Compton I. White

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Compton I. White, Sr.

For Compton I. White, Jr., also a United States Representative from Idaho, see Compton I. White, Jr..

Compton Ignatius White, Sr. (July 31, 1877-March 31, 1956) was a politician from the U.S. state of Idaho, who served in the United States House of Representatives, chairing a committee.

[edit] Biography

White was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He moved during early childhood to Rankin County, Mississippi, and then to Clark Fork, Idaho in 1890. He attended Metropolitan Business College in Chicago, Illinois, and Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington; after graduating in 1897, he worked on railroads in a number of capacities, as a trainman, conductor, and telegraph operator, until 1910.

After this stretch, he worked in lumber, mining, and livestock raising; he was also a member of the Clark Fork Board of Trustees. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1928, 1932, and 1936, during which period he rose to prominence as a politician.

White first sought election to Congress during the 1930 election; he gained the Democratic nomination, but was not elected. In 1932, however, he defeated longtime Republican incumbent Burton L. French, as Franklin D. Roosevelt's landslide victory swept the nation. He was re-elected to six addition terms in all, serving from 1933 to 1947.

While in Congress, White chaired the currently-defunct Irrigation committee, and also was a member of the Committee on Coins, Weights and Measures. He sought re-election in the 1946 race, but was defeated by Republican Abe M. Goff.

In the 1948 election, however, he was returned to the House, defeating Goff's bid for re-election. In the 1950 election, he sought the Democratic nomination for Senate, but didn't receive it. In the 1952 race, he sought the Democratic nomination for his old House seat, but again, didn't receive the nod. He retired to Idaho and took up livestock and mining again; he died in Spokane, Washington.

[edit] External links

Entry in the Congressional Biographical Dictionary

Preceded by: Burton L. French	United States House of Representatives, Idaho First Congressional District March 4, 1933–January 3, 1947	Succeeded by: Abe Goff
Preceded by: Abe Goff	United States House of Representatives, Idaho First Congressional District January 3, 1949–January 3, 1951	Succeeded by: John Travers Wood