Paradox Politics: People and Power in Idaho

by Randy Stapilus

Here is the story of Idaho's power brokers, those well-known and those behind the scenes, and the story of Idaho politics up to 1988 - of well-known figures like Cecil Andrus, Robert Smylie, Frank Church, Jim MCclure, and many others - and the backroom players most Idahoans never heard of, like Lloyd Adams and Tom McCall. In this new edition, the author provides more than 100 notes updating and expanding on the original text.

339 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1988

About the author

RANDY STAPILUS is editor and publisher of Ridenbaugh Press, edits the Idaho Weekly Briefing and the Snake River Basin Adjudication Digest and has written a number of books about Idaho, including Paradox Politics, the Idaho 100 (with Martin Peterson), Governing Idaho (with James Weatherby) and the Idaho Political Field Guide. He worked for newspapers in Boise, Pocatello, Nampa, Lewiston and Coeur d’Alene, and his weekly column on Idaho politics runs in several Idaho newspapers. After living in Idaho for about 30 years, he and his wife Linda now live in Carlton, Oregon.

Reviews

[Crystal Rain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dense! But very interesting for Idaho politic wonks.

[Randy Stapilus · Rating 5 out of 5]

The original version of this book about 20th century Idaho politics was published in 1988. In 2009 it was updated in a second edition - not to add in the change in Idaho history but with additional commentary reflecting on the passage of years.