Idaho's Democratic Congressman from the first district from 1963 to 1966, Compton Ignatius White, Jr., was born in Spokane, Washington, December 19, 1920. He was the son of Compton I. White, who was born in Louisiana and, as his son was to write in an article for the Centennial edition of the
Young Compton attended Clark Fork, Idaho, High School before moving to Washington, D.C., where his father was Idaho's congressional representative from the lst District. He graduated from Central High School in Washington, then attended George Washington University from 1938-1939. From 1939 to 1942 he studied mining engineering at the University of Idaho. In 1941 he became a flight engineer for Boeing Aircraft in Seattle. In 1946 he became manager of his father's mining operations and also took over the management of the family ranch in Clark Fork. On November 19, 1948 he married Florence Eulalia Waddell. They are the parents of six children, 5 sons and a daughter.
Compton White, Jr., began his political career at the age of eight when he attended the 1928 Democratic National Convention in Houston, Texas as an honorary alternate delegate. While living in Washington, D.C., he worked as a Congressional House Page. In 1962 he was elected to Congress as Representative from the first district of Idaho, succeeding Gracie Pfost who made an unsuccessful bid for the U.S. Senate. In his telegram of congratulations his opponent, Erwin Schwiebert, said "Congratulations on your victory and on achieving your ambitions to follow in your father's footsteps as a congressman from Idaho." Compton White, Sr. served in the 73rd-81st Congresses with the exception of the 80th (1933-46; 1949-50). White was re-elected for a second term in 1964. While serving in Congress he was a member of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, sitting also on its sub-committees on Mines and Mining, Indian Affairs, Irrigation and Reclamation, and Public Lands. He also served on the Committee on Banking and Currency, and its sub-committees on Internal Finance and Domestic Finance. In 1963 he attended the Geneva, Switzerland meetings of both the United Nations Committee on Tungsten (October 28-29) and the Seventh Session of the International Lead and Zinc Study Group (November 4-8) as a Congressional advisor to the U.S. Delegation. In 1965 and 1966 he was a member of the Public Land Law Review Commission.
In 1966 White lost his bid for a third term to James McClure; he was one of many Democrats who were defeated that year. He remained in Washington for a year as a consultant to the Treasury Department, then returned to his Clark Fork ranch. He ran against McClure in 1968, but again he lost. He served on the Clark Fork City Council from 1967 to 1976, and in 1974 made an unsuccessful attempt to gain a seat in the State Senate. After retiring from the city council he concentrated on the management of his ranch, "watching the trees grow taller, the cattle grow fatter and the land grow in value." (
The Congressional papers of Compton I. White, Jr., are contained in 29 file boxes. They consist mainly of the correspondence between White and his constituents on the many items of legislation before Congress from 1963 to 1966. All the bills introduced by White, the related bills introduced by other Congressmen and Senators as well as other bills on different subjects are included. In some instances mimeographed copies of statements presented to congressional committees are also included.
In assisting his constituents with their personal dealings with the government White wrote numerous letters to various federal and state agencies. This correspondence is included in a separate series as are the informational brochures these departments sent to White.
The respect for provenance, or original order, has determined the organization of these papers. Compton White organized his correspondence in three separate categories:
1) Legislation by Subject. The folders are in alphabetical order by subject or congressional committee to which the bill was referred. Correspondence within each folder is roughly chronological
2) Compton I. White, Jr.'s Bills. Each bill has a separate folder; the folders are in numerical order. The correspondence is in chronological order.
3) Departments. The folders are in alphabetical order; the correspondence within each folder is in chronological order.
Due to the duplication of subjects between the various series a subject index has been prepared for legislation and projects with which White was closely associated.
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.
This series contains voluminous correspondence on almost all issues brought before the U.S. House of Representatives during the 88th and 89th Congresses, 1963-1966. The folders, arranged alphabetically by subject, contain letters from White's constituents, copies of his replies, printed copies of legislative bills, copies of statements presented before Congressional committees, pamphlets sent to White by organizations or constituents, and occasionally White's notes on meetings with other members of Congress.
