Compton I. White

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

Compton I. White, Sr.
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Idaho's 1st district
In office January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1951
Preceded by	Abe Goff
Succeeded by	John Travers Wood
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Idaho's 1st district
In office March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1947
Preceded by	Burton L. French
Succeeded by	Abe Goff
Personal details
Born	July 31, 1877 Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Died	March 31, 1956(1956-03-31) (aged 78) Spokane, Washington
Political party	Democratic
Residence	Clark Fork
Profession	Agriculture, Mining
Religion	Roman Catholic

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.

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.

External links

• Compton I. White at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

United States House of Representatives
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
Political offices
Preceded by Dennis Chavez New Mexico	Chairman of the United States House Committee on Irrigation and Reclamation January 3, 1935–December 19, 1944	Succeeded by John R. Murdock Arizona

Persondata
Name	White, Compton Ignatius, Sr.
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	July 31, 1877
Place of birth	Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Date of death	March 31, 1956
Place of death	Spokane, Washington