William Janklow (R-S.D.)
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Claims to fame: Former Governor of South Dakota, 1979-1986 and 1995-2002; Indian-hater; would-be rapist; reckless driver; killer
Boys will be boys moment: In 1955, at age 16, appeared in juvenile court (Moody County, South Dakota) for allegedly assaulting a 17-year-old girl. Janklow denied charge was rape, but inadvertently tipped off public with smug statement, “It didn’t go that far, but it was preliminary to that sort of thing.” Charge dropped, records sealed.
Not-so-youthful indiscretion: In 1967, attorney Janklow was accused of rape by Jancita Eagle Deer, 15-year-old babysitter for Janklow family. Janklow, then working for the Office of Economic Opportunities on the Rosebud Sioux reservation, denied charge, said enemies were trying to smear him.
Consequence: Disbarred from legal practice on Rosebud reservation in 1974 for “assault with intent to commit rape, and carnal knowledge of a female under 16.”
Unsolved mystery: A few months after testifying in Tribal Court that she was raped at gunpoint by Janklow, Jancita Eagle was found dead, struck down by a car near Aurora, Nebraska — inexplicably, hundreds of miles from home.
What happened next: Janklow lost libel suit and attempt to block publication of book, In the Spirit of Crazy Horse, by Peter Matthiessen, exposing alleged crimes.
Perverse injustice: Janklow’s animosity toward AIM (American Indian Movement) worked to plan; he garnered more support from bigoted white voters, won two gubernatorial races, and then the state’s only congressional seat.
Now appearing: In a kangaroo court destined to let him off the hook for running a stop sign at 75mph and killing a motorcyclist. (Janklow’s long and well-documented history of speeding and recklessness behind the wheel will not be allowed as evidence; plus, his lawyer is blaming the incident on Janklow’s diabetic condition.) Stop the presses! Janklow has just been convicted of second-degree manslaughter, reckless driving, running a stop sign and speeding, and has announced his resignation, effective January 20, 2004. Good God, there is justice!
Memorable quote:
“‘The only way to deal with the Indian problem in America is to put a gun in the AIM leaders’ heads and pull the trigger.”
— 1974
Suggested Bible reading for Mr. Janklow:
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
— James 2:10
