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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Huckleberries Online

Andrus Embodies What Pol Should Be

He arrived at the Idaho Statesman 10 minutes before the appointed time of 10:30 a.m. a week ago, commenting that being early is a virtue. He was unaccompanied, unassuming and, I am pretty sure, unarmed. Well, there was a slim, ornate leather folder, a gift from Boise State University. In it were some reference materials to which he only sparingly referred. Everything else came right out of his head, his experience – his wisdom. I can’t tell you how refreshing it was to see and hear former Gov. Cecil D. Andrus in action. Alone. Unprompted. Unspinned. Unapologetic. This 82-year-old Idahoan spoke fearlessly and confidently about his take on the past, the present and the future of the Gem State. He came before the Idaho Statesman editorial board to make the argument for greater protection for the Boulder-White Clouds, whether through legislation or national monument designation/Opinion Editor Robert Ehlert of the Idaho Statesman. More here. (AP file photo: Cecil Andrus after delivering his 1994 State of the State speech)

DFO: I miss old Cece and old Phil Batt. The only ones of their calibre today are retiring Ben Ysursa and AG Lawrence Wasden.

Question: Have you ever met Cecil Andrus? Do you have a story to tell about that encounter?



D.F. Oliveria
D.F. (Dave) Oliveria joined The Spokesman-Review in 1984. He currently is a columnist and compiles the Huckleberries Online blog and writes about North Idaho in his Huckleberries column.

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