William “Wild Bill” Langer was an influential member of the Nonpartisan League, and a major political figure in North Dakota for decades. He served two stints as governor, the first of which ended in his forced removal from office following two felony convictions. Langer eventually was acquitted of all charges, and would return as governor from 1937-1939. After serving his second term as governor, Langer represented at the US Senate until dying in office in 1959.
Early Biography
William Langer was born on September 30, 1886 near Casselton. Langer excelled at school, becoming high school valedictorian and passing the bar at age 18 – too young to legally practice law. When he continued his education at Columbia, he graduated top of his class. He was admitted to practice law by special session of the Supreme Court on his 21st birthday.
He practiced law in Fargo and then Mandan before commencing his successful, and equally controversial political career.
Political career, Nonpartisan League
Langer first entered the public sector when he was appointed Morton County state’s attorney in 1914 – beating out his boss for the position.
The year following, a new North Dakota political party formed called the Nonpartisan League (or NPL), which was a branch of the Republican Party formed to support farmers and small business against “big business” interests, chiefly the still influential McKenzie Machine. Langer recognized the League’s rapid power grab and affiliated with it.
Langer was arguably the most prominent elected official of the Nonpartisan League, even if his relationship with the League was sometimes antagonistic. He benefited from the League’s wave in 1916, elected Attorney General at age 30.
Devious Behavior
Langer’s devious practices began early into his career. In one such example, Langer allegedly organized a social gathering only to have the club raided to amplify his public crusade against liquor. North Dakota had been a dry state since entering the union.
Shortly after becoming Attorney General, Langer charged North Dakota’s Secretary of State – and later congressman – Thomas Hall with mishandling funds. Hall was quickly exonerated of these charges in what many reported to be politically motivated.
Langer’s favorability within the League became jeopardized when he broke away from the League in 1919 and ran against Governor Frazier in a bitter campaign. After losing his first bid for governor, Langer contributed to the efforts to recall Frazier and other elected League members.
By 1924, after a brief political pause, Langer was mending fences with the Nonpartisan League and became the League’s candidate for Attorney General the following year, narrowly losing the general election.
First Gubernatorial Term
He was eventually elected Governor in 1932 and almost immediately began abusing the confines of his power, which would inevitably lead to his two felony convictions and forced removal from office two years later.
In 1934, Governor William Langer of North Dakota was charged with two felony convictions, conspiracy to extort funds from federal employees; and blocking orderly operation of an act of congress.
Seven others were originally charged, and four of them stood trial with Langer. The trial began on May 22, 1934 in Fargo, North Dakota. Twelve jurors would decide the fate of their infamous and strongly supported governor. Langer and his co-defendants entered a plea of “not guilty” and denied all charges. The defense pleaded with the court to delay the trial due to the fact that one of the prime witnesses, Assert Erickson, had been ill in the hospital for weeks.
After 60 hours of deliberation, the jury found Langer and his co-defendants guilty on June 16, with a maximum possible fine of $10,000 and sentence up to two years in prison.
Langer was sentenced to eighteen months in prison, and required to pay a fine of $10,000. Three of his co-defendants were sentenced to thirteen months in prison, with a fine of $3,000. The remaining co-defendant, Harold McDonald, was sentenced to only four months.
Following his felony convictions, the North Dakota Supreme Court ordered that Langer be removed from office and replaced by his Lieutenant Governor, Ole Olson. Langer did not go without a fight, however. He declared martial law and then called a special legislative session, where he would appear before the house and proclaim “I am still your governor.” Langer also asked for the impeachment of the members of the supreme court and Ole Olson, who had already been recognized by the United States congress as the official governor of North Dakota. Langer eventually did step down, and Olson took his place.
Langer’s wife, Lydia, ran for governor later that year, but lost.
Acquittal, Return to Public Office
After three additional trials, Langer was eventually acquitted on all charges and would return as governor from 1937-1939. After serving his second term as governor, which weren’t 4-year terms until 1964, North Dakota elected him to the U.S. Senate, where his past transgressions became a hurdle and almost disqualified him from serving.
Several North Dakotans petitioned the Senate not to seat Langer. He was seated pending an investigation into his character that could jeopardize his seat. That investigation took a year and produced a 4,200-page report proclaiming Langer to be morally unfit to serve, chiefly citing his actions during and after his felony trial.
The dissenting opinion argued that North Dakotans were aware of Langer’s questionable actions when electing him. They noted that the Constitution makes no reference to “moral purity.”
That March, Langer’s fellow Senators debated his character for weeks before voting two-to-one to uphold Langer’s seat. He won three more Senate terms, remaining a Senator until dying in office in 1959. His funeral was held in the Senate Chamber.
As Senator, Langer eventually served as Judiciary Committee chairman and was noted to be one of only two Senators to vote against the United Nations charter.
