14 Facts About Dirk Kempthorne

Dirk Arthur Kempthorne was born on October 29,1951 and is an American politician who served as the 49th United States Secretary of the Interior from 2006 to 2009 under President George W Bush.

Dirk Kempthorne serves as a co-chair of the Democracy Project at the Bipartisan Policy Center.

In 1982, Kempthorne managed the gubernatorial campaign for Lieutenant Governor Phil Batt, who lost to the incumbent Democrat, Governor John V Evans.

In 1983 Dirk Kempthorne became state public affairs manager for FMC Corporation.

On March 31,2025, Dirk Kempthorne announced that he had been diagnosed with colon cancer and would begin chemotherapy.

In 1992, US Senator Steve Symms decided not to seek a third term and Dirk Kempthorne pursued the Republican nomination for the seat.

Also in 1995, Senator Dirk Kempthorne introduced amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Dirk Kempthorne was expected to run for reelection in 1998, but instead decided to run for the open seat for governor.

Dirk Kempthorne was reelected in 2002 with 56 percent of the vote; his Democratic opponent, Jerry Brady, polled 42 percent.

Dirk Kempthorne's campaign spent nearly $200,000 more than it had received in contributions prior to the election; he spent the next two years raising funds to pay off the campaign debt.

On March 16,2006, Kempthorne was nominated by President George W Bush to replace Gale Norton as the 49th Secretary of the Interior.

On May 10,2006, Dirk Kempthorne's nomination was approved by voice vote by the United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Dirk Kempthorne is the second Idahoan to hold the Cabinet post.

Dirk Kempthorne further says the project came in $10,000 under budget and was approved by the General Services Administration.