Cecil D. Andrus

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Cecil Dale Andrus
42nd United States Secretary of the Interior
In office January 23, 1977 – January 20, 1981
President	Jimmy Carter
Preceded by	Thomas S. Kleppe
Succeeded by	James G. Watt
26th Governor of Idaho
In office January 4, 1971 – January 23, 1977
Lieutenant	Jack M. Murphy (1971-1975) John V. Evans (1975-1977)
Preceded by	Don Samuelson
Succeeded by	John V. Evans
28th Governor of Idaho
In office January 5, 1987 – January 1, 1995
Lieutenant	Butch Otter
Preceded by	John V. Evans
Succeeded by	Phil Batt
Born	August 25, 1931 (1931-08-25) (age 76) Hood River, Oregon
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Carol M. May
Residence	Boise
Alma mater	Oregon State University
Religion	Lutheran
Website	Andrus Center for Public Policy

Cecil Dale Andrus (born August 25, 1931 in Hood River, Oregon) is a former Secretary of the Interior and Democratic Governor of Idaho. He served a combined 14 years as governor (1971-77 and 1987-95) and as Interior secretary from 1977-81 during the Carter administration. Andrus lost his first gubernatorial election in 1966, but won four (1970, 1974, 1986, 1990) and served as governor longer than anyone else in Idaho history. In public life he was noted for his environmentalist views.

[edit] Early life and career

Andrus attended Oregon State University in 1952^[1] and served in the United States Naval Reserves from 1951 to 1955^[2]. After being discharged from the U.S. Navy, Andrus moved to Orofino, Idaho, where he worked in the timber industry.

Upset over the local Republican state senator's stance on education, in 1960 while living in Orofino, Andrus filed as a Democrat to run against him and won. He was re-elected in 1962 and 1964.

Andrus ran for governor in Idaho in 1966 but was narrowly defeated in the Democratic primary by Salmon attorney Charles Herndon. Andrus was appointed the replacement nominee after Herndon died in a plane crash while en route from Twin Falls to Coeur d'Alene in September 1966^[3]. Andrus lost the general election to Republican Don Samuelson, earning him the distinction of losing a gubernatorial primary and general election in the same year. Andrus was re-elected to the Idaho State Senate in 1968.

[edit] Governor (1971-77)

Undaunted by his earlier setbacks, in 1970, Andrus defeated Samuelson in a gubernatorial election rematch, thanks in large part to his opposition to developing molybdenum mining in central Idaho's White Cloud Mountains. Andrus was overwhelmingly re-elected in 1974, defeating Republican Lieutenant Governor Jack M. Murphy.

[edit] Interior Secretary

In January 1977, Andrus resigned as governor to serve as Secretary of the Interior for newly-inaugurated President Jimmy Carter, becoming the first Idahoan to serve in a presidential cabinet. He was succeeded as governor by Lieutenant Governor John V. Evans.

As Interior Secretary, Andrus was responsible for creating vast wilderness areas in Alaska. In 1979, Carter demanded the resignations of his entire cabinet; the resignation of Andrus was not accepted. Andrus returned to Idaho when Carter's presidency ended in 1981.

[edit] Governor (1987-95)

After several years in private life, Andrus surprised many by recapturing the Idaho governorship in the 1986 election, defeating Republican Lieutenant Governor David H. Leroy. During his second stint as governor, Andrus vigorously opposed federal efforts to store nuclear waste in Idaho. He also brokered a path-breaking agreement among land-use and conservation interests to control water pollution from nonpoint sources to protect riparian and fish habitat in streams.

In 1990 Andrus drew attention when he vetoed a strict anti-abortion bill passed by the Idaho Legislature. Despite this veto, Andrus easily won re-election later that year against conservative Republican state senator Roger Fairchild, winning in every county except Lemhi. In his final term, Governor Andrus was again in the national spotlight due to the Endangered Species Act listing of several Snake River salmon species. These anadromous fish species spawn in their natal streams in Idaho and migrate seaward at a young age. Governor Andrus called attention to the downstream federal dams operated by the Army Corps of Engineers as the major culprit. His successful lawsuit against the Federal government lead to incremental changes in operations of the dams and controversy over major changes to the dams that continue to today.

Despite remaining personally popular, Andrus did not seek re-election to a fifth term in 1994. He was succeeded by Republican Phil Batt, who served a single term and did not seek re-election in 1998.

[edit] Elder statesman

In 1995, Andrus founded the Andrus Center for Public Policy at Boise State University. He published his memoir, Politics Western Style, in 1998. Cecil D. Andrus Elementary School in Boise is named after him.

Andrus remains active with the Idaho Democratic Party and continues to campaign on behalf of other Democrats, including Howard Dean during the former Vermont governor's 2004 run for president. In 2006 Andrus served as campaign treasurer for Idaho Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jerry Brady.^[4] On February 2, 2008, Andrus campaigned on behalf of Barack Obama in Boise, Idaho, even going as far to endorse Obama.^[5][6] At the "second biggest political rally in Idaho history," according to the New York Times, Andrus introduced Obama and recalled hearing John F. Kennedy speak years earlier. "I’m older now, some would suggest in the twilight of a mediocre political career,” Andrus said. “I, like you, can still be inspired. I can still hope.” ^[7]

[edit] References

v • d • e Governors of Idaho Shoup • Willey • McConnell • Steunenberg • Hunt • Morrison • Gooding • Brady • Hawley • Haines • Alexander • Davis • Moore • Baldridge • Ross • B. Clark • Bottolfsen • C. Clark • Bottolfsen • Gossett • Williams • Robins • Jordan • Smylie • Samuelson • Andrus • Evans • Andrus • Batt • Kempthorne • Risch • Otter

v • d • e United States Secretaries of the Interior Ewing • McKennan • Stuart • McClelland • Thompson • C Smith • Usher • Harlan • Browning • Cox • Delano • Chandler • Schurz • Kirkwood • Teller • Lamar • Vilas • Noble • M Smith • Francis • Bliss • Hitchcock • Garfield • Ballinger • Fisher • Lane • Payne • Fall • Work • West • Wilbur • Ickes • Krug • Chapman • McKay • Seaton • Udall • Hickel • Morton • Hathaway • Kleppe • Andrus • Watt • Clark • Hodel • Lujan • Babbitt • Norton • Kempthorne