Dirk Kempthorne, former Idaho governor and U.S. Interior secretary, dies at 74 - BERITAJA

Department of the Interior Former Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, testifies during a associated House Subcommittees' proceeding of Oversight and Investigations, and of Energy and Environment, regarding the domiciled of the Interior Department successful the Deepwater Horizon disaster, connected Capitol Hill successful Washington, Tuesday, July 20, 2010. Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP

Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP

Former Idaho Gov. and U.S. Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne has died astatine property 74, his family said successful a written connection Saturday.

Kempthorne died Friday evening successful Boise, the connection said. No origin was given. He had been diagnosed pinch colon crab past year.

"Beyond his nationalist service, he was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather whose top joyousness came from clip spent pinch family and the group he met on the way," his family said. "He had a uncommon gift for genuinely seeing others — remembering names, stories, and the mini specifications that made each personification consciousness known and valued."

Kempthorne, a Republican, was elected politician of Boise successful 1985 astatine property 34, and he was credited pinch revitalizing the downtown by securing an statement to build a normal center. He served 7 years earlier winning the U.S. Senate spot vacated by Sen. Steve Symms successful 1992.

During his clip successful Washington, he authored authorities — signed by Democratic President Bill Clinton — to extremity unfunded national mandates connected authorities and section governments.

Rather than tally for reelection successful 1998, he entered an unfastened predetermination for governor, trouncing his Democratic force by garnering much than two-thirds of the vote.

President George W. Bush appointed him Interior caput successful 2006, a position he held until the extremity of Bush's presidency — and during which he lived connected a houseboat docked successful the Potomac River.

"Dirk was 1 of the finest nationalist servants I ever knew because he was 1 of the finest men," erstwhile President George W. Bush said successful a written connection Saturday. "He was considerate, smart, and capable. Dirk loved our lands and waters, and arsenic Secretary of the Interior, he was an effective steward of our earthy resources."

Environmentalists often recovered Kempthorne excessively accommodating of the lipid and state manufacture and different commercialized interests. But successful 2008, he bucked different advisers successful the White House by insisting that the polar carnivore should beryllium listed arsenic a threatened type nether the Endangered Species Act because of the nonaccomplishment of oversea crystal successful the Arctic. He was prepared to resign complete it erstwhile Bush decided to backmost him.

"As Governor, Dirk near an enduring people connected our state," Idaho Gov. Brad Little said successful a written statement. With the business of his wife, Patricia, Kempthorne "championed children and families, strengthened nationalist education, and led transformational investments successful our proscription strategy that will use Idahoans for generations."

In a 2023 question-and-answer session pinch the George W. Bush Presidential Center, Kempthorne recalled helping evacuate about 400 U.S. citizens and Afghan friends from Afghanistan 2 years earlier, arsenic galore were being sought by the Taliban pursuing the U.S. military's chaotic withdrawal. Kempthorne and others worked frantically for months to raise money and garner the support of negotiated channels to charter buses and an Airbus A340 to thief resettle the evacuees successful the U.S. and Canada.

At 1 point, pinch the formation afloat booked, the organizers received a database of much group who needed to time off urgently.

"That night, astatine a full nonaccomplishment for answers, alone, I knelt successful prayer," Kempthorne recalled. "I said, 'Dear God, we cannot time off these group behind, please springiness a way forward.' "

He said he past had a imagination of Mother Mary holding the babe Jesus. It gave him an idea: The babies connected the formation didn't request their ain seats, arsenic their parents could clasp them. The organizers confirmed that pinch the hose and were capable to adhd an further 50 group to the flight, Kempthorne said.

Kempthorne is survived by his wife, arsenic good arsenic their children Heather and Jeff and their families.