1974 North Dakota Senatorial Election Interviews

The 1974 North Dakota Senatorial Interviews consist of three oral history interviews conducted by Allan Young in 1988. Young first interviewed Judge Douglas B. Heen on October 27, 1988, in Devils Lake. Heen was the presiding judge of the Second Judicial District in 1974, which encompassed eleven counties in northeastern North Dakota. Heen was charged with overseeing the recount in this district. His interview with Young consisted of his memories of the recount and the procedures undertaken during it. The second interview was a lengthy interview with William Guy, which occurred on November 21, 1988, at Guy’s home in Bismarck. The vast majority of the interview regards the 1974 campaign, although the nature of North Dakota politics in the years before the election is also discussed. The topics examined include: Guy’s relationship with Senators Quentin Burdick and Milton Young, the campaign finance controversy with the Council for a Livable World, campaign strategies, the primary candidacy of Robert McCarney, the impact of third party candidate James Jungroth and the eventual recount. The final interview was conducted with William Wright at the Ramada Inn in Bismarck on November 22, 1988. During the 1974 election, Wright served as Senator Young’s press secretary. He discussed the history of his relationship with Senator Young and James Jungroth, who was an old college friend of Wright’s. Senator Young’s campaign strategy to defeat Guy was also discussed. The interviews with Heen and Wright are each recorded on one audio tape, while the interview with Guy is recorded on two audio tapes. A transcription for each interview is also included. The interviews were used as part of Allan Young's 1989 Master's Thesis, "Race of the Century: Guy vs. Young, 1974 North Dakota U.S. Senate Election."