The full title -- “A Political Dynasty in North Idaho, 1933-1967: Compton White, Sr. & Compton White, Jr. Two Men – Two Visions – Two Fates” -- is long for a short book (112 pages including notes at the end of each chapter). The book is a culmination of the author’s (Randall Doyle) dissertation at the University of Idaho and reads like an academic piece, as compared to the books in previous reviews. It is well researched with extensive interviews, especially with Compton White, Jr. (JR). Doyle does well covering a few areas but in the end it is his subjects that let him down. Though both Whites were decent public servants (combined having represented Idaho’s First Congressional District for twenty years), neither was influential or even very interesting. At least politicians like Glenn Taylor and George Hansen, though marginal figures, are interesting to read about.

Compton White, Sr. (SR) had the longer and in many ways more interesting career of the two Whites. Doyle provides us with a clear understanding of SR's accomplishments but never let’s us know what he was like. Why did SR act the way he did? How were his accomplishments different than what would be expected from any politician representing his constituents? Though SR's elected career was longer, he is only the subject of 20 of the 112 pages in the book. The bulk of the book is about JR and is heavily based upon the author’s interviews with him.

The book contains a great deal of background on many national issues from the New Deal through the Great Society and Vietnam War. Though this may be necessary for some to set the milieu for the actions of the Whites, it seemed to be too basic and should have been assumed knowledge of the reader. There was not enough personal storytelling of the protagonists, even of JR who was interviewed.

There are two portions of the book that were extensive and worth reading. There is a thorough review of the issue differences between JR and his opponent, Erwin Schwiebert (College of Idaho 1934), that helps the reader understand the dynamics of their 1962 race. Doyle also does well in describing JR’s losing 1966 campaign that was intertwined with the tumultuous gubernatorial campaign that was replete with four candidates and the death of the Democratic nominee. It is clear through Doyle’s analysis that JR's defeat was due to the effect of adding Ada County (conservative and Republican at the time) to the First Congressional District.

I found two trivial aspects of the book more interesting than the two principal characters. The influence of Jasper Inscore as the leader of the Latah County Democrats is amusing as there are very few of us Jaspers around. JR’s predecessor Gracie Pfost is mentioned just briefly. This “first woman of Idaho politics” deserved a biography of her own though it is probably too late now.

One of the most cogent points made in the book was by Cecil Andrus, “Idaho doesn’t have a Democratic Party. I had an organization and Frank Church had an organization, too.” I believe these personal organizations, which did not expand to include the whole party, are partially responsible for the current problems with the Idaho Democratic Party. With personal organizations, if the “person” isn’t on the ballot, the party loses.

In the end, this book gives a fine representation of one of the two dynastic political families in Idaho history, with the Clark/Church family being the other. The problem is that this father and son team, who did not seem very close to each other though that isn’t explore in the book, did not accomplish much and were not very interesting. Unless you are specifically interested in one of these two figures, I would choose another book on Idaho politics to spend your time on.

Go Yotes.

Dr. Jasper M. LiCalzi
Professor
Department of Political Economy
The College of Idaho