[William Langer] [John Moses] [Fred G. Aandahl] [C. Norman Brunsdale] [John E. Davis]

(Second Term)

After exonerating himself of all felony charges, Langer returned to the governor's office. He convinced the legislature to appropriate almost six million dollars for child welfare, old age pensions, and general relief. This amount equalled all the appropriations for the 1933-35 biennium.

In 1937 and 1938 Langer directed the State Mill and Elevator to pay well above the market price for wheat. Out-of-state millers immediately matched the State Mill's prices.

After completing his second term as governor, Langer successfully ran for U.S. Senate. However, he was not allowed to take his seat in the Senate because of charges filed against him by a petition from North Dakota citizens. A Senate investigation was launched. After three weeks of debate, the full Senate voted 52 to 30 in favor of Langer. His victory made the front page of the New York Times and other papers around the country.

After a year and a half (and four trials), Langer was cleared of federal racketeering charges. After serving a second (non-sequential) term as governor, he was elected to the United States Senate.

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 federal trials, Mrs. Langer threw her hat into the political ring and 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.

Born in Strand, Norway, in 1885, John Moses attended high school and junior college in Norway. He came to the United States in 1905 and worked for the Great Northern Railway from 1906 to 1911. He entered the University of North Dakota, receiving his A.B. in 1914 and his J.D. in 1915. He began practicing law at Hazen in 1917 and served as state's attorney for Mercer County for several years. In 1936 he came in third in the three-way governor's race, behind former governors Langer and Welford.

Moses became governor in 1939, following William Langer's second term in the office. Moses worked hard to reduce Langer's influence. He sought to cut government spending and to balance the state's budget. Moses was in office during World War II. He tried to encourage war-time industries to locate in the state, but North Dakota ranked last in the nation for receiving war spending.

Despite the lack of wartime appropriations, Moses' administration was a time of prosperity for the state. Rainfall was plentiful and there was a ready market for agriculture products.

Moses was a popular governor. During his election campaign he gave speeches in English, German, or Norwegian, depending on his audience. A Democrat, Moses was noted for his support from both political parties.

In 1944 Moses defeated Gerald P. Nye for a seat in the United States Senate. He died on March 3, 1945, shortly after taking his place in the Senate.

John Moses was the second native of Norway to become governor of North Dakota. (Governor Nestos was the first.) Moses served as governor during World War II.

H. O. Saxvik, John E. Gould, Fred A. Copelin, and Governor John Moses (seated) in the governor's office.

Fred George Aandahl attended a one-room country school near Litchville. He graduated from the University of North Dakota in 1921. He taught school for five years before becoming Superintendent of Schools at Litchville. He returned to farming in the 1920s, and ran for governor as a "dirt" farmer with a college education.

Aandahl was a leader of the ROC (Republican Organizing Committee), a conservative faction within the Republican party. Aandahl was a staunch supporter of the Rural Electrification Administration and Garrison Diversion. As a legislator, Aandahl sponsored the State School equalization fund.

Governor Aandahl was a leader of the Republican Organizing Party.

Governor Aandahl and Mrs. Aandahl at the North Dakota governor's residence.

Clarence Norman Brunsdale was educated in public schools and the Bruflat Academy at Portland, North Dakota. In 1913 he graduated from Luther College at Decorah, Iowa. He returned to Portland where he taught at Bruflat and worked the family farm operations in Traill and Steele counties.

As governor, Brunsdale was an avid supporter of water development projects. During his administration Garrison Dam was completed and the Legislature established the Garrison Diversion Conservancy District. The early 1950s also saw the establishment of the Highway Department and the passage of major highway legislation. Education, agriculture, and mental health issues were also important to Governor Brunsdale.

Former Governor Norman Brunsdale was appointed to the U.S. Senate upon the death of William Langer.

Governor Brunsdale takes part in a ceremony at Garrison Dam, demonstrating hydroelectric "power on the line," June 1956.

A highlight of Governor Davis's administration occurred in 1960 when he accompanied a delegation of six United States governors to the former Soviet Union. In return a delegation of Soviet governors visited Bismarck.

Davis graduated from the University of North Dakota in 1935, with a degree in business administration. He served in World War II and became national commander of the American Legion in the mid-1960s. He managed his family farm and ranch at Goodrich, served as mayor and banker at McClusky, and later became a director of Provident Life Insurance Company at Bismarck.

Governor Davis became national commander of the American Legion in the 1960s. He was appointed head of the Civil Defense Preparedness Agency by President Richard Nixon.

Governor Davis and family, in the governor's residence, 1958.

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