The Other Rookie
THE SAME ELECTION THAT SWEPT CHARLIE BASS INTO OFFICE ALSO GAVE RICK White '75 a House seat. Like 34 other first time Representatives, White, a partner in a Seattle law firm, had no previous experience in elective office. He got significant help from an experienced Gorton '49, Washington state's senior Senator, who himself handily won a third six year term. White and Gorton met for the first time at a Dartmouth alumni gathering that Gorton held at his Whidbev Island home a decade ago. Since their first meeting. White helped found the Farm Team, a group of 500 Republicans under the age of 40.
After graduating from Dartmouth, White spent a year as a roustabout on an offshore oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico (his father, Richard White, is vice president of marketing for Marathon Oil). He then spent a year studying philosophy in Paris and "learning how to make bearnaise sauce." Georgetown Law School followed.
His wife, Vicki, and four children spent ten days in Washington for the swearing in. Rick held son Richard, age 3, in his arms on the House floor.
Rick White made it to the majors.
