Cecil D. Andrus

Infobox Officeholder
name = Cecil Dale Andrus


imagesize = 170px
small

caption =
order = 42nd United States Secretary of the Interior
term_start = January 23, 1977
term_end = January 20, 1981
president = Jimmy Carter
predecessor = Thomas S. Kleppe
successor = James G. Watt
order2 = 26th Governor of Idaho
term_start2 = January 4, 1971
term_end2 = January 23, 1977
lieutenant2 = Jack M. Murphy (1971-1975)
John V. Evans (1975-1977)
predecessor2 = Don Samuelson
successor2 = John V. Evans
order3 = 28th Governor of Idaho
term_start3 = January 5, 1987
term_end3 = January 1, 1995
lieutenant3 = Butch Otter
predecessor3 = John V. Evans
successor3 = Phil Batt
birth_date = birth date and age|1931|8|25
birth_place = Hood River, Oregon
death_date =
death_place =
party = Democratic
spouse = Carol M. May
residence = Boise
alma_mater = Oregon State University
profession =
religion = Lutheran


website = [http://www.andruscenter.org/ Andrus Center for Public Policy]
footnotes =

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.

Early life and career

Andrus attended Oregon State University in 1952 [cite web |url=http://alumni.oregonstate.edu/famous/a.html |title=OSU's Famous Alumni |publisher=Oregon State University Alumni Association |accessdate=2006-10-21 |last=Edmonston Jr. |first=George ] and served in the United States Naval Reserves from 1951 to 1955 [http://www.nndb.com/people/019/000116668/ NNDB - Cecil D. Andrus] Accessed 28 January 2008] . 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 [http://books.google.com/books?id=gjzo8vhdjoIC&pg=PA85&lpg=PA85&dq=%22Cecil+Andrus%22+%22Charles+Herndon%22&source=web&ots=fWl9NDTLsS&sig=RHqo2AuD_WyKiSzAAir75arHgqo A Political Dynasty in North Idaho, 1933-1967] Accessed 28 January 2008] . 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.

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.

In 1974 TIME magazine named Governor Andrus one of the "200 Faces for the Future" [ [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,879402-3,00.html 200 Faces for the Future - TIME ] ] .

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.

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.

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. [ [http://www.idsos.idaho.gov/ELECT/Finance/2006/Oct10/Candidate/Gov_Brady.pdf Campaign finance report from Idaho Secretary of State website] ] On February 2, 2008, Andrus endorsed and campaigned on behalf of Barack Obama in Boise, Idaho. [ [http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2008/01/obama_endorsed_by_former_idaho.html Obama endorsed by former Idaho Governor Andrus - Breaking News Updates from Portland and Oregon - The Oregonian - OregonLive.com ] ] [ [http://www.idahostatesman.com/273/story/283270.html 10:04 a.m. - Barack Obama wows, inspires crowd at Taco Bell Arena | Eyepiece | Idaho Statesman ] ] 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.” [ [http://egan.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/06/obama-the-shock-of-the-red/?ref=opinion Timothy Egan: "Obama: The Shock of the Red"] ]

References