There are many types of correspondence, individual letters, mimeographed form letters, and pre-printed postal cards. Most letters are requests to White to vote a certain way on a particular piece of legislation; often organizations would write thanking White for his support of legislation which was favorable to them. White frequently referred letters which expressed strong interest in or opinions on bills before Congressional committees to the committee chairmen who would often respond detailing committee progress on the bill. This correspondence also forms part of the collection.
Since a Congressman receives mail from so many people it was deemed impractical to keep a complete name file of all correspondents, although a partial file was maintained for organizations and correspondents who wrote on many subjects. Likewise a file was maintained for the miscellaneous and legislative material found in the folders.
The following is a list of the folders in each box. The folder numbers correspond to the numbers on the name index file cards. Where necessary the types of letters found or subjects covered is also included; mention is also made if a folder contains legislation. It should be mentioned that some subjects are contained in more than one folder.
Subjects include feed grains and donable food (surplus food donated to schools, prisons, and other institutions). Several Department of Agriculture publications are included as are legislative bills.
Subjects include animal cruelty, meat inspection, community development, and farm legislation. Several legislative bills, including White's meat import limitation bill, are included.
A copy of the Feed Grain Act of 1963 (H.R. 3874) is included.
Compton White's bill to permit the issuance of marketing orders for onions for canning or freezing is included.
Two legislative bills are included along with an American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research legislative analysis of a bill to prohibit futures trading in Irish potatoes.
Along with one piece of legislation there are 1962 annual reports from the following soil conservation districts: Twin Falls, Weiser River, Lewis, Mud Lake, Portneuf, and Yellowstone.
Several legislative bills to amend the Sugar Act, plus Senate Finance Committee hearings on sugar prices are present along with a U.S.D.A. Special Study of Sugar (1961).
Two annual reports of the Utah-Idaho Sugar Company (1962 & 1964) are included. White's bill to increase the amount of domestic sugar and mainland cane sugar which may be marketed during 1964, 1965 and 1966 is also present.
Many letters written in May and June concern the wheat referendum; many constituents were angry with White for sending out Grange material under his frank. Several U.S.D.A. publications are also included.
There are many form letters prepared by the Farm Bureau in opposition to compensatory payments mentioned in farm legislation; also mentioned frequently in letters is the sale of surplus wheat to Russia. Among the miscellaneous material included are U.S.D.A. news releases, White's new releases, U.S.D.A. publications and several pieces of legislation.
This folder contains correspondence from the Idaho Wool Growers Association and one legislative bill.
Two House bills relating to air pollution are included.
Items in this folder are a legislative bill,
Subjects included are rent subsidies and the teacher corps.
Legislation. An appropriation bill and two statements by Compton White before the House Appropriations Committee are included.
The majority of letters concern a possible cut in the school lunch program. Many children at Canyon School in Cataldo, Idaho wrote individual letters to White requesting the continuance of this program. The appropriation for Land Grant College Extension Division also generated a great deal of correspondence.
The folder includes one appropriation bill and a report on noxious weeds in the Columbia Basin.
The folder contains seven speeches of Indiana Congressman Earl Wilson dated November and December 1964.
There are many letters concerning the school lunch program. Other subjects include vocational education, land grant colleges, and the Library Services & Construction Act. White's 1966 statement to the Appropriations subcommittee on Labor, Health, Education and Welfare is also included.
Contains charts, many from the files of Gracie Pfost (Congresswoman from Idaho 1953-1962), showing the amount of money various federal agencies spent in Idaho.
An appropriation bill and related committee report are included.
A copy of the appropriation bills for 1964 and 1966 and related committee reports are included.
The report on the 1966 public works appropriation bill is included.
Contains the engineers' report "Traffic Projections for Asotin Pool"
Most letters are from Lloyd Dunn of Bear River Protective Committee. The bill to authorize the construction of the reclamation project and a feasibility report are also included.
The folder contains statements from Gracie Pfost, Ralph Harding, and a request to change the name to Lynn Crandall Dam.
