [[St. Louis]] on March 6, 1939, the son of Elizabeth (née Green) and [[Arthur D. Bond]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~battle/senators/bond.htm|title=Genealogy of Christopher Samuel "Kit" Bond|work=rootsweb.com|publisher=Robert Battle|access-date=November 17, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mo-sen-bond/|title = Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond|date = October 9, 1998|work = [[CBS News]]|accessdate = May 13, 2025}}</ref> His father was captain of the 1924 [[Missouri Tigers]] [[American football|football]] team and a [[Rhodes Scholar]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Roberts |first=Sam |date=2025-05-14 |title=Christopher Bond, Former Missouri Governor and U.S. Senator, Dies at 86 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/13/us/politics/christopher-bond-dead.html |access-date=2025-05-15 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>  His maternal grandfather, A.P. Green, founded A.P. Green Industries, a [[fireclay]] manufacturer and a major employer for many years in Bond's hometown [[Mexico, Missouri]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Keller |first=Rudi |date=2025-05-13 |title=Kit Bond, former Missouri governor, U.S. Senator, dead at 86 • Missouri Independent |url=https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/13/kit-bond-former-missouri-governor-u-s-senator-dead-at-86/ |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=Missouri Independent |language=en-US}}</ref> He was the benefactor and namesake of [[A. P. Green Chapel]] at the [[University of Missouri]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Germain |first=Kate |date=2008-07-02 |title=A.P. Green Chapel |url=https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/higher_education/a-p-green-chapel/article_a994e43c-43c4-55f2-93bb-5fb9578b74fa.html |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=Columbia Missourian |language=en}}</ref>

Bond graduated from [[Deerfield Academy]] in 1956 and then attended [[Princeton University]] and graduated in 1960 with an A.B. from the [[Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Governor Christopher S. Bond |url=https://www.nga.org/governor/christopher-s-bond/ |website=National Governors Association |date=January 8, 2017 |access-date=January 10, 2022}}</ref> He completed a 162-page senior thesis that year titled "Missouri Farm Organizations and the Problems of Agriculture".<ref>{{Cite thesis|last=Bond|first=Christopher Samuel|publisher=Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs|title=Missouri Farm Organizations and the Problems of Agriculture|url=https://catalog.princeton.edu/catalog/dsp018p58pd66w|year=1960|website=Princeton University Library|access-date=May 25, 2020}}</ref> While a student at Princeton, Bond was a member of the [[Quadrangle Club]].<ref name="Quadrangle Club">{{cite web|title=Quadrangle Club|date=March 22, 2011|url=http://thetrad.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/frank-deford-princeton-eating-clubs.html|access-date=March 19, 2013}}</ref> He graduated first in his class from the [[University of Virginia School of Law]] in 1963 with a [[Juris Doctor|J.D.]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Gov. Christopher S. Bond |url=https://www.nga.org/governor/christopher-s-bond/ |website=National Governors Association |date=January 8, 2017 |access-date=January 10, 2022}}</ref>

Bond served as a law clerk (1963–64) to the Honorable [[Elbert Tuttle]], then Chief Judge on the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit]] in [[Atlanta, Georgia]]. Bond practiced law (1964–67) at [[Covington & Burling]] in [[Washington, D.C.]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/08/06/GOP-88-Personality-SpotlightNEWLNChristopher-Bond-Vice-presidential-possibility/9425586843200/|title=GOP '88 Personality Spotlight;NEWLN:Christopher Bond: Vice presidential possibility|work=UPI|access-date=May 14, 2018|language=en}}</ref>

==Early political career==
{{See also|1968 United States House of Representatives elections}}
Bond moved back to his hometown of [[Mexico, Missouri]] in the fall of 1967, and ran for Congress in 1968 in [[Missouri's 9th congressional district]], the rural northeastern part of the state. He defeated Anthony Schroeder in the August Republican [[Partisan primary|primary]], 56% to 44%, winning 19 of the district's 23 counties.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=375004|title=Ourcampaigns.com|publisher=Ourcampaigns.com|access-date=August 20, 2014}}</ref>

In the November general election, Bond came close to defeating incumbent [[U.S. Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[U.S. House of Representatives|U.S. Congressman]] [[William L. Hungate|Bill Hungate]], 48% to 52%. Bond won eight of the district's 23 [[List of counties in Missouri|counties]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=179420 |title=Ourcampaigns.com |publisher=Ourcampaigns.com |access-date=August 20, 2014}}</ref> Out of Hungate's five re-election campaigns, that 1968 election against Bond was his worst performance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=17931 |title=Ourcampaigns.com |publisher=Ourcampaigns.com |access-date=August 20, 2014}}</ref>

[[Attorney General of Missouri|State Attorney General]] [[John Danforth]] hired Bond as an Assistant Attorney General in 1969, where Bond led the office's Consumer Protection Division. In 1970, at the age of 31, Bond was elected [[Auditor of Missouri|Missouri State Auditor]], defeating seventeen-year incumbent Haskell Holman. As auditor, Bond hired seven certified public accountants to the office, which increased the total from one.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Carnahan |first=Jean |title=If walls could talk: the story of Missouri's first families |publisher=MMPI |year=1998 |isbn=978-0-9668992-0-7 |location=Jefferson City, Mo |pages=321 |language=en |quote=Once on the job. Bond assembled a professional staff, adding seven certified public accountants to the auditor’s office where there was previously only one.}}</ref>

