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Phil Batt
American politician

Philip Eugene Batt (March 4, 1927 – March 4, 2023) was an American politician who served as the 29th Governor of Idaho from 1995 to 1999. A member of the Republican Party, Batt had previously served as the 35th Lieutenant Governor of Idaho, Chair of the Idaho Republican Party, and as a member of the Idaho Legislature.

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Early life and education

Born in Wilder, Idaho, Batt was the fifth and youngest child of John and Elizabeth Karn Batt.1 He graduated from Wilder High School.2 Batt served sixteen months in the United States Army Air Forces during and after World War II at Lowry Field, Colorado, working as a clerk discharging veterans. He then returned to the University of Idaho and studied chemical engineering, lived in the dorms, and led a dance band, playing clarinet and tenor saxophone.345 (Half a century later as governor, Batt played with Lionel Hampton in Moscow, Idaho at the jazz legend's UI festival.)6

Career

State offices

Before becoming governor, Batt had been a Republican politician in Idaho for thirty years, serving in the state legislature (house 1965–1967, state senate 1967–1979),7 and as the 35th lieutenant governor from 1979 to 1983.8 He ran for governor in 1982 and was defeated in a close race by the Democratic incumbent, John Evans. The election was so close that at least one television network declared Batt the winner on election night.910

Batt returned to the state senate with victories in 198411 and 1986, then resigned in the spring of 1988 to sit on the three-member state transportation board, appointed by Governor Cecil Andrus.12

Idaho Republican Party

Batt was elected chairman of the Idaho Republican Party in January 1991,13 and after a successful two years, he stepped aside in April 1993 to re-enter electoral politics in 1994.14 Batt had previously run for the post in 1968 and lost to Roland Wilber, 127 to 218.15

Governor

Batt won the Republican gubernatorial primary in 1994 with 48% of the vote, and defeated state attorney general Larry Echo Hawk in the general election 52% to 44%,16 for the first GOP victory for governor in 28 years.17 Despite high popularity, he chose to serve only one term, citing his age, and left office at age 71.18 Among Batt's more notable accomplishments as governor was pushing through worker's compensation for agricultural workers and negotiating a pact limiting nuclear waste storage in Idaho.19

Later career

Batt was one of Idaho's presidential electors for George W. Bush during the 2000 United States presidential election.20 Batt self-published two books after leaving office, a memoir titled The Compleat Phil Batt: A Kaleidoscope in 1999, and a compilation of humorous stories, Life as a Geezer, in 2003. Batt, who has a gay grandson who lives out of state, supported Add The Words.21

Memorials

Boise has two memorials to Batt, with both acknowledging his work while in government: the Philip E. Batt Building of the Wassmuth Center for Human Rights,22 which opened in October 2024,23 as well as the Philip E. Batt Building of the Idaho Transportation Department, dedicated as such in June 2013.2425

Personal life

On January 9, 1948, in Potlatch, Idaho, Batt eloped with Jacque Fallis of Spokane,26 a member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority.27 The newlyweds had to leave school a month later when Batt's 66-year-old father was involved in a serious automobile accident which left him with limited strength and speech. Though the young Batts initially hoped to return to college, economic circumstances changed their plans and they reluctantly did not.28

Jacque Batt died on September 7, 2014, after 66 years of marriage.29 In 2015, at age 88, Batt married Francee Riley of Boise.30 Batt died on March 4, 2023, the morning of his 96th birthday.31

Election history

Idaho Gubernatorial Elections: Results 1982, 1994
YearDemocratVotesPctRepublicanVotesPct3rd PartyPartyVotesPct
1982John Evans (inc.)165,36550.6%Phil Batt161,15749.4%32
1994Larry Echo Hawk191,36245.2%Phil Batt216,12351.1%Ronald RankinIndependent15,7933.7%33

References

  1. Kuykendall, Martha. "Philip E. Batt". Martha's Extended Family. Retrieved March 8, 2013. http://www.martisgenes.info/g0/p62.htm#i717 ↩

  2. "Former Idaho Gov. Phil Batt dead at 96". ktvb.com. March 4, 1927. Retrieved March 4, 2023. https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/idaho/former-idaho-governor-phil-batt-dead-at-96/277-44f26f49-0444-4871-a243-dfb7a36e9601 ↩

  3. Miller, Dean (June 13, 1994). "Batt jazzes up his campaign". Spokesman-Review. p. A6. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4W1XAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bfEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6383,3269603 ↩

  4. "Freshmen". Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook. 1947. p. 111. https://issuu.com/uidahodigital/docs/gem1947/113 ↩

  5. "Sophomores". Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook. 1948. p. 135. https://issuu.com/uidahodigital/docs/gem1948/138 ↩

  6. White, Vera (March 2, 1998). "He's no Benny Goodman, but Benny wasn't governor". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. p. 1A. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=U80qAAAAIBAJ&sjid=h9AFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3847%2C9825 ↩

  7. "Batt tries a big chair on 'Short People's Day'". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. December 17, 1977. p. 1A. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=c5ZfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MTEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2476%2C5879362 ↩