Contains the Bureau of Reclamation report on the project.
Contains an Idaho Legislature Senate Joint Memorial to change the name from Bruces Eddy Dam to Henry Dworshak Dam.
Contains Compton White's 1963 statement before the Public Works Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee on Idaho Dams.
Contains statements by Senator Frank Church and Rep. George V. Hansen, and a joint memorial from the Idaho legislature regarding construction of the Lower Teton Project.
There is a great deal of correspondence concerning the National Guard Technicians' retirement bill and salary increases for the military. There are statements of Lewis B. Hersey and a report of the Defense Dept. on the draft, plus a bill changing the method of computing retirement pay.
Much of the correspondence reveals a dislike for the proposed civil rights bill. H.R. 3139 (Civil Rights Act of 1963) is included.
Again, most letters are anti-civil rights legislation. One of the more interesting letters, dated March 20, 1964, is from White's cousin in Louisiana. Although she is against the bill she gently chides White for being in favor of it.
Contains Public Law 87-297: Arms Control & Disarmament Act (1961)
Subjects include the Vocational Education Act; legislation is also included
Among the correspondence are many letters from the sisters at St. Gertrude's Academy in Cottonwood. Another folder contains printed material distributed. by the Catholic Church.
Besides correspondence there are publications of the Idaho Department of Education and the National Education Association.
Among the subjects covered in this folder are right to work laws, the Higher Education Act of 1965, minimum wage, Library Services Act, Fair Labor Standards Act and mine safety. Several legislative bills are included.
Among the subjects dealt with in this folder are the "War on Poverty", the controversy surrounding Adam Clayton Powell, the minimum wage, vocational education, Library Services & Construction Act, and the situs picketing bill. Several legislative bills are included.
This folder deals with the right to work section of the Taft Hartley Law. It includes the House Report on H.R. 77 and the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research legislative analysis of the bills to repeal 14(b) of the National Labor Relations Act. (1965)
This folder contains material relating to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
The material dealing with the Economic Opportunity Bill or Poverty Program, includes the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research analysis of the legislation.
Most correspondence deals with the "fairness doctrine."
Copies of both the House and Senate bills dealing with the registration of firearms are included.
Unlike the previous folder there are some pro gun control letters.
The subjects dealt with in this folder include disarmament, Vietnam, the United Nations, and the Cuban situation. The visit of President Betancourt of Venezuela to the U.S. and the proposed extradition of Jimenez generated a great deal of anti-communist correspondence.
The subjects dealt with in this folder are Vietnam, Cuba, the communist threat, and the United Nations.
The House Concurrent Resolution relating to the sovereignty treaty (1963) is included in the folder.
Individual letters and petitions all urge White to vote against giving foreign aid to communist countries. The House report on the 1964 foreign aid appropriations bill is also included.
The correspondence deals mainly with Cuba.
Among the many subjects mentioned are the sale of federal surplus property to educational and health institutions, and the reorganization of the customs agency. There are several legislative items.
Most material relates to the Boise National Forest. Legislation from the 86th and 88th Congresses is included.
Legislation relating to amending the Hatch Act is included.
Correspondence relating to Idaho state politics and Idaho State Legislature joint memorials are contained in the two folders in this group.
Among the subjects discussed in this folder are a labeling bill for motion pictures, aviation fees, and radio and TV editorials. There is a statement by the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission regarding the fairness doctrine, and several bills dealing with transportation.
Included among the subjects in this folder are the staffing of mental health centers, railroad retirement, fair labeling, box car shortages, licensing of radio stations, the humane treatment of animals and the presence of Russian fishing vessels along the Pacific coast. Several legislative bills are included.
This folder contains letters from radio broadcasters concerning the regulation of broadcast commercials and FCC license fees.
Among the subjects included are Congressman Dickson's speech on the Montgomery Freedom March, an article on a law enforcement training program, the copyright bill as applied to juke boxes, and immigration and quota bills.
