The nation's longest tenure ever served by a secretary of state is 34 years, and this accomplishment was achieved by a man from North Dakota.

Ben Meier was first elected as secretary in 1954, and he served continuously until Dec. 31, 1988. After his first successful election, Meier was never again defeated, usually garnering more than 55 percent of the votes.

He had a serious challenge in the 1954 Republican primary, and, of the 10 times Meier ran for re-election, only once was he challenged within the party.

People who supported Meier found him determined, frugal and of strong character. Those who opposed him thought he was stubborn, stingy and insensitive.

He had a reputation for being very conservative and always insisted on doing things by the book. I don't know if he changed in his latter years of office or if this reputation was overblown, but I do know that, in the spring of 1987, Meier did something that appeared totally out of character.

He wanted the 1989 Centennial Blue Book, authorized by the 1987 Legislature, to be his legacy. The man he hired to edit this book was thought to be a liberal Democrat who was determined to change the format of the Blue Book that had existed for 100 years.

How do I know this? The editor Meier chose for the Blue Book is the author of this column. Despite our great political differences, a special friendship was established where we respected each other's ideas. In Meier, I found a very sensitive man who I grew to admire.

Meier was born Aug. 1, 1918, on a farm eight miles southwest of Napoleon. His parents, Bernhard and Theresia Meier, spoke German at home, and this was Ben's first language. After attending rural grade school, Ben completed high school in 1941 through correspondence with the Division of Independent Study in Fargo.

He then attended the Dakota Business College in Fargo and later enrolled in the School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.

Meier returned to south-central North Dakota in 1943 and, for the next seven years, worked in banks in Napoleon, Gackle and Hazelton. He became a business partner with Gilman A. Klefstad, a legislator and bank president at Forman. Together, the two men purchased the Stock Growers Bank of Napoleon, and Meier also purchased the bank in Hazelton.

With his focus on the banking business, Meier soon earned the nickname "Banker Ben." However, banking was not Meier's only interest. Through Sen. Bill Langer, Meier was persuaded to get involved in Republican politics in the Non-partisan League.

Meier ran for tax commissioner in 1952 but lost in a three-way race.

In 1954, Meier received the endorsement of the NPL for secretary of state and was opposed in the primary by Martin Vaaler, an Anamoose school teacher, who was endorsed by the new Republican Organizing Committee.

In the Republican primary, Meier received 69,704 votes, and Vaaler received 62,364 votes. In the general election, Meier was elected by receiving 63 percent of the votes, defeating B. Earle Robinson, his challenger from the Democratic Party.

In each of the nine succeeding elections, Meier easily won re-election. In 1988, Meier declined to run for re-election.

The North Dakota Blue Book was published periodically since 1889, although it was originally called the "Legislative Manual." All of the Blue Books up to 1987 had been edited by current or former North Dakota newspaper editors and had followed a standard format.

The 1987 North Dakota Legislature authorized a new Blue Book to be available in 1989, the year of the North Dakota centennial, and Meier began looking for an editor.

I was interested in editing the Blue Book, but considered it a long shot because of past political affiliations, my determination that the Blue Book needed to be revamped and my inexperience of working for North Dakota newspapers. Nevertheless, I met with Meier and was later offered the job.

When I arrived at the Capitol, Meier provided me with spacious offices in the legislative chambers and agreed to meet weekly so that I could give him a progress update. After the second meeting, he told me our meetings were no longer necessary because he had complete confidence in me.

Twice a day, Meier would walk to the other end of the Capitol to ask me to join him for coffee breaks.

Late in 1987, I accompanied Meier on a state-related business trip to Dickinson. While we were on our way, Meier told me about his son, Lynn, who had been a medical student at the University of North Dakota when he died in 1974 at the age of 24. It was as if this was the first time he went into detail with anyone outside his family about the deep pain he felt.

A short time later, Meier told me he wasn't seeking re-election and asked me to run. I thanked him, but declined the offer.

After retirement, Meier's health began to decline and he spent time on different cruises with his wife, Clara. He died on Oct. 2, 1995.

As the 2008 election is now reaching its political crescendo and office seekers often vilify their opponents, I nostalgically think back to the two years I worked for Ben Meier, and how we judged each other not by party affiliations, but by character and ideas.

(Written by Curt Eriksmoen and edited by Jan Eriksmoen. Reach the Eriksmoens by e-mail at cjeriksmoen@;cableone.net.)