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Lynn Frazier | |
|---|---|
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| United States Senator fromNorth Dakota | |
| In office March 4, 1923 – January 3, 1941 | |
| Preceded by | Porter J. McCumber |
| Succeeded by | William Langer |
| 12thGovernor of North Dakota | |
| In office January 3, 1917 – November 23, 1921 | |
| Lieutenant | Howard R. Wood |
| Preceded by | L. B. Hanna |
| Succeeded by | Ragnvald Nestos |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Lynn Joseph Frazier (1874-12-21)December 21, 1874 Medford,Minnesota, U.S. |
| Died | January 11, 1947(1947-01-11) (aged 72) Riverdale,Maryland, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican (NPL faction) |
| Spouses | |
| Education | Mayville State University University of North Dakota (BA) |
Lynn Joseph Frazier (December 21, 1874 – January 11, 1947) was an American educator and politician who served as the 12thgovernor of North Dakota from 1917 until beingrecalled in 1921 and later served as aU.S. Senator fromNorth Dakota from 1923 to 1941. He was the first American governor ever successfully recalled from office. The only other American governor to ever be recalled isGray Davis, who wasrecalled in 2003.
Frazier was born inMedford, Minnesota. His family moved to North Dakota when he was six years old. He graduated fromGrafton High School in 1892, andMayville Normal School in 1895. He completed his bachelor's degree at theUniversity of North Dakota and graduated with honors.[1][2][3] Prior to his career in state and national politics, Frazier was a farmer and school teacher.[4][3]
Frazier intended to become a doctor, but the unexpected deaths of his father and brother forced him to take over the family farm.[5]
After winning theRepublican primary as theNonpartisan League candidate, Frazier was elected Governor in 1916 with 79% of the vote.[6][7]
Frazier was extremely popular and implemented several reforms such as the establishment of theBank of North Dakota and theNorth Dakota Mill and Elevator, which have been a lasting legacy of the Nonpartisan League election success until today.[8]
During the 1919 national coal strike, Governor Frazier took a unique approach to the strike. He declared martial law, took over the mines with United Mine Workers of America contracts and ran them in cooperation with the union.[9][10]
He was re-elected twice, in 1918 and 1920, but an economicdepression hit the agricultural sector during his third term and resulted in a successful private-business-ledgrassroots movement to press for hisrecall. In 1921, Frazier was the first governor to be successfully removed from office.[11]Independent Voters Association memberRagnvald Nestos was elected to his place.[8][2]
After the recall, Frazier was elected in 1922 to theU.S. Senate, again as the NPL candidate on the Republican ticket. He served until losing a bid for re-election in 1940, when he was unseated in the Republican primary byWilliam Langer.[8][2][12]
Frazier was twice married, to Lottie J. Stafford, with whom he had five children, from November 26, 1903, until her death on January 14, 1935,[13] and to Catherine Paulson, whom he married in 1937.[4][13]
Frazier died inRiverdale, Maryland, on January 11, 1947, at the age of 72. He is buried in Hoople Cemetery,Hoople, North Dakota.[8]
Governor Frazier is portrayed in the 1984 Nebraska Public TV documentaryPlowing up a Storm.
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Republican nominee forGovernor of North Dakota 1916,1918,1920 | Succeeded by |
| First | Nonpartisan League nominee forGovernor of North Dakota 1921 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Republican nominee forU.S. Senator fromNorth Dakota (Class 1) 1922,1928,1934 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Governor of North Dakota 1917–1921 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. Senate | ||
| Preceded by | U.S. Senator (Class 1) from North Dakota 1923–1941 Served alongside:Edwin F. Ladd,Gerald Nye | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chair of theSenate Indian Affairs Committee 1927–1933 | Succeeded by |
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)| Governors |  | |
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| Lieutenant governors | ||
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| Class 3 | ||
Chairs of theUnited States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs | ||
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| Full Committee (1820–1947) | | |
| Select Committee (1977–1993) | ||
| Full Committee (1993–) | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