==Governor of Missouri==
[[File:MO Governors - 47 Christopher S. Bond (1973-1977) (52976854530).jpg|left|thumb|277x277px|Bond's official photo during his first term as Governor]]
In 1972, Bond was elected governor of Missouri by a margin of 55% to 45%, making him, at 33 years of age, the youngest governor in the history of Missouri. Bond was the first Republican in 28 years to serve as governor of [[Missouri]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Lieb |first=David A. |title=GOP sources: Sen. Kit Bond to announce retirement |url=https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/state_news/gop-sources-sen-kit-bond-to-announce-retirement/article_bada5abf-7a07-561f-9710-1679cd985450.html |access-date=May 14, 2018 |work=Columbia Missourian |language=en |agency=The Associated Press}}</ref>

Bond's [[residency qualification]]s to be governor were challenged but were upheld by the [[Missouri Supreme Court]] in 1972. Missouri law said the governor had to be a resident for 10 years. In the 10 years before his run, he had attended law school in Virginia, clerked for a federal appeals court judge in Atlanta, worked for a firm in [[Washington, D.C.]], applied to take the bar in [[Virginia]] and [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], registered a car in Washington, D.C., and applied for a marriage license in [[Kentucky]]. The Court sided with him, commenting that residence "is largely a matter of intention" and did not require "actual, physical presence". The court ruled a residence was "that place where a man has his true, fixed and permanent home and principal establishment, and to which whenever he is absent he has the intention of returning."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/political-fix/article_885747ca-d093-11df-a56a-0017a4a78c22.html|title=Would Rahm pass the Kit Bond residency test?|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|access-date=May 7, 2017|date=October 5, 2010 |first=Jake|last=Wagman}}</ref>

In many ways, Bond governed as a [[moderate]] during his first term as governor: for example, he drew criticism from [[conservative]]s for his support of the [[Equal Rights Amendment]]. On June 25, 1976, he signed an [[Executive order (United States)|executive order]] rescinding the [[Extermination Order (Mormonism)|Extermination Order]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2018/09/01/missouri-executive-order-44-mormon-war/1147461002//|title=Was there ever a time in Missouri when you could legally kill a Mormon?|work=Springfield News-Leader|access-date=January 28, 2025|language=en}}</ref> against [[Mormons]] issued by Governor [[Lilburn Boggs]] on October 27, 1838.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2004/04/07/160-years-later-illinois-ready-to-offer-mormons-an-apology/|title=160 years later, Illinois ready to offer Mormons an apology|work=tribunedigital-chicagotribune|access-date=May 14, 2018|language=en}}</ref>

During the [[1976 United States presidential election]], Bond endorsed [[Gerald Ford]] over [[Ronald Reagan]] in the [[1976 Republican Party presidential primaries|Republican primaries]], a move which drew the ire of some Missouri Republicans.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Carnahan |first=Jean |title=If walls could talk: the story of Missouri's first families |publisher=MMPI |year=1998 |isbn=978-0-9668992-0-7 |location=Jefferson City, Mo |pages=331 |language=en |quote=To begin with, he antagonized Missouri’s Republican leaders by endorsing Vice President Gerald Ford for the presidency against Ronald Reagan.}}</ref> Bond was on the short list to be Ford’s vice-presidential [[running mate]].<ref>{{cite news |date=May 12, 2008 |title=Senators say whether they'd agree to be vice president |url=http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/senators-say-whether-theyd-agree-to-be-vice-president-2008-05-12.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517001022/http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/senators-say-whether-theyd-agree-to-be-vice-president-2008-05-12.html |archive-date=May 17, 2008 |access-date=May 7, 2017 |newspaper=The Hill |quote=had the pleasure of being on Gerald Ford's short list in '76}}</ref>

In [[1976 Missouri gubernatorial election|1976]], Bond faced [[Jackson County, Missouri|Jackson County]] Prosecutor [[Joseph P. Teasdale]]. Bond appeared the heavy favorite, and at least one poll showed Bond ahead of Teasdale 51 percent to 36 percent.<ref>{{Cite book |title=A history of Missouri. 6: 1953 to 2003 / Lawrence H. Larsen |publisher=Univ. of Miss. Pr |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-8262-1546-8 |location=Columbia, Miss |pages=136 |language=en |quote=On his second try Teasdale easily won the Democratic nomination, which at the time appeared an empty honor. In September a poll of registered voters had Bond holding a 51 to 36 percent lead, with only 13 percent undecided.}}</ref> However, Teasdale attacked Bond over utility rates and launched an ad blitz attacking Bond, vastly outspending him in the last few weeks.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ganey |first=Terry |date=1976-11-07 |title=Teasdale Victory: Last minute blitzes turned the tide |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ozUjAAAAIBAJ&dq=george+lehr+governor&pg=PA2&article_id=1609,681871 |access-date=2024-08-29 |work=The Southeast Missourian |pages=2}}</ref> Teasdale would defeat Bond by a little over 13,000 votes. Bond would later say of his loss: "I didn't answer his negative attacks and instead I tried to talk about the 50 good things we had accomplished. And the voters ... gave me four years to think about it."<ref name=":1" /> Afterwards, Bond returned to practicing law, setting up the Great Plains Legal Foundation, a group which fought agriculture regulations.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Koenig |first=Rob |date=2010-12-29 |title=Kit Bond: A groundbreaking career in Missouri politics |url=https://www.stlpr.org/politics-issues/2010-12-28/kit-bond-a-groundbreaking-career-in-missouri-politics |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231118235322/https://www.stlpr.org/politics-issues/2010-12-28/kit-bond-a-groundbreaking-career-in-missouri-politics |archive-date=2023-11-18 |access-date=2023-11-18 |website=STLPR |language=en}}</ref>

