Cecil Andrus
Cecil Dale Andrus (August 25, 1931 – August 24, 2017) was an American politician who served as 26th and 28th governor of Idaho, for a total of fourteen years. A Democrat, he also served as U.S. Secretary of the Interior from 1977 to 1981 during the Carter Administration. Andrus lost his first gubernatorial election in 1966 but won four (in 1970, 1974, 1986, and 1990) and his fourteen years as governor is the most in state history. He is the most recent Democrat to have held the office.
Cecil Andrus | |
|---|---|
| 26th and 28th Governor of Idaho | |
| In office January 5, 1987 – January 2, 1995 | |
| Lieutenant | Butch Otter |
| Preceded by | John V. Evans |
| Succeeded by | Phil Batt |
| In office January 4, 1971 – January 23, 1977 | |
| Lieutenant | Jack M. Murphy John V. Evans |
| Preceded by | Don Samuelson |
| Succeeded by | John V. Evans |
| 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 |
| Chair of the National Governors Association | |
| In office July 4, 1976 – January 23, 1977 | |
| Preceded by | Robert D. Ray |
| Succeeded by | Reubin Askew |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Cecil Dale Andrus August 25, 1931 Hood River, Oregon, U.S. |
| Died | August 24, 2017 (aged 85) Boise, Idaho, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Carol May (m. 1949) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Oregon State University |
| Signature | |
| Website | Official website |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1951–1955 |
| Rank | Petty officer, second class |
| Unit | U.S. Naval Reserve |
| Battles/wars | Korean War Cold War |
In public life, Andrus was noted for his strong conservationist and environmental views and accomplishments, and an Idaho wildlife preserve established in 1993 in Washington County is named the Cecil D. Andrus Wildlife Management Area in his honor. In 2018, the Cecil D. Andrus–White Clouds Wilderness was renamed after him. A political liberal, he protected the environment by minimizing the control of business interests held over the public domain and by concentrating decision-making in the hands of experts in the Interior Department. He argued that environmentalism can and must coexist with positive economic development.