The correspondence in this folder deals with the Miranda decision of the Supreme Court, the selection of a successor to the Director of the FBI, the housing section of the Civil Rights Bill, Youth Temperance Week, and a four year term for Congressmen.
The 1964 correspondence contains a large amount of anti-Becker amendment sentiment, while most of the 1966 correspondence is in favor of the various amendments to allow Bible reading in the public schools. Also contained in this folder is White's 1964 statement before the committee.
Most correspondence deals with the Title IV (property section) of the 1966 Civil Rights Bill.
Correspondence deals with the 1965 bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act. The bill and House report are included.
Contained in this folder is the private immigration bill introduced by Sen. Frank Church (January 12, 1965).
The folder includes two bills authored by Compton White and an American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research analysis of proposals relating to the reapportionment of state legislatures (1964).
Contains a copy of the proposed Voting Rights Act (H.R. 6400).
Besides the correspondence, this folder contains Dept. of Interior press releases, cuttings from the
Subjects covered include capital gains on timber, labeling of foreign timber and the proposed revision of lumber dimension standards.
Includes statements by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, the Forest Service, Compton White's 1963 analysis of the problems involved in the importation of lumber from Canada, publications of the National Lumber Manufacturers Association and Potlatch Forests, Inc., plus several legislative bills dealing with the use of foreign lumber.
This folder deals exclusively with the development of a mass transit system for Washington, D.C.
In addition to proposed legislation and several analyses of the health care for the aged problem by the Library of Congress Legislative Reference Service, there are many letters from doctors against the 1964 King-Anderson bill.
Correspondence deals with the transportation of U.S. goods in foreign ships and proposed legislation dealing with the protection of predatory animals.
Contains Henry L. Day's address to the Idaho Mining Association, July 18, 1963, "Mining Highlights of the Coeur d'Alene District," plus material on the stockpiling of minerals and metals.
Includes several legislative bills involving the discovery and marketing of gold.
Contains correspondence, articles and legislative bills.
In addition to correspondence the folders contain statements before the Tariff Commission and the House Armed Services Committee.
Various documents and statements, including White's 1963 statement before the Senate Banking and Currency Committee regarding H.R. 5389, and several legislative bills are included.
There is one folder of general correspondence, one folder of correspondence with J.B. Lynch which also contains several articles and newspaper clippings, and a third folder containing statements before the House Committee on Banking and Currency on the silver content of coins. There are also statements regarding the coin shortage. Legislative bills regarding the silver content of coins and the monetary value of silver are also included.
This folder consists of marked ballots registering opinions on current legislation. The forms are taken from the NFIB publication
Subjects include the size of the House Rules Committee, U.N. involvement in Katanga, disarmament, and Carl McIntire's radio program "20th Century Reformation Hour."
There is some correspondence on the sale of printed envelopes by the post office and also correspondence and legislation dealing with the Alaska Railroad.
Contains two items of proposed legislation dealing with salaries and retirement benefits.
Contains messages of President Lyndon Johnson on such subjects as health, education, immigration, D.C. home rule, natural beauty, his farm program, the balance of payments, law enforcement, and Vietnam. They are dated from January 7, 1965 to July 29, 1965.
Contains legislation dealing with appropriations (1964), the Appalachian Regional Development Act (1964) and the Disaster Relief Act of 1965.
Contains a great deal of proposed legislation in the 89th Congress.
Contains the proposed Quality Stabilization Act (1963).
Correspondence includes discussions of compulsory arbitration. There are over 200 letters from Pocatello alone. Legislative material is also included.
These are possible memorials to the late President and include the Presidential library, a park of roses in Israel, a memorial in Coeur d'Alene, and a performing arts center in Washington, D.C.
Most correspondents are opposed to a permanent increase in the size of the committee from 12 to 15 members.
The only item is a letter in favor of the metric system.
The subjects include Bible reading and prayer in the schools, and film censorship.
White's constituents are concerned with a tax cut, repealing the excise tax on cosmetics and furs, and reducing the dividend tax. Numerous bills to amend the Internal Revenue Code are included.