In [[1980 Missouri gubernatorial election|1980]], Bond made a successful comeback, defeating fellow Republican and incumbent Lieutenant Governor [[Bill Phelps]] in the primary, and Teasdale in November. His second term was plagued by budget issues, with the Missouri commissioner of administration Stephen Bradford telling Bond during the transition period: "Governor, I'm sorry to tell you this, but there's no money."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Beyle |first=Thad L. |title=Gubernatorial Transitions : the 1983 and 1984 Elections |publisher=Duke University Press |year=1989 |isbn=0822308584 |location=Durham, NC |pages=81 |language=en}}</ref> Among Bond's most noted accomplishments was helping take the Parents As Teachers program statewide.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/state-and-regional/missouri/parents-as-teachers-faces-missouri-cuts-in-its-model-state/article_a1eca2f0-a747-556b-8860-caf2c961c3fe.html|title=Parents as Teachers faces Missouri cuts in its model state|first=Nancy|last=Cambria|work=stltoday.com|access-date=May 14, 2018|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://themissouritimes.com/17033/bond-joins-federal-lobbying-effort-parents-teachers/|title=Bond joins federal lobbying effort for Parents as Teachers|date=March 10, 2015|work=The Missouri Times|access-date=May 14, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> Bond served as the Chairman of the [[Midwestern Governors Association]] in 1983.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Past Chairs' Agendas |url=https://midwesterngovernors.org/past-chairs-agendas-2/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=Midwestern Governors Association |language=en-US}}</ref> In [[1984 Missouri gubernatorial election|1984]], Bond chose not to seek re-election to a third term as Governor and was succeeded as governor on January 14, 1985, by [[John Ashcroft]], a Republican who Bond had appointed to complete his unexpired term as [[State Auditor of Missouri|State Auditor]] after he was elected governor. Ashcroft later served alongside Bond in the U.S. Senate.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2002/04/15/ashcrofts-ascent|magazine=[[The New Yorker]]|title=Ashcroft's Ascent|date=April 15, 2002|access-date=May 7, 2017|first=Jeffrey|last=Toobin}}</ref>[[File:Portrait of Christopher S Bond.jpg|thumb|Bond in 1981]]

==U.S. Senate==
===Elections===
After Senator [[Thomas Eagleton]] decided not to run for re-election, Bond was elected senator in [[1986 United States Senate election in Missouri|1986]], defeating Lieutenant Governor [[Harriett Woods]] by 53% to 47%.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Jr |first=E. J. Dionne |date=1986-11-05 |title=Electopms; Democrats Gain Control of Senate, Drawing Votes of Reagan's Backers; Cuomo and D'Amato Are Easy Victors; What Awaits Congress; Broad G.O.P. Losses |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/11/05/us/elections-democrats-gain-control-senate-drawing-votes-reagan-s-backers-cuomo-d.html |access-date=2025-05-15 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Bond was re-elected in [[1992 United States Senate election in Missouri|1992]] defeating St. Louis County Councilwoman Geri Rothman-Serot, ex-wife of former Lieutenant Governor [[Ken Rothman]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1992election.pdf | title=Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional election of November 3, 1992 | author = [[Clerk of the United States House of Representatives|Clerk of the House of Representatives]] | date=1993 | publisher=[[United States Government Publishing Office|U.S. Government Printing Office]]}}</ref> In [[1998 United States Senate election in Missouri|1998]] Bond decisively defeated [[Missouri Attorney General|Attorney General]] (and future Governor) [[Jay Nixon]] and [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]] [[Tamara Millay]] after a hard-fought campaign,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Glaberson |first=William |date=1998-11-05 |title=The 1998 Elections: State by State -- Midwest; Missouri |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/11/05/us/the-1998-elections-state-by-state-midwest-missouri.html |access-date=2025-05-15 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> and in [[2004 United States Senate election in Missouri|2004]] he won re-election over Democratic challenger [[State Treasurer of Missouri|State Treasurer]] [[Nancy Farmer (politician)|Nancy Farmer]] with 56 percent of the vote.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2004 ELECTION STATISTICS |url=https://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2004/2004Stat.htm |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=clerk.house.gov}}</ref>

Facing the expiration of his fourth full term in January 2011, Bond announced on January 8, 2009, that he did not plan to seek a fifth term and would not run for re-election in [[2010 United States Senate election in Missouri|November 2010]].<ref name="bond2010"/> Representative [[Roy Blunt]] held the seat for the Republicans, defeating Democratic Secretary of State [[Robin Carnahan]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/02/AR2010110207558.html|title=Missouri election results 2010: Robin Carnahan defeated by Roy Blunt|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=November 3, 2010|access-date=May 14, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286}}</ref>

===Tenure===
====Environmental record====
The [[environmentalism|environmental]] watchdog group [[Republicans for Environmental Protection]] (REP) gave Bond an exceptionally low rating of −2 for the [[109th United States Congress]], citing anti-environment votes on seven out of seven issues deemed critical by the organization. According to the 2006 REP scorecard, Bond supported [[oil drilling]] both [[offshore drilling|offshore]] and in the [[Arctic National Wildlife Refuge]], while opposing a bill for "efficiency and [[renewable energy|renewable-resource]] programs to improve energy security, lower costs, and reduce energy-related environmental impacts".<ref>[http://www.rep.org/2006_scorecard.pdf Republicans for Environmental Protection 2006 Scorecard] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070615183627/http://www.rep.org/2006_scorecard.pdf|date=June 15, 2007}}</ref> He indicated support for zero-carbon energy from [[nuclear power]] in a 2008 Senate floor speech.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Yucca Mountain Bill Introduced |url=https://www.epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2008/1/post-ac12979d-802a-23ad-400c-40c241278a64 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002135514/https://www.epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2008/1/post-ac12979d-802a-23ad-400c-40c241278a64 |archive-date=2022-10-02 |access-date=2023-11-18 |website=U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works |language=en}}</ref>

