business during the Great Depression. Congressman White was also instrumental in bringing large irrigation projects to Idaho, including the Bonneville Dam project in 1938 and the Grand Coulee Dam project in 1941. Although he left Mississippi with his family at a relatively early age, White seemed to have deeply internalized the racial views of his birthplace, railing against the Chinese during the debate over the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1943, arguing that "There is no melting pot in America that can change their habits or change their mentality." He sought re-election to an eighth term in the 1946 race but was narrowly defeated by Republican Abe M. Goff of Moscow. In the 1948 election, White defeated Goff and returned to the House but had lost his seniority. In 1950, he sought the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate, but it went to D. Worth Clark of Pocatello. At age 75, White sought the party's nomination in 1952 to regain his House seat in the 1st District, but lost to Gracie Pfost of Nampa. He retired from public life and died in Spokane in 1956, where he had lived for three years, and was buried in the family cemetery in Clark Fork. His only son, Compton I. White, Jr. (1920-1998), was also elected to Congress for the First District in 1962 and 1964. He lost elections in 1966 and 1968. Election results Source: ^ 1948 election included 93 votes (0.1%) for Socialist Party candidate Richard M. Shaefer. References External links Political Graveyard – Compton I. White 1877 births 1956 deaths Gonzaga University alumni Politicians from Spokane, Washington People from Bonner County, Idaho People from Rankin County, Mississippi Politicians from Baton Rouge, Louisiana Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Idaho Catholics from Louisiana Catholics from Washington (state) Catholics from Mississippi Catholics from Idaho