I’ve stumbled across an amazing Documentary (more on that at the end) on the late Democratic Governor Arthur Link and thought I should whip a quick diary since North Dakota politics has always fascinated me.
North Dakota as you know was one of the quirky midwestern states which had a high affinity to split tickets. Despite the state being staunchly Republican (last Democrat to win in a presidential race was LBJ in his landslide) it often more times than not sent democrats both to congress and even statewide offices.
Arthur Link was the son of German Immigrants who came to North Dakota in the early 1900s.
Link went on to serve in the North Dakota House of Representative where served as Democratic minority leader for 14 years and then rose to speaker (1965-1967).
Despite being speaker Link was largely unknown to much of the state when he decided to try his luck running for Congress in 1970. Back then North Dakota had two congressional seats. The Western Dakota seat had just opened up with the Republican incumbent retiring. Link took a big chance running for this seat. Firstly the Western Dakota seat tended to be more Republican and secondly even if he did win he knew it would likely be just a single term gig as North Dakota was set to lose a seat in 1972.
In the end Link was able to take advantage of the Nixon midterm and pull off a narrow 50.3% — 49.7% win.
Governor Race of 1972
Democrats believe it or not were still very strong position in the state in 1972. They had a popular 4-Term Governor by the name of William L. Guy who held the position for 12 years (he had won two 2-year terms followed up with two 4-year terms) making him the longest serving governor in state history.
So when Governor Guy decided to call it quits in 1972, there was talk that if anything that this would be the year the GOP finally would win back the governorship especially with President Richard Nixon expected to romp through his reelection. Democrats also had a full slate of experienced candidates that they could run but Link saw an opening as his congressional seat evaporated with congressional reapportionment.
Link faced the sitting GOP Republican Lt Governor who was very articulate with his words but always seem to be in hurry during his campaign stops while Link would stay put hear more about the needs of North Dakotans. Despite Nixon’s landslide win in 1972 Link managed eek out another narrow 51% — 49% win in what some would consider an upset. Link would won reelection in 1976 with a 51.58% — 46.53% margin
Cool Facts about Arthur Link’s Administration
- He funded the state’s first kindergarten program
- He was a strong believer in equal rights and even signed the ERA amendment
- One of his first acts upon to winning the governorship was to employ more women and young people in the governor’s office
Governor Link Set the Stage for Environmental Protection
During Link’s term as Governor he faced a tough decision as the coal and oil industry were looking to set up shop in North Dakota. With the ongoing energy crisis the many American were looking for energy independence. But Link was quick to push back. It’s interesting to see the rhetoric he used to call the coal and oil exploration effectively an needed “sacrifice” not a chance for economic development.
I have no intention for North Dakota to become a sacrifice area in order to run television sets and air conditioners on the east and west coast
During that area both were deeply divided and the belief was you could either preserve the environment and not do energy exploration or you do give in the coal and gas industry and no environment left. Link went on to coin the phrase that he “didn’t want to see the state ripped up for a single harvest”
Still I do want to be clear that Link wanted to do his best to appease both side of the argument. From his viewpoint he knew the energy industry would eventually begin exploration, so what he saw was an opportunity to be as responsible as one could be.
One key aspect was Link’s point of view, He clearly understood that was social or environmental cost associated with energy exploration and sought middle ground on the issue by calling for a severance tax on coal. He defended the policy by stating:
In the development of coal you are the business agents of the people. The resources of air, water, land and coal belong to the people of North Dakota. If we sell these products [Coal] too cheaply we risk economic and environmental depression in the decades ahead. These people are depending on this legislature. You are drawing the blue print that will establish the selling point of our resources. Don’t under price what belongs to the people.
I think good business means adequate conservation of our resources. Concern for our environment is I think one of the healthiest business climates. We’ve got going for us in North Dakota is the fact that we have a healthy environment. These are the concerns and basic considerations I have.”
“You’re asking us to sell part of North Dakota and North Dakota is not for sale”
Link Attempted to run for a 3rd term in 1980 but was unseated amidst Ronald Reagan’s 20 point win. Still Link did leave a lasting legacy in shaping the state’s environmental laws. Additionally Three people in particular who worked in the Link Administration were: Earl Pomeroy, Kent Conrad, and Byron Dorgan who would later become well known Democratic politicians in the state for the next 3 to 4 decades. In fact all 3 would serve together in congress from 1987 to 2011 sending an all Democratic Delegation (quite impressive for a state hasn’t voted for Republican since 1964). Link passed away in 2010 at the ripe old age of 96.
For those interested to know more I recommend watching, When the Landscape is Quiet Again, a 1hr documentary covering the legacy of Arthur Link. I did my best to some up some of the main parts but there’s always more to story.