====Taxes====
Commenting on an [[IRS]] spokesman's claim that a person catching a record-breaking home run ball from [[Mark McGwire]] could be "responsible for paying any applicable tax on any large gift", which was thought to be close to $140,000 in this circumstance, Bond said: "If the IRS wants to know why they are the most hated federal agency in America, they need look no further than this."<ref>{{cite book|author=James Bovard|author-link=James Bovard|year=2000|title=Feeling Your Pain: The Explosion and Abuse Of Government Power in the Clinton-Gore Years|url=https://archive.org/details/feelingyourpaine00bova|url-access=registration|publisher=St. Martin's Press|location=New York|page=[https://archive.org/details/feelingyourpaine00bova/page/38 38]|isbn=978-0312230821}}</ref>

====Torture====
Bond opposed setting forth interrogation methods used by the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] to conform to the [[United States Army Field Manuals|U.S. Army Field Manual]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/foreign-policy/22396-let-congress-limit-permissible-interrogation-techniques-sen-kit-bond/ |title=Let Congress Limit Permissible Interrogation Techniques |first=Kit |last=Bond |newspaper=The Hill |date=January 15, 2009 |quote=unworkable is the right way to describe proposals limiting interrogation techniques to those listed in the publicly available U.S. Army's Field Manual |access-date=March 3, 2019 }}</ref> While drawing criticism for being one of only nine senators to oppose such a bill, Bond said on the floor that he does not favor or approve of [[torture]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2008-05-09 |title=Senator: Ban torture but give CIA leeway |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna24530188 |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=www.nbcnews.com |language=en}}</ref>

In a memo to [[Director of the Central Intelligence Agency|CIA director]] [[John Brennan (CIA officer)|John Brennan]] and others, he suggested banning specific techniques that could be considered torture in order to encourage servicemen to invent others on their own.<ref name=":3" /> He does not approve of making interrogation techniques public information on the basis that it would allow enemy combatants to train and prepare themselves for what they might go through if captured. He drew criticism when, during a debate he made a comment comparing [[waterboarding]] to swimming, stating "There are different ways of doing it. It's like swimming, freestyle, backstroke", in response to the question "do you think that waterboarding... constitutes [[torture]]?"<ref>[https://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/july-dec07/ciatapes_12-11.html Lawmakers Mull CIA Tape Probe] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120625063601/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/july-dec07/ciatapes_12-11.html |date=June 25, 2012 }}, pbs.org,  December 11, 2007.</ref>

====Free trade====
[[File:Senator Kit Bond joins President George H. W. Bush in the White House conference room.jpg|thumb|300x300px|Bond with President [[George H. W. Bush|George H.W. Bush]]]]
Bond was a great supporter of expanding free trade to the developing world, and he believed in giving presidential authority to fasttrack trade relations.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Kit Bond on the Issues |url=https://ontheissues.org/Senate/Kit_Bond.htm?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=ontheissues.org}}</ref> He voted for the [[North American Free Trade Agreement]] (NAFTA)<ref>{{Cite web |title=H.R. 3450 (103rd): North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act -- Senate Vote #395 -- Nov. 20, 1993 |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/103-1993/s395 |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=GovTrack.us |language=en}}</ref> and the [[Central America Free Trade Agreement]] (CAFTA)<ref>{{Cite web |title=S. 1307 (109th): Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement … -- Senate Vote #170 -- June 30, 2005 |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/109-2005/s170 |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=GovTrack.us |language=en}}</ref> and believed in permanently normalizing trade relations with the People's Republic of China and Vietnam.<ref name=":4" />

====Government reform====
While Bond voted in favor in banning members of Congress from receiving gifts from lobbyists,<ref name=":2" /> he generally opposed campaign reform. He voted against the [[Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act|McCain-Feingold Act]] for bipartisan campaign finance solutions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 107th Congress - 2nd Session |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1072/vote_107_2_00054.htm |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=www.senate.gov}}</ref> Bond also voted against limiting contributions from corporations or labor.<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 107th Congress - 1st Session |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1071/vote_107_1_00064.htm?congress=107&session=1&vote=00064 |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=www.senate.gov}}</ref>

====Social issues====
Bond received an 11% rating from the [[NAACP]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ontheissues.org/Domestic/Kit_Bond_Civil_Rights.htm|title=Kit Bond on Civil Rights|work=ontheissues.org |publisher=[[On the Issues]]|access-date=November 11, 2009}}</ref> He voted consistently against [[same-sex marriage]], supporting the [[Federal Marriage Amendment|proposed constitutional ban of it]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Kit Bond on Civil Rights |url=https://www.ontheissues.org/Domestic/Kit_Bond_Civil_Rights.htm |website=ontheissues.org |access-date=February 19, 2020}}</ref>

On June 25, 1976, Bond officially ordered the recension of Executive Order Number 44 issued by [[Lilburn W. Boggs]] in 1838 that ordered the expulsion or extermination of all [[Mormons]] from the State of Missouri and issued an apology to Mormons on behalf of all Missourians.<ref>{{cite web|last=Walley|first=Katie|url=http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2007/07/28/growing-mormon-church|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090108165340/http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2007/07/28/growing-mormon-church/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 8, 2009|title=The growing Mormon church|publisher=Columbia Missourian|access-date=August 29, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://bransonmissouri.missourinetizen.com/2008/09/mormon-massacre-and-apology.html|title=Branson Missouri: Mormon Massacre and Apology|publisher=Bransonmissouri.missourinetizen.com|date=September 16, 2008|access-date=August 29, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110224165530/http://bransonmissouri.missourinetizen.com/2008/09/mormon-massacre-and-apology.html|archive-date=February 24, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

