Dirk Kempthorne, former Idaho governor and U.S. Interior secretary, dies at 74
NPR • • nation
Key Points:
- Former Idaho Governor and U.S. Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne died Friday evening in Boise at age 74; he had been diagnosed with colon cancer last year.
- Kempthorne, a Republican, served as Boise mayor, U.S. Senator, Idaho governor, and Interior Secretary under President George W. Bush, noted for revitalizing Boise's downtown and authoring legislation to end unfunded federal mandates.
- As Interior Secretary, Kempthorne was praised for his stewardship of natural resources but faced criticism from environmentalists; notably, he insisted on listing the polar bear as a threatened species despite opposition.
- Kempthorne played a key role in evacuating nearly 400 U.S. citizens and Afghan allies from Afghanistan in 2021, creatively increasing flight capacity to save more people during the chaotic withdrawal.
- He is survived by his wife Patricia, children Heather and Jeff, and their families; he was remembered as a devoted family man and a public servant who deeply valued personal connections.
