Interviews with North Dakota's 28th governor, Allen I. Olson, describe a remarkable time in the state's history - an oil boom in western North Dakota went bust, the litigation of the ARC lawsuit the and murders of two U.S. marshals by tax protesters near Medina. It was a difficult four years.

Olson was in Bismarck on Monday to celebrate the publication of those interviews in the current issue of North Dakota History.

"I enjoyed every minute of being attorney general. I can't say that about being governor. It was tough," said Olson, referring to the more partisan nature of the governor's office and the difficulties he faced in that job.

Joining Olson and his wife, Barbara, at the Heritage Center were Art and Grace Link and George Sinner. Olson defeated Link to become governor in 1980, and then Sinner defeated Olson four years later. Governors Ed Schafer and William Guy had sent letters of congratulations, and Gov. John Hoeven was represented by his chief of staff, Ron Rauschenberger. Link, Guy and Sinner are Democrats. Olson, Schafer and Hoeven are Republicans.

Olson also said he was proud that in this era of negative politics, he and his fellow governors haven't "let the competition linger," and that they were good friends.

The 35-page article in North Dakota History finds its basis in six hours of interviews of the Olsons by former State Archivist Gerald Newborg.

Olson tells his story, said North Dakota History Editor Kathy Davidson, in an engaging and informal style. The time of Olson's public life in North Dakota, she said, was between established history and the memories of people living today.

From his early days in Sarles, the article takes the reader through Olson's life in the Judge Advocate Corps, his time in the state attorney general's office, as governor and, finally, to his position as a member of the International Joint Commission, with many stops along the way. There are stories of the young governor-to-be flying in single-engine airplanes with his father (and crashing), the tornado in Fargo in 1957, the newly married Olsons living in Germany and many interactions with key figures in North Dakota public life over the years.

Many of these names and events older North Dakotans will remember.

This is the fourth issue of North Dakota History dedicated to the life of a former governor. The series began with a look at Gov. John Davis and then moved on to Govs. Guy and Link.

Olson said of the article, "I think it is a balanced distillation of a long interview with Barb and myself."

North Dakota History is a publication of the State Historical Society of North Dakota.