Arthur A. Link
![]() | This articleis written like anobituary.(February 2012) |
Art Link | |
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![]() | |
27thGovernor of North Dakota | |
In office January 2, 1973 – January 6, 1981 | |
Lieutenant | Wayne Sanstead |
Preceded by | William L. Guy |
Succeeded by | Allen I. Olson |
Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNorth Dakota's2nddistrict | |
In office January 3, 1971 – January 2, 1973 | |
Preceded by | Thomas S. Kleppe |
Succeeded by | District eliminated |
Speaker of the North Dakota House of Representatives | |
In office 1965–1967 | |
Preceded by | Stanley Saugstad |
Succeeded by | Gordon S. Aamoth |
Personal details | |
Born | Arthur Albert Link May 24, 1914 Alexander, North Dakota,U.S. |
Died | June 1, 2010 Bismarck, North Dakota,U.S. | (aged 96)
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse |
Grace Johnson (m.1939) |
Children | 6 |
Profession | Farmer Politician |
Website | artlinklegacy |
Arthur Albert Link(May 24, 1914 – June 1, 2010) was an American politician and farmer of theNorth Dakota Democratic Party,and later theDemocratic-NPL.He served as aU.S. Representativefrom 1971 to 1973 and as the27th Governor of North Dakotafrom 1973 to 1981.[1]
Early Life
[edit]Link was born inAlexander,North Dakota.He attended the McKenzie County schools, andNorth Dakota Agricultural College.Link began a career as a farmer soon after his 1939 marriage, and became active in politics as a member of the local chapters of theNational Farmers' UnionandNonpartisan League.
political career
[edit]He was elected to the North Dakota House of Representatives in 1946 as aDemocrat.Link served for 14 years as the house's minority leader, and was speaker of the house from 1965 to 1967. He was also a member of the Randolph Township Board, 1942–1972;McKenzie CountyWelfare Board, 1948–1969; Randolph School Board, 1945–1963; county and State Farm Security Administration committee, 1941–1946; and delegate, North Dakota State conventions, 1964–1968.[2]
House of Representatives 1971-1973
[edit]In 1970, Link was persuaded to run for U.S. Congress from the western district of North Dakota to succeed Republican incumbentThomas S. Kleppe,who ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate. It was a job with little long-term security as by then it appeared certain the state would be reduced to a single congressional district after the census. He was narrowly elected as a Dem-NPLer to the Ninety-second Congress (January 3, 1971 – January 2, 1973) in a mild surprise. Link opted not to challenge the state's veteran incumbent (RepublicanMark Andrews) for re-election in thenew at-large districtin1972and insteadran for Governor of North Dakota.
Governor of North Dakota 1973-1981
[edit]Elections
[edit]Link ran for governor in1972defeating Edward P. Burns for the Democratic nomination. In the general election he faced Republican lieutenant governorRichard F. Larsen.Link won the election, receiving 51% of the vote to Larsen’s 49%. Link ran for a second term in1976,He was unopposed in the Democratic primary and faced Republican nominee Richard Elkin in the general election. His campaign slogan was “Art Link: Good judgment we can trust” On November 2, 1976 Link won re-election defeating Elkin by a 5% margin. In1980.Link ran for a third term. He won the Democratic nomination unopposed and in the general election faced Republican nominee and State Attorney GeneralAllen I. Olson.Link Lost reelection to Olson by a 54%-46% Margin.[citation needed]
Tenure
[edit]Link served from January 2, 1973, until January 6, 1981.[2]As governor, Link favored careful management of the state's natural resources - particularly when the energy crisis caused controversy between those who wished to exploit North Dakota's coal and oil and those who wished to protect the state's environment. North Dakota's agricultural community prospered during Link's administration. Income and property tax laws were reformed by the legislature, but a reapportionment bill was vetoed by Link. he promoted foreign and domestic trade.
Link insisted that North Dakota's energy resources be developed in harmony with values deeper than mere extraction: stewardship, the agarian ideal, the integrity of rural communities.
On October 11, 1973, Governor Link delivered what is widely regarded as North Dakota's "Gettysburg Address." His creedo, written in the margins of his prepared speech moments before he was introduced, is known by its opening phrase: "When the landscape is quiet again."
he was well liked and well respected as governor. Those of all political persuasions found common ground with him. Some considered him a social conservative who was staunchlyanti-abortion,deeply religious and willing to stand for principle even when political wisdom dictated otherwise, vetoing a bill to lower the state minimum drinking age to 19 years and providing leadership against legalizing gambling in the state.[citation needed]Others viewed him as a moderate as he was also astute fiscally, managing to avoid raising taxes of one of the poorer states in the nation.[1]Still others saw him as a progressive, since he was still able to maintain and grow an excellent education system with affordable universities and students who consistently achieve some of the top test scores in the United States.[citation needed].
Later life
[edit]After his defeat, Link remained active in public life, leading a successful fight against astate lotteryin 1984. He also remained a strong force for historical preservation and writing of local histories. He and his wife Grace lived in Bismarck, North Dakota.
He is fondly remembered by North Dakotans and former North Dakotans, Dem-NPLers and Republicans alike as one of the best governors the state ever enjoyed.[citation needed]Though the Democratic-NPL has been able to elect only one governor since Link vacated the office in 1981, they managed to occupy all the seats in the state's federal congressional delegation from 1987 until January 2011, with every member therein having served during the Link Administration.
A movie was made of the Links' lives in 2008, entitled: "When the Landscape is Quiet Again".
Link died at St. Alexius Hospital in Bismarck, on June 1, 2010, eight days after his 96th birthday.[2][3]He was survived by his wife of 71 years, formerFirst Lady of North DakotaGrace Link, with whom he had six children.[3]Grace Link died in March 2024, at the age of 105.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ab"Arthur A. Link".North Dakota Governors Online Exhibit.State Historical Society of North Dakota.RetrievedFebruary 11,2012.
- ^abcMacPherson, James (June 1, 2010)."Arthur Link, ex-ND governor and congressman, dies".WDAY.Archived fromthe originalon February 17, 2013.RetrievedFebruary 11,2012.
- ^ab"Arthur Link obituary".Williston Herald.2010-06-02.Archivedfrom the original on 2019-07-08.Retrieved2018-07-22.
- ^"Grace Link, wife of former Gov. Art Link, dies".KFYR. 12 March 2024.Retrieved12 March2024.
https:// history.nd.gov/exhibits/governors/governors27.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20090303224951/http:// artlinklegacy /
External links
[edit]- 1914 births
- 2010 deaths
- Democratic Party governors of North Dakota
- American Lutherans
- People from McKenzie County, North Dakota
- North Dakota State University alumni
- School board members in North Dakota
- Speakers of the North Dakota House of Representatives
- Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from North Dakota
- 20th-century American politicians
- 20th-century Lutherans
- Democratic Party members of the North Dakota House of Representatives