The life and career of Congressman Compton White, Jr. and the Idaho Democratic Party in the 1960s

The focus of this dissertation was to determine the nature of Idaho's politics in the 1960s, and to evaluate the way in which U.S. Congressman Compton White, Jr., performed as a public servant during this volatile period. It also challenges the commonly held belief that Idaho has been a conservative monolith since statehood in 1890. The congressional career of Compton White, Jr., clearly proves that liberalism could thrive, and survive temporarily, against the conservative currents of Idaho's political history.;To prove such an argument, I examined primary documents from presidential libraries, special collections of papers from various politicians, and newspapers, and conducted personal interviews with individuals that were active participants in Idaho politics during the 1960s. Also, secondary materials were used, such as non-fiction literature, magazine and journal articles, statewide surveys and various governmental publications to enhance my argument concerning the nature of Idaho politics in the 1960s.;I believe that the results of this exploration show that Congressman Compton White, Jr.'s liberalism was acceptable to the majority of voters in Idaho's First District. Only the Republican-engineered (court ordered) reapportionment, in 1966, of his congressional district altered the delicate chemistry that had provided White with slim, but consistent, electoral support. Liberalism in northern Idaho was not rejected in 1966, but simply gerrymandered out of existence. The evidence shows that it was not his liberal voting record during the 89th Congress (1965-1967) that derailed his political career. Rather it points toward a politically motivated manipulation of the First District by a Republican-dominated state legislature that simultaneously eliminated Compton White, Jr., and liberalism.