Bill Langer

One of the first people reported hospitalized during the terrible flu pandemic that struck North Dakota in 1918 was also one of the most well-known. “Wild Bill” Langer was the state attorney general during the early years of his tumultuous political career.

The Legislature’s first gathering in the second North Dakota Capitol was for a special session called by the since-deposed governor to investigate his federal court conviction. The building was completed in 1934 after the previous Capitol burned in 1930.

Turbulent politics gripped North Dakota in the 1930s, when four men served as governor in a seven-month period. Gov. Bill Langer was removed from office by the state Supreme Court due to his federal felony conviction on corruption charges. Lt. Gov. Ole Olson succeeded him, but served only a few months and didn’t run for election.

North Dakota has had a handful of foreign-born governors. Ragnvold Nestos and John Moses were born in Norway, with Roger Allin and Walter Welford born in…