As governor of the state of Missouri in 1983, Bond signed a declaration of recognition in support of the group known as the Northern Cherokee, now called the [[Northern Cherokee Nation of the Old Louisiana Territory]] attempting to grant a form of State recognition by way of executive order. This act was part of the group's attempt to gain [[Native American recognition in the United States|Federal Recognition]] and to receive the related benefits for the group.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b0lM1PN6WmEC|title=The Trail of Tears across Missouri|last=Gilbert|first=Joan|year=1996|publisher=The Curators of the University of Missouri|location=Columbia|isbn=0826210635|page=100|access-date=November 17, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.angelfire.com/mo2/ncnolt/Missouri_Bond.html|title=Proclamation: Office of the Governor State of Missouri|last1=Bond|first1=Christopher S.|date=June 22, 1983|work=[[Angelfire]]|publisher=ncolt|access-date=November 17, 2009}}</ref><ref>Federalism and the State Recognition of Native American Tribes:  A Survey of State-Recognized Tribes and State Recognition Processes Across the United States By Alexa Koenig and Jonathan Stein, pp. 60–64</ref>

====Dismissal of U.S. attorneys controversy====
{{Main|2006 dismissal of U.S. attorneys}}
In October 2008, Bond apologized to former U.S. Attorney [[Todd Graves (attorney)|Todd Graves]], after a [[U.S. Justice Department]] report cited Bond for forcing Graves out over a disagreement with Representative [[Sam Graves]]. Following the report, Attorney General [[Michael Mukasey]] appointed a special prosecutor to investigate whether former Attorney General [[Alberto Gonzales]] and other officials involved in the firings of nine U.S. attorneys broke the law. [[Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington]] (CREW), a progressive activist group, filed an [[United States House Committee on Ethics|Ethics Committee]] complaint against Bond over his role in the ouster of Graves.<ref>{{cite news|title=Group files ethics complaint against Bond|url=http://primebuzz.kcstar.com/?q=node/14724|newspaper=[[Kansas City Star]]|date=September 29, 2008|access-date=May 17, 2007}}</ref>

In 2009, it was revealed according to White House documents that Graves was put on a dismissal list a month after White House e-mail indicated that his replacement was part of a deal between Bond and the Bush administration.<ref name=Johnson2009>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/11/AR2009081102104_2.html|title=Documents Detail Campaign to Oust U.S. Attorney|last=Johnson|first=Carrie|date=August 11, 2009|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=August 11, 2009}}</ref> The e-mail suggested that Graves was replaced with a candidate favored by Bond to clear the way for an appointment of a federal judge from Arkansas on the [[8th Circuit Court of Appeals]].<ref name=Johnson2009/>

===Committee assignments===
{{Refimprove|section|date=May 2025}}
*'''[[United States Senate Committee on Appropriations|Committee on Appropriations]]'''
**[[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies|Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies]]
**[[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense|Subcommittee on Defense]]
**[[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development|Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development]]
**[[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government|Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government]]
**[[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs|Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs]]
**[[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies|Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies]] (Ranking Member)
*'''[[United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works|Committee on Environment and Public Works]]'''
**[[United States Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety|Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety]]
**[[United States Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Green Jobs and the New Economy|Subcommittee on Green Jobs and the New Economy]] (Ranking Member)
**[[United States Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Superfund, Toxics and Environmental Health|Subcommittee on Superfund, Toxics and Environmental Health]]
*'''[[United States Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship|Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship]]'''
*'''[[United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence|Select Committee on Intelligence]]''' (Vice Chairman)

==Post-government career==
After leaving office in January 2011, Bond joined the law firm of [[Thompson Coburn]].<ref name=Carney/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_1602bbee-1277-5d83-894a-ed05a4cdb16a.html |title=Bond joins St. Louis-based law firm Thompson Coburn|newspaper=St. Louis Post Dispatch|date=January 4, 2011|access-date=November 18, 2011}}</ref>

Bond served as a co-chair of the Housing Commission at the [[Bipartisan Policy Center]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bipartisanpolicy.org/projects/housing |title=Housing Commission|publisher=Bipartisan Policy Center|work=bipartisanpolicy.org|access-date=November 18, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111031115517/http://www.bipartisanpolicy.org/projects/housing|archive-date=October 31, 2011}}</ref>

In August 2011, Bond announced that he would join [[alliantgroup]]'s strategic advisory board and serve as a senior adviser for the firm.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2011/08/25/kit-bond-joins-alliantgroup-as-adviser.html|title=Kit Bond joins alliantgroup as adviser |newspaper=St. Louis Business Journal|date=August 25, 2011|access-date=November 18, 2011}}</ref>

Bond formally launched his own firm, Kit Bond Strategies, in November 2011.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://kitbondstrategies.com/pressreleasenov11.htm|title=Senator Bond Launches Kit Bond Strategies|publisher=Kit Bond Strategies|date=November 8, 2011|access-date=November 18, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425231957/http://kitbondstrategies.com/pressreleasenov11.htm|archive-date=April 25, 2012}}</ref>

