Carl Burke could read people.

One of Idaho’s most powerful lawyers and political operatives, Burke died June 29 at age 86. He managed four winning U.S. Senate campaigns for Democrat Frank Church, as well as Church’s four-month run for president in 1976. Burke also founded the Boise World Affairs Organization in the 1950s, bringing high-level foreign policy experts to a provincial capital.

He helped build Elam & Burke into one of Idaho’s biggest law firms, and his knack for connecting with people was legend.

Nick Miller, now at Hawley Troxell, clerked for Burke in 1974, learning the value of a leading partner taking the temperature of junior staff. “I’d see him walk down the hall, talk to everyone and catch up,” Miller said. “At our law firm, we say, ‘Somebody has to walk the hall.’ ”

Born and raised in Boise, Burke earned bachelor’s and law degrees at Stanford University, was a delegate to NATO’s London conference in 1959, chaired the U.S. National Parks System Advisory Board and was on the board of the Sawtooth Society.

To encounter Burke was to meet an old friend — even if he couldn’t recall your name.

Chris Burke, one of his three children, spoke at a recent memorial, recalled being out and about with his father. Burke would offer a passer-by a handshake and a hug, and follow with a long, often embellished, story.

“If you’re lucky, he may introduce you to this person, but, of course, he never introduces the person to you. You just sit there in amazement,” Chris Burke recalled.

“Finally, they get done, shake hands, part with a hug and the stranger walks off. Then, my father inevitably turns to you and says, ‘Who was that?’ ”

Drafted into the Army at age 19, Burke served in the 44th Division, 114th Infantry in France, Germany and Austria. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge and was in a regiment where all 141 soldiers were wounded or killed.

A week before he died, he repeated a favorite story he called, “The Day the War Stood Still.” In the winter of 1945, American and German troops, separated by fewer than 100 yards, made an informal truce, allowing one another to leave their flooded foxholes, make fires and dry their clothes.

After the war, Burke became a pacifist. “He left his gun with the Army. He never owned a gun after that, and so far as I know, he never shot one again,” Chris Burke said. “In the last few years, he couldn’t get around very well, but he would tell everybody who would listen, ‘We need to get out of that war in Afghanistan. It’s costing us too much in lives and money. It can’t be won, and it’s not going to make us safer.’ ”

Counseling Democratic congressional candidate Dan Williams in 1995 about the war in Yugoslavia, Burke simply said, “I hate war.”

Burke’s wit and charm marked his legal career. A deposition of J.R. Simplot began with a hug and was done after two questions.

Burke: “Mr. Simplot, did you have a contract with my client?”

Simplot: “Yes.”

Burke: “Do you owe him the money?”

Simplot: “Yes.”

Burke: “No more questions.”

Burke is survived by his wife, Gisela, sons Chris and Cameron, daughter Caren, and seven grandchildren, whom he regaled with stories at weekly lunches.

The day before he died, Caren whispered, “I love you, Dad. See you later.”

Burke’s eyes opened, fully alert, and he said: “See you later, alligator!”

In Remembrance is a weekly profile on a Treasure Valley resident who has recently passed away. To recommend a friend or loved one for an In Remembrance, email newsroom@idahostatesman.com.