Eastern Washington's last U.S. Senate win was 1922

1940 PHOTO Clarence Dill

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Dill narrowly defeated incumbent Republican Sen. Miles Poindexter in 1922. It was a political comeback for the Spokane lawyer and former reporter. He had been a congressman from the 5th District for two terms but was booted by voters angry at his opposition to U.S. involvement in World War I.

As a senator, Dill championed public power, lobbying his friend Franklin D. Roosevelt to authorize the construction of Grand Coulee Dam. He led Congress in drafting the Radio Act of 1927 and the Federal Communications Act of 1934, laws which still regulate the use of the public airwaves.

Dill left public office at the height of his prestige in 1934 to practice law. He was lured back to state politics in 1940, when he ran for governor, but lost a close election to Republican Arthur Langlie. Two years later, Dill tried to win his old U.S. House seat, but lost again.

Dill died in 1978 at the age of 93.

Source: "Clarence C. Dill, The Life of a Western Politician," By Kerry E. Irish. copyright 2000, Washington State University Press.

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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