==Missouri Apollo 17 goodwill Moon rock==
In the last few days of his long political career, Bond and his staff solved a mystery that had intrigued the press, Missouri politicians, and members of academia for much of 2010. Missouri state officials had wrongly believed that the state museum held a rare and valuable [[Missouri lunar sample displays|Apollo 17 lunar sample display]] containing a "goodwill Moon rock". On June 8, 2010, the state realized that what they actually had was only the [[Missouri lunar sample displays|Missouri Apollo 11 lunar sample display]] containing small samples of Moon dust rather than the $5-million piece of Apollo 17 history.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2010/jul/08/moon-rock-discovery-a-false-alarm/|title=Moon Rocks discovery a false alarm: Apollo 17 keepsake still missing after all|work=Columbia Daily Tribune|author=Janese Silvey|date=July 8, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321165650/http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2010/jul/08/moon-rock-discovery-a-false-alarm/|archive-date=March 21, 2012}}</ref><ref>[http://enewscourier.com/features/x1907083364/Missouri-State-Museum-doesn-t-have-Apollo-17-rock "Missouri State Museum Doesn't Have Apollo 17 Rock"] Associated Press (The News Courier), July 9, 2010. {{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
In cleaning out his senatorial office in December 2010, it was discovered that Bond had inadvertently taken the Apollo 17 display when he had left the governor's office. He subsequently returned the display to the governor of Missouri at the time, [[Jay Nixon]], who passed it on to the [[Missouri State Museum]]. Bond was one of four former governors who had taken their states' lunar sample displays upon leaving office; the other three were the former governors of [[Colorado]], [[West Virginia]], and [[Arkansas]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2010/dec/23/missing-moon-rock-uncovered/|title=Moon Rock found in Kit Bond's Office|work=Columbia Daily Tribune|author=Janese Silvey|date=December 23, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121212024400/http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2010/dec/23/missing-moon-rock-uncovered/|archive-date=December 12, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2010/dec/23/bc-mo-missouri-moon-rock1st-ld-writethru/?business&texas|title=Missing moon rock from Apollo 17 back in Missouri|work=Victoria Advocate|author=Jim Salter (Associated Press)|date=December 23, 2010|access-date=December 26, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721180557/http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2010/dec/23/bc-mo-missouri-moon-rock1st-ld-writethru/?business&texas|archive-date=July 21, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Bond's son Sam graduated in 2003 from Princeton University, after which he became an officer in the [[United States Marine Corps]] and served multiple tours of duty in [[Iraq War|Iraq]].<ref name="sampu" /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/a-proud-senator-bond-bond_b_16969 |title=A Proud Senator Bond Bonds With His Son |date=March 8, 2006 |work=[[HuffPost]] |first=Al |last=Eisele |access-date=October 15, 2022 }}</ref> Sam later entered a career in business.<ref name="sampu">{{cite magazine |url=https://paw.princeton.edu/article/marine-veteran-sam-bond-03-applies-leadership-lessons-business |title=Marine Veteran Sam Bond '03 Applies Leadership Lessons in Business |date=July 19, 2017 |magazine=[[Princeton Alumni Weekly]] |first=Alfred |last=Miller |access-date=October 15, 2022 }}</ref>

In 1994, Bond's wife, Carolyn, filed for a divorce, which was finalized the following year.<ref name=":2" /> Bond married Linda Pell, now Linda Bond, in 2002. She grew up in the [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]] suburb of [[Gladstone, Missouri|Gladstone]] and is a partner of a fundraising firm that supports Republican organizations. She and Bond had dated in the late 1990s then again a few years later before they were engaged. It was her second marriage as well.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://qconline.com/news/elections/senatorial-wife-linda-bond-is-a-political-player-in-her-own-right/article_85b4be5e-9ffa-5790-b328-c77895d1c56a.html |title=Senatorial wife Linda Bond is a political player in her own right |date=March 12, 2008 |newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |first=Deirdre |last=Shesgreen |access-date=October 16, 2022 |via=[[The Dispatch / The Rock Island Argus]] }}</ref>

After winning his second term as governor, Bond sued his investment manager and [[Paine Webber]], alleging his $1.3 million [[trust (law)|trust fund]] had been drained. He was one of several clients who sued, and he settled in 1996 for $900,000.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/05/14/us/senator-sues-over-lost-trust-fund.html|title=Senator Sues Over Lost Trust Fund|last=Krauss|first=Clifford|date=May 14, 1993|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 7, 2017|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/141986870|title=St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri on October 3, 1998 (pg. 6)|work=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 7, 2017}}</ref>

In 2009, Bond co-authored a book with [[Lewis Simons]] entitled ''The Next Front: Southeast Asia and the Road to Global Peace with Islam''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/click/stories/0910/bonds_book_not_meant_for_rednecks.html |title=Bond: My book's not 'for rednecks' |date=October 7, 2009 |work=Politico |first=Amie |last=Parnes |access-date=April 13, 2021 }}</ref>

Bond had permanent [[vision loss]] in one eye, which he attributed to undiagnosed [[amblyopia]] during childhood.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.aoa.org/x5387.xml|title=Senator Bond uses personal experience and guidance from AOA to develop legislation to boost state learning initiatives|publisher=American Optometric Association|date=July 19, 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060918021212/http://www.aoa.org/x5387.xml|archive-date=September 18, 2006}}</ref>

Bond died in St. Louis on May 13, 2025, at the age of 86.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Kehoe|first=Mike|date=May 13, 2025 |title=Governor Kehoe Statement on the Passing of Former U.S. Senator and Governor Christopher S. "Kit" Bond |url=https://governor.mo.gov/press-releases/archive/governor-kehoe-statement-passing-former-us-senator-and-governor-christopher |website=[[Governor of Missouri]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Former Missouri Governor & Senator Christopher 'Kit' Bond dies |url=https://www.ky3.com/2025/05/13/former-missouri-governor-senator-christopher-kit-bond-dies/ |date=May 13, 2025 |website=KY3 |access-date=May 13, 2025}}</ref>

