William Langer - Personal life, Political offices

US senator and governor, born in Everest, North Dakota, USA. A lawyer and Republican attorney general (1916–20) he enforced prohibition laws in North Dakota. Elected governor in 1933, he was removed the next year for soliciting funds from state employees, but was cleared and re-elected (1937–9). Serving in the US Senate (1941–59), he supported social welfare legislation but opposed American involvement in World War 2, the Marshall Plan, and US membership of the United Nations.

William "Wild Bill" Langer (September 30, 1886 – November 8, 1959) was a prominent American politician from North Dakota. Langer is one of the most colorful characters in North Dakota history, most famously bouncing back from a scandal that forced him out of office and into prison. He served as the Governor of North Dakota from 1933 to 1934 and from 1937 to 1939.

Personal life

Langer was born near Casselton, North Dakota in Everest Township. He obtained a bachelor of laws from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, but was too young upon graduation to practice law. Although he was offered a position at a prominent New York law firm, he elected to return to North Dakota, where he practiced law in the town of Mandan before starting his career in politics.

During the Great Depression, he was removed from office by the state supreme court for allegedly pressuring recipients of governmental aid to donate money to his private newspaper and for allegedly forcing state employees to give funds to the state Republican party. The North Dakota Supreme Court ordered him removed from office due to his conviction on a felony charge, and on July 17, 1934, the Court declared Lieutenant Governor Ole Olsen the legitimate governor. Langer gathered with about ten friends, declared North Dakota independent, declared martial law, and barricaded himself in the governor's mansion until the Supreme Court would meet with him. Langer eventually relented, and Olson served the remainder of Langer's term as Governor.

Langer's wife Lydia ran for governor in 1934, but lost. At home, he concentrated on making life easier for the farmers of North Dakota by raising wheat prices and doling out government relief, although amidst rumors of great scandal.

Political offices

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 1941-1959: United States Senate