Tax reduction
5% floor on deductions
IRS Regulations. The correspondence in this folder deals with the restrictions on expense accounts and its effect on the restaurant business.
Subjects dealt with include reduction in excise taxes, the Liberty Amendment (repeal of the 16th amendment), and tax reduction.
The only item in this folder is an article on the TVA.
Subjects in this folder include higher tariffs on Japanese goods, a lower duty free allowance for Canadian goods, and the quality stabilization bill.
Items deal with uniform time legislation, contracts for transporting mail, and minimum rate regulations on common carriers.
Many of White's constituents are for increased appropriations for the committee, but a few feel it could be abolished. In 1965 many correspondents are calling for investigation of the Civil Rights Leaders.
Many letters are from World War I veterans seeking a better pension.
These letters also deal with the Veterans' Pension Act.
Letters deal with pensions, the proposed closure of some hospitals, and information of the "Cold War" GI bill. A number of legislative bills are included.
Pensions and the Cold War GI bill are again predominant.
Among the subjects discussed are the suspension of investment credit, the shortage of railroad boxcars, a possible ban on television broadcasting of professional football games on Friday nights in areas which have high school games scheduled, unemployment insurance and amendments to the fair trade expansion act. A number of legislative bills are included.
The folder contains a weekly calendar of legislation for 1963.
Folder 1 contains correspondence; folder 2 concerns the Sawtooth National park and contains 15 different picture postcards with pre-printed messages. The third folder contains various publications and legislation.
Legislation and a copy of the hearings before the Senate Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs complement the correspondence in this folder.
Included with the correspondence are 8 photographs taken at the Youth Conservation Camp, Priest Lake, Idaho, summer 1961. There is also material on the Idaho Youth Ranch at Rupert.
Included is John F. Kennedy's special message on the nation's youth, February 14, 1964
The three boxes in this series contain the bills introduced by Representatives White in the 88th and 89th Congresses. Usually each folder will contain, in addition to White's bill, companion bills, similar bills from previous legislatures, reports of government departments, records of hearings, statements of interested people before Congressional committees, and correspondence relating to the bill. By far the largest amount of material is found in connection with H.R. 4184, the silver coinage bill.
Only the bills are listed below; the extraneous material is noted on the file cards maintained for this archival group. The first date is the date the bill was introduced and referred to committee; the second is the date the bill was reported to the House of Representatives from the committee.
Many of Compton White's constituents wrote to him about problems they were having with the federal bureaucracy, whether it was obtaining a hardship discharge from the military service, requesting assistance in getting relatives into the United States from foreign countries, or requesting aid in straightening out problems with Social Security or the Veterans Administration. White always referred the constituent's letter to the proper federal agency and kept in touch with both the agency and his constituent until a final determination had been made in the case. The results may not always have been what the constituent had hoped for, but many expressed their gratitude to the Congressman for finally obtaining a decision.
Smaller communities often wrote White for assistance in obtaining federal funds for local improvement projects, usually water and sewer improvements. He would then write to the agency involved letting them know of his interest in the application. He continued to follow the progress of the application until the agency decided whether or not to fund the project.
Other special interest groups would write urging White to support the use of their product in federal programs. These letters were referred to the proper agency, but there is usually no follow-up correspondence.
In all cases the correspondence received from the federal departments, whether a brief letter of acknowledgment or a multi-paged report, is retained in the folders. Since most agencies sent at least one carbon copy of their correspondence, White was able to send a copy of all pertinent material to the constituent whose letter had initiated the contact. Also included are the informational brochures sent by the various agencies. The Department of the Treasury folder contains 13 photographs of Compton White's trip to Venezuela to sign the SWAP agreement and inspect a housing project.
Listed below are the folder headings; since most material deals with personal appeals for assistance, the contents of the folders are not mentioned, but are contained on the file cards maintained for this series.
The Department Folders are arranged alphabetically
Since correspondence relating to the bills introduced by Compton White, Jr. is scattered throughout the file boxes, a broad subject index has been provided. Also included in the index are some items of local (Moscow) or regional interest. Box numbers are listed following each subject.