==Places named after==
*[[Christopher S. Bond Bridge (Hermann, Missouri)]]
*[[Christopher S. Bond Bridge, Kansas City]]
*Christopher S. Bond United States Courthouse, Jefferson City<ref>{{Cite web |title=About the Christopher S. Bond U.S. Court House {{!}} Western District of Missouri |url=https://www.mow.uscourts.gov/outreach/bond_courthouse |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=www.mow.uscourts.gov}}</ref>
*Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center&nbsp;– University of Missouri (Columbia), Columbia, Missouri<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025 |title=About |url=https://bondlsc.missouri.edu/about-2/ |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=Bond Life Sciences Center |language=en}}</ref>
*Christopher S. "Kit" Bond Science and Technology Incubator&nbsp;– [[Missouri Western State University]], St. Joseph, Missouri<ref>[https://www.missouriwestern.edu/incubator Christopher S. "Kit" Bond Science and Technology Incubator], missouriwestern.edu; accessed December 25, 2016.</ref>
* Kit Bond Visitor Center (USACE project office) [[Stockton, Missouri]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=S. B. J. |date=2005-09-12 |title=Stockton Lake opens new visitors' center |url=https://sbj.net/stories/stockton-lake-opens-new-visitors-center,39640 |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=Springfield Business Journal |language=en}}</ref>

==Electoral history==
{{Refimprove|section|date=May 2025}}
After over 40 years in politics, Senator Bond announced on January 8, 2009, that he would not seek re-election in 2010.<ref>[http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0109/17213.html Bond will not seek another term], politico.com, January 8, 2009.</ref> Results of elections in which he was a candidate are summarized as follows:

=== Governor of Missouri ===
{{Election box begin | title='''[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 1972]]'''}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Kit Bond
  |votes      = 1,029,451
  |percentage = 55.18
  |change     = +15.98
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link||party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Edward L. Dowd|votes=832,751|percentage=44.64|change=-16.16}}
{{Election box candidate|
  |party      = [[Nonpartisanism|Nonpartisan]]
  |candidate  = Paul J. Leonard
  |votes      = 3,481
  |percentage = 0.19
  |change     = +0.19
}}
{{Election box majority||votes=196,700|percentage=10.54|change=-11.06}}
{{Election box turnout||votes=1,865,683|percentage=39.89|change=-0.96}}
{{Election box gain with party link|
  |winner     = Republican Party (United States)
  |loser      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |swing      = 
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title= [[Missouri gubernatorial election, 1976]]}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = [[Joseph P. Teasdale]]
  |votes      = 971,184
  |percentage = 50.23%
  |change     = +5.59%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link||party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Kit Bond ([[incumbent]])|votes=958,110|percentage=49.55%|change=-5.63%}}
{{Election box candidate|
  |party      = [[Nonpartisanism|Nonpartisan]]
  |candidate  = Leon Striler
  |votes      = 4,215
  |percentage = 0.22%
  |change     = +0.03%
}}
{{Election box candidate|
  |party      = N/A
  |candidate  = write-ins
  |votes      = 46
  |percentage = 0.00%
  |change     = ±0.00%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link||party=Socialist Workers Party (United States)|candidate=Helen Savio|votes=20|percentage=0.00%|change=±0.00%}}
{{Election box majority||votes=13,074|percentage=0.68%|change=-9.86%}}
{{Election box turnout||votes=1,933,575|percentage=41.34%|change=+1.45%}}
{{Election box gain with party link|
  |winner     = Democratic Party (United States)
  |loser      = Republican Party (United States)
  |swing      = 
}}
{{Election box end}}{{Election box begin | title='''[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 1980]]'''}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Kit Bond
  |votes      = 1,098,950
  |percentage = 52.63%
  |change     = {{increase}}3.08
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link||party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=[[Joseph P. Teasdale]] ([[incumbent]])|votes=981,884|percentage=47.02%|change={{decrease}}3.21}}
{{Election box candidate with party link||party=Socialist Workers Party (United States)|candidate=Helen Savio|votes=7,193|percentage=0.34%|change={{increase}}0.34}}
{{Election box majority||votes=117,066|percentage=5.61|change=+4.93}}
{{Election box turnout||votes=2,088,027|percentage=42.47|change=+1.13}}
{{Election box gain with party link|
  |winner     = Republican Party (United States)
  |loser      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |swing      = 
}}
{{Election box end}}

===U.S. Senator===
{{Election box begin no change
 | title='''[[United States Senate election in Missouri, 1986]]'''}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
 | party = Republican Party (United States)
 | candidate = Kit Bond
 | votes = 777,612
 | percentage = 52.64%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 | party = Democratic Party (United States)
 | candidate = Harriett Woods
 | votes = 699,624
 | percentage = 47.36%
}}
{{Election box majority no change|
  |votes      = 77,988
  |percentage = 5.28%
}}
{{Election box turnout no change|
  |votes      = 1,477,236
  |percentage =
}}
{{Election box gain with party link no change
 | winner     = Republican Party (United States)
 | loser      = Democratic Party (United States)
 | swing      = 
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change
 | title = '''[[1992 United States Senate election in Missouri]]'''}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
 | party = Republican Party (United States)
 | candidate = Kit Bond (incumbent)
 | votes = 1,221,901
 | percentage = 51.89%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 | party = Democratic Party (United States)
 | candidate = Geri Rothman-Serot
 | votes = 1,057,967
 | percentage = 44.93%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 | party = Libertarian Party (United States)
 | candidate = Jeanne Bojarski
 | votes = 75,048
 | percentage = 3.19%
}}
{{Election box majority no change|
  |votes      = 163,934
  |percentage = 6.96%
}}
{{Election box turnout no change|
  |votes      = 2,354,916
  |percentage =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
 | winner     = Republican Party (United States)
 | loser       = 
 | swing       = 
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change| title='''[[1998 United States Senate election in Missouri]]'''}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
 |party = Republican Party (United States)
 |candidate = Kit Bond (incumbent)
 |votes = 830,625
 |percentage = 52.68%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
 |party = Democratic Party (United States)
 |candidate = Jay Nixon
 |votes = 690,208
 |percentage = 43.77%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
 |party = Libertarian Party (United States)
 |candidate = Tamara Millay
 |votes = 31,876
 |percentage = 2.02%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
 |party = Constitution Party (United States)
 |candidate = Curtis Frazier
 |votes = 15,368
 |percentage = 0.98%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
 |party = Reform Party (United States)
 |candidate = James Newport
 |votes = 8,780
 |percentage = 0.56%
}}
{{Election box majority no change|
  |votes      = 140,417
  |percentage = 8.90%
}}
{{Election box turnout no change|
  |votes      = 1,576,857
  |percentage =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link without swing
 | winner     = Republican Party (US)
 | loser      = 
 | swing      = 
}}
{{Election box end}}{{Election box begin
 | title      = [[2004 United States Senate election in Missouri]]}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
 | party      = Republican Party (United States)
 | candidate  = Kit Bond (Incumbent)
 | votes      = 1,518,089
 | percentage = 56.09%
 | change     = +3.42%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Nancy Farmer|votes=1,158,261|percentage=42.80%|change=-0.97%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Libertarian Party (United States)|candidate=Kevin Tull|votes=19,648|percentage=0.73%|change=-1.30%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Constitution Party (United States)|candidate=Don Griffin|votes=10,404|percentage=0.38%|change=}}
{{Election box majority|votes=359,828|percentage=13.30%|change=+4.39%}}
{{Election box turnout|votes=2,706,402|percentage=|change=}}
{{Election box hold with party link
 | winner    = Republican Party (United States)
 | swing     = 
}}
{{Election box end}}

