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Did You Know That: ND politician may have been first to campaign with song 
It is my impression that successful politicians and music are often linked. During last year’s presidential campaign, we remember that on several occasions President Barack Obama, Mitt Romney and Herman Cain suddenly burst into song.
RELATED CONTENTEriksmoen: Record-setting pitcher played baseball in North Dakota
The man who threw the first official pitch in the American League was also the first pitcher to win an American League game. This record-setting hurler spent three years playing baseball in North Dakota.
RELATED CONTENTEriksmoen: Man of firsts in Minnesota was second white North Dakotan
The second white man to become a permanent resident of North Dakota (Joseph Rolette was first) also became the holder of a number of original records in another state.
RELATED CONTENTEriksmoen: Accusations during WWI tore small communities apart
During World War I, North Dakota was a hotbed of accusations, and several people were charged with violating the recently passed Espionage Act.
RELATED CONTENTEriksmoen: North Dakota pastor arrested ‘for violation of Espionage Act’
In 1918, a North Dakota pastor was sentenced to prison for three years for allegedly violating the Espionage Act of 1917.
RELATED CONTENTEriksmoen: North Dakota composer was originally a medical doctor
The man who composed the music to the North Dakota State Song and the college song for North Dakota State University was a former medical doctor who lost his Fargo practice after a fire destroyed all of his medical records and equipment.
RELATED CONTENTEriksmoen: Many actors with North Dakota ties appeared in sci-fi movies
Since motion pictures first became talkies, I discovered that at least 22 actors who were born in or moved to North Dakota have appeared in at least 64 feature science-fiction movies.
RELATED CONTENTEriksmoen: First North Dakota rep had ashes scattered on Capitol grounds
"The only man known to rest forever on Capitol Hill" served as the first U.S. representative in Congress from North Dakota and later was a U.S. senator for 12 years.
RELATED CONTENTEriksmoen: First to represent North Dakota in House endorsed Democrat for president
The first person to represent North Dakota in the U.S. House, a conservative Republican, later endorsed Democrat Woodrow Wilson for president.
RELATED CONTENTEriksmoen: Acclaimed journalist born, raised in North Dakota
‘Arizona’s most acclaimed journalist,” who wrote the popular 1992 award-winning book “The Trunk Murderess,” was born and raised in North Dakota.
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Eriksmoen: ND woman saved empress from suicide
In 1880, seven years before becoming the wife of a North Dakota farmer, Marie Downing reportedly saved the life of the widow of a European emperor. Almost 80 years later, a journalist/author reconstructed the events leading up to Marie’s life-saving decision in Africa.
RELATED CONTENTEriksmoen: North Dakota car salesman organized great sports teams
A Bismarck car salesman assembled the best baseball team in the history of North Dakota and arguably also put together the greatest basketball team in the state.
RELATED CONTENTNorth Dakota man became one of most popular authors of all time
A former professional boxer, born and raised in North Dakota, later became one of the most popular authors of all time. Louis L’Amour wrote all kinds of adventure stories, as well as poetry, but he was best know for his Western novels, many of which were turned into major motion pictures. By the time of his death in 1987, his books had sold more than 200 million copies, “making him the third top-seller in the world.”
RELATED CONTENTEriksmoen: Murder, mystery surround Custer statues
What I call a mystery, some might call a curse. Four major attempts to memorialize George A. Custer with bronze, larger-than-life statues have resulted in strange twists.
RELATED CONTENTEriksmoen: Six baseball Hall of Fame inductees played for teams in North Dakota
Six men who have been inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., played for teams in North Dakota.
RELATED CONTENTEriksmoen: Legislator named seven North Dakota counties
The first legislator elected in northern Dakota Territory west of the Red River Valley was responsible for the names of seven counties in North Dakota.
RELATED CONTENTEriksmoen: Incumbent forced off ticket by opposition
It has been reported that an incumbent North Dakota Republican governor was forced off the ticket a little over a month before the election because he faced stiff opposition from Red River Valley Republicans.
RELATED CONTENTEriksmoen: North Dakota teachers became prominent national figures
Former North Dakota K-12 teachers have made major impacts on the national stage. I have written about seven nationally prominent people whose early careers were as teachers in this state. If you know of others, please let me know at the email address listed at the end of the article.
RELATED CONTENTEriksmoen: Older Capone was Prohibition agent
The oldest brother of Al “Scarface” Capone was a government agent put in charge of keeping alcohol off Indian reservations in the Dakotas during Prohibition. No one in the Dakotas, including his wife, knew that Sheriff Richard “Two-Gun” Hart was born with the name Vincenzio “James” Capone.
RELATED CONTENTEriksmoen: ‘Father of Fargo’ recognized for greatness
Few individuals have had a greater impact on the development of a state’s major city than Jasper Chapin had on Fargo.
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