Exhibits - North Dakota Governors - William Langer

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WILLIAM LANGER

Seventeenth and Twenty-first Governor

(Two Terms)

Residence: Casselton, Cass County
Years Served: 1933-1934; 1937-1939
Date of Inauguration: December 31, 1932; January 6, 1937
Age at Inauguration: 46 and 50
Politics: : Republican (Nonpartisan League); Independent
Born: Casselton, Dakota Territory - September 30, 1886
Died: Washington, D.C. - November 8, 1959

Political Background:

1914-1916: State's Attorney for Morton County
1916-1920: Attorney General of North Dakota
1933-1934: Governor of North Dakota (removed from office)
1937-1939: Governor of North Dakota
1940-1959: United States Senate

William Langer studied law at the University of North Dakota and Columbia University. He began his law practice at Mandan was elected state's attorney of Morton County. Langer was backed by the Nonpartisan League (NPL) in his successful bid for attorney general and governor. Known as a staunch supporter of farmers, as governor, Langer declared a moratorium on farm foreclosures, even resorting to use of the National Guard to stop sheriffs' sales.

Langer was charged with soliciting money from state employees, and consequently was removed from office on July 17, 1934. He later was acquitted on all charges. In 1936, he won reelection to his second gubernatorial term. During his final tenure, funding was secured for improving old age pensions and child welfare. After completing his term, Langer won election to the U.S. Senate, an office he held from 1941 until his passing in 1959.

William and Lydia Langer voting, ca. 1940.

Lydia Langer was a political figure in her own right. When her husband, William Langer, was unable to participate in North Dakota politics during the time of his trial, Mrs. Langer ran for governor in the 1934 election. She lost to Thomas H. Moodie by a vote of 145,333 to 127,954 in a three-way race.

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