==Footnotes==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Kit Bond}}
*{{IMDb name| 2720577}}
*{{C-SPAN|2360}}
*[https://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/july-dec07/ciatapes_12-11.html Lawmakers Investigate CIA Interrogation Tape Disposal] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120625063601/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/july-dec07/ciatapes_12-11.html |date=June 25, 2012 }} ''PBS Newshour'', December 11, 2007, transcript of interview with Gwen Ifill

{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=Haskell Holman}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[State Auditor of Missouri|Auditor of Missouri]]|years=1971–1973}}
{{s-aft|after=[[John Ashcroft]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Warren E. Hearnes]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of Governors of Missouri|Governor of Missouri]]|years=1973–1977}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Joseph P. Teasdale]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=Joseph Teasdale}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of Governors of Missouri|Governor of Missouri]]|years=1981–1985}}
{{s-aft|after=John Ashcroft}}
|-
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=William Zimmerman}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee for [[State Auditor of Missouri]]|years=1970}}
{{s-aft|rows=2|after=[[John Ashcroft]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Lawrence K. Roos]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee for [[List of Governors of Missouri|Governor of Missouri]]|years=[[1972 Missouri gubernatorial election|1972]], [[1976 Missouri gubernatorial election|1976]], [[1980 Missouri gubernatorial election|1980]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Winfield Dunn]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the [[Republican Governors Association]]|years=1974–1975}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Arch A. Moore Jr.|Arch Moore]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Gene McNary]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee for [[List of United States Senators from Missouri|U.S. Senator]] from [[Missouri]]<br>([[Classes of United States Senators|Class 3]])|years=[[1986 United States Senate election in Missouri|1986]], [[1992 United States Senate election in Missouri|1992]], [[1998 United States Senate election in Missouri|1998]], [[2004 United States Senate election in Missouri|2004]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Roy Blunt]]}}
|-
{{s-par|us-sen}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Thomas Eagleton]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of United States Senators from Missouri|United States Senator (Class 3) from Missouri]]|years=1987–2011|alongside=[[John Danforth]], John Ashcroft, [[Jean Carnahan]], [[Jim Talent]], [[Claire McCaskill]]}}
{{s-aft|after=Roy Blunt}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Dale Bumpers]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the [[United States Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship|Senate Small Business Committee]]|years=1995–2001}}
{{s-aft|after=[[John Kerry]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Jay Rockefeller]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Vice Chair of the [[United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence|Senate Intelligence Committee]]|years=2007–2011}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Saxby Chambliss]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{U.S. Senate Small Business Committee Chairs}}
{{USSenMO}}
{{Governors of Missouri}}
{{USCongRep-start |congresses=100th–111th [[United States Congress]] |state=[[Missouri]]}}
{{USCongRep/MO/100}}
{{USCongRep/MO/101}}
{{USCongRep/MO/102}}
{{USCongRep/MO/103}}
{{USCongRep/MO/104}}
{{USCongRep/MO/105}}
{{USCongRep/MO/106}}
{{USCongRep/MO/107}}
{{USCongRep/MO/108}}
{{USCongRep/MO/109}}
{{USCongRep/MO/110}}
{{USCongRep/MO/111}}
{{USCongRep-end}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bond, Kit}}
[[Category:1939 births]]
[[Category:2025 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Missouri politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century United States senators]]
[[Category:21st-century Missouri politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century United States senators]]
[[Category:American lawyers with disabilities]]
[[Category:American politicians with disabilities]]
[[Category:Deerfield Academy alumni]]
[[Category:Lawyers from Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:Members of Congress who became lobbyists]]
[[Category:People associated with Covington & Burling]]
[[Category:People from Mexico, Missouri]]
[[Category:Politicians from St. Louis]]
[[Category:Presbyterians from Missouri]]
[[Category:Princeton School of Public and International Affairs alumni]]
[[Category:Republican Party governors of Missouri]]
[[Category:Republican Party United States senators from Missouri]]
[[Category:State auditors of Missouri]]
[[Category:University of Virginia School of Law alumni]]