Smylie Deserves Honored Place In Idaho History

When political pundits gab about Idaho’s governors, they often rank Robert E. Smylie and Cecil D. Andrus as the state’s most effective chief executives.

Sometimes Smylie is first; sometimes Andrus. It often depends whether a Republican or Democrat is doing the ranking.

That sort of arbitrary ranking probably reflects the fact that Andrus, with just over 14 years in the job, and Smylie, with a dozen, served longer as governor than anyone else.

But there is no question Smylie had a major impact on Idaho history during the nearly 20 years he was attorney general and then governor.

And that is why it’s good news to many that Smylie is organizing his papers and documents and may get together with an Albertson College of Idaho history professor for a book centered on the days he was running state government.

“It will be a definitive work,” Smylie said.

Without it, a significant part of Idaho’s political and governmental history could be lost.

When he left office early in 1967, Smylie boxed up 75 cases of his personal papers and gave them to Albertson College. It has been a big job just going through it.

The former governor is 81 now and retired from his Boise law practice. He’s recovered from heart surgery last May.

If Andrus gets huge credit for accomplishments during his unprecedented 14 years as governor, Smylie says his 1954-66 administration should get credit for getting things started.

Such as the sales tax, which went into effect in 1965.

Suddenly, Idaho had much more money to put into education and other needs.

“That’s what made it possible … all the things they have done,” the ex-governor says.

Known as a strong-willed administrator who got things done, Smylie says it was only a matter of time and persuasion before the Legislature eventually approved his programs.

“By the time I got through, there wasn’t anything left,” he said.

It was during his reign that education finally was recognized as perhaps the most important function of government with the highest priority for money.

There also was the state’s acquisition of a couple of major parks - Harriman and Farragut.

In 1955, Smylie launched the first agency devoted to commerce and economic development. Smylie didn’t get rich in his dozen years as chief executive. “I left the governorship with a net worth of about $30,000,” he said.

During his final four years, he received all of $15,000 a year in salary. The governor’s pay jumped to $17,500 per year in 1967 when Don Samuelson succeeded him. The current governor, Phil Batt, gets $85,000.

But Smylie left with no regrets.

“It was a lot of fun,” he said. “I wouldn’t have missed it for all the world.”