Arthur A. Link

Not to be confused with the American historian Arthur S. Link.

"Art Link" redirects here. For the American football coach, see Art Link (American football).

Art Link
27th Governor 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 the U.S. House of Representatives from North Dakota's 2nd district
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 (1914-05-24)May 24, 1914 Alexander, North Dakota, U.S.
Died	June 1, 2010(2010-06-01) (aged 96) Bismarck, North Dakota, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Grace Johnson ​ (m. 1939)​
Children	6
Profession	Farmer Politician
Website	artlinklegacy.com

Arthur Albert Link (May 24, 1914 – June 1, 2010) was an American politician and farmer of the North Dakota Democratic Party, and later the Democratic-NPL. He served as a U.S. Representative from 1971 to 1973 and as the 27th governor of North Dakota from 1973 to 1981.

Early life

Link was born in Alexander, North Dakota. He attended the McKenzie County schools, and North 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 the National Farmers' Union and Nonpartisan League.

Political career

He was elected to the North Dakota House of Representatives in 1946 as a Democrat. 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 County Welfare 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.

House of Representatives 1971-1973

In 1970, Link was persuaded to run for U.S. Congress from the western district of North Dakota to succeed Republican incumbent Thomas 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 (Republican Mark Andrews) for re-election in the new at-large district in 1972 and instead ran for Governor of North Dakota.

Governor of North Dakota 1973-1981

Elections

1972

Link ran for governor in 1972 defeating Edward P. Burns for the Democratic nomination. In the general election he faced Republican lieutenant governor Richard F. Larsen. Link won the election, receiving 51% of the vote to Larsen’s 49%.

1976

Link ran for a second term in 1976, 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.

1980

In 1980. Link ran for a third term. He won the Democratic nomination unopposed and in the general election faced Republican nominee and State Attorney General Allen I. Olson. Link Lost reelection to Olson by a 54% to 46% Margin.

Later life

After his defeat, Link remained active in public life, leading a successful fight against a state lottery in 1984. He also remained involved in historical preservation and writing of local histories. He and his wife Grace lived in Bismarck, North Dakota.

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.

References

https://www.history.nd.gov/exhibits/governors/governors27.html

https://web.archive.org/web/20090303224951/http://www.artlinklegacy.com/

External links

• United States Congress. "Arthur A. Link (id: L000333)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• North Dakota Historical Society: Arthur Link