  8. "Idaho Governor Philip E. Batt". National Governors Association. Retrieved September 6, 2012. http://www.nga.org/cms/home/governors/past-governors-bios/page_idaho/col2-content/main-content-list/title_batt_philip.html ↩

  9. Kennedy, John (November 4, 1982). "Gov. Evans rejoices, Batt talks about quitting politics". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Associated Press. p. 1C. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zapfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pTIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5611%2C1135961 ↩

  10. "Phil Batt has seen close races before". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Associated Press. December 18, 2000. p. 7A. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AqxeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uS4MAAAAIBAJ&pg=4911,739895 ↩

  11. "Election results". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Associated Press. November 8, 1984. p. 7C. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NItfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5C4MAAAAIBAJ&pg=5815%2C2653100 ↩

  12. "Batt makes retirement official". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Associated Press. February 26, 1988. p. 4B. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QaxfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wjIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3646,2817047 ↩

  13. "Idaho Republicans elect Phil Batt chairman". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Associated Press. January 13, 1991. p. 1B. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vZRfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HDEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4103,2813933 ↩

  14. "Randy Smith is elected to succeed Phil Batt". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Associated Press. April 23, 1993. p. 4C. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=D39fAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FjAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5112,3048944 ↩

  15. Idaho Statesman (Boise, Idaho), June 16, 1968: ↩

  16. "1994 General Election Results". archive.sos.idaho.gov. https://archive.sos.idaho.gov/ELECT/results/1994/general/RSLTGN94.HTM ↩

  17. "Batt rescues Republican". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Associated Press. November 10, 1994. p. 1C. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=irVeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LjAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4666%2C2883526 ↩

  18. "Batt says Republicans shouldn't let guard down". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. Associated Press. September 18, 1997. p. 3B. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3L4jAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yNAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1542,1809232 ↩

  19. "Batt says Republicans shouldn't let guard down". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. Associated Press. September 18, 1997. p. 3B. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3L4jAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yNAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1542,1809232 ↩

  20. "U. S. Electoral College". www.archives.gov. Retrieved April 21, 2017. https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/2000/members.html ↩

  21. Popkey, Dan (November 2, 2013). "Gov. Batt: Just add the words". Idaho Statesman. p. A1. Retrieved March 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/692078731/?terms=%22phil%20batt%22%20%22add%20the%20words%22&match=1 ↩

  22. Lords, Christina (March 9, 2023). "Gov. Phil Batt celebrated as 'architect of our current government in Idaho' • Idaho Capital Sun". Idaho Capital Sun. Retrieved November 26, 2024. https://idahocapitalsun.com/2023/03/09/gov-phil-batt-celebrated-as-architect-of-our-current-government-in-idaho/ ↩

  23. Maldonado, Mia (October 8, 2024). "'The next era for us': Idaho's Wassmuth Center for Human Rights to open doors of new building • Idaho Capital Sun". Idaho Capital Sun. Retrieved November 26, 2024. https://idahocapitalsun.com/2024/10/08/the-next-era-for-us-idahos-wassmuth-center-for-human-rights-to-open-doors-of-new-building/ ↩

  24. Lords, Christina (March 9, 2023). "Gov. Phil Batt celebrated as 'architect of our current government in Idaho' • Idaho Capital Sun". Idaho Capital Sun. Retrieved November 26, 2024. https://idahocapitalsun.com/2023/03/09/gov-phil-batt-celebrated-as-architect-of-our-current-government-in-idaho/ ↩

  25. "Batt calls on Idahoans to step up, increase funding for roads | The Spokesman-Review". www.spokesman.com. Retrieved November 26, 2024. https://www.spokesman.com/blogs/boise/2013/jun/13/batt-calls-idahoans-step-increase-funding-roads/ ↩

  26. "Juniors". Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook. 1947. p. 96. https://issuu.com/uidahodigital/docs/gem1947/98 ↩

  27. "Delta Delta Delta". Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook. 1947. p. 300. https://issuu.com/uidahodigital/docs/gem1947/300 ↩

  28. The Compleat Phil Batt: A Kaleidoscope (ISBN 0-9677135-5-2), 1999, p. 3-16 /wiki/ISBN_(identifier) ↩

  29. "Former Idaho First Lady Dies". Twin Falls Times-News. https://magicvalley.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/former-idaho-first-lady-dies/article_854361b8-37a0-11e4-98a4-001a4bcf887a.html ↩

  30. "88-Year-Old Former Idaho Gov. Phil Batt Engaged". May 2015. https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/politics-government/2015-05-01/88-year-old-former-idaho-gov-phil-batt-engaged ↩

  31. "Former Idaho Gov. Phil Batt dead at 96". ktvb.com. March 4, 1927. Retrieved March 4, 2023. https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/idaho/former-idaho-governor-phil-batt-dead-at-96/277-44f26f49-0444-4871-a243-dfb7a36e9601 ↩

  32. Cook, Rhodes (November 5, 2013). America Votes 30: 2011–2012, Election Returns by State – Rhodes Cook. ISBN 9781452290171. Retrieved October 11, 2018. 9781452290171 ↩

  33. "1994 General Election Results". archive.sos.idaho.gov. https://archive.sos.idaho.gov/ELECT/results/1994/general/RSLTGN94.HTM ↩