Frank Church

In the heart of Idaho, steep canyon walls rise above clear, billowing creeks. Flourishing plants and animals breathe in fresh alpine air across 2.4 million acres. In the north of this generous tract of land runs the Wild and Scenic Salmon River. Countless rafters, kayakers, and other recreationists spend summer months on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in the south. Truly one of the nation's most valuable treasures, stellar in its size and captivating in its beauty, this area makes up the largest unseparated wilderness in the continental United States (though second largest when compared to the total of Death Valley Wilderness’s separated units).

Without the diligence and political effort of its namesake, the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness and many other wild places across the lower forty-eight may not be in existence today. Many know of the wilderness area. But what about the man?

July 25, 1924, saw the birth of not only the third generation of Churches in Idaho but also the birth of the third Frank Forrester Church. Born in Boise to Frank Forrester Church Jr. and his wife Laura, Frank Forrester Church III’s multi-generational existence in the state gave the family considerable clout. Church was raised in a modest, well-respected, and politically conservative home. He developed admiration for Senator William Borah (R-ID) his eighth-grade year and decided early in life to pursue a career in politics. That same year the front page of the local newspaper featured a letter about Borah’s foreign policy stance–written by the young Frank Church.

In 1941, a speech titled “The American Way of Life” won the American Legion National Oratorical Contest with. This, too, was written by Church, and the winnings were enough to pay for four years of the college of his choice. After graduating as class president, he enrolled at Stanford University in 1942.

But he set aside his formal education the next year to enlist in the U.S. Army, serving as an intelligence officer in China, Burma, and India. Upon discharge in 1946, he returned to Stanford to complete his bachelor's degree. He graduated and married Bethine Clark, daughter of a former governor of Idaho, in 1947.

The following year while studying at Harvard Law School, pain in his lower back started and wouldn’t stop. Doctors in California diagnosed it as cancer and gave him just several months to live. But Church was given a second chance, an opportunity that inspired him to live life to its fullest, declaring “life itself is such a chancy proposition that the only way to live is by taking great chances.”

After one year in Harvard’s cold climate, Church returned to Stanford, finishing his degree in 1950 before practicing law with the Federal Price Control Agency in his hometown. He and Bethine raised two sons, Frank Forrester Church IV and Chase Clark Church.

Despite his family’s support of the Republican Party, Church’s Democratic leaning started as a teenager and continued into his adulthood. In 1952, he was defeated in a run for the state legislature. Four years later, he aimed higher, defeating Republican opponent Herman Welker to become, at 32, the fifth youngest member to serve in the U.S. Senate.

Church’s politics primarily focused on foreign policy and wilderness preservation issues. He staunchly opposed the war in Vietnam and continued to oppose U.S. involvement in the conflict throughout three re-elections in 1962, 1968, and 1974––the only Democrat in conservative Idaho's history to win re-election to the U.S. Senate. His career was a vital part of the wilderness preservation movement. He acted as the floor sponsor of the National Wilderness Act of 1964 and in 1968, sponsored the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. He played a prominent role in establishing such areas as Hells Canyon National Recreation Area bordering Oregon, Washington, and Idaho and central Idaho’s Sawtooth Wilderness and National Recreation Area.

In 1965, Church became chairman of the Subcommittee on Public Lands and was voted Conservationist of the Year by the Idaho Wildlife Federation. In 1966, he received the National Conservation Legislative Award.

Church announced his candidacy for President of the United States on March 19, 1976, in Idaho City, Idaho. He won primaries in Nebraska, Idaho, Oregon, and Montana. He withdrew from the race in support of Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter. Church is still the only Idahoan to win a major party primary election.

During his last year in office, 1980, Church played a large role in the formation of Idaho's River of No Return Wilderness, the largest wilderness area outside of Alaska at the time. Though he ran for re-election that same year, he was defeated by Republican congressman Steve Symms by only one percent of the vote. After 24 years in office, Church practiced law with Whitman and Ransom in Washington, D.C. and wrote, traveled, and lectured on international affairs.

On January 12, 1984, Church was hospitalized for a pancreatic tumor. He passed away on April 7 in his Bethesda, Maryland home at the age of 59. In honor of his political work for wilderness preservation, President Ronald Reagan signed Public Law 98-231, renaming the River of No Return Wilderness.

References

Church, F. (1985). Father and Son. New York: Harper and Row Publishers Inc.

Frank Church Institute at Boise State University 

Hansen, R. and Roberts, D. (1988). The Frank Church Papers. Boise, ID: Boise State University. 

Wikipedia. Frank Church.