The 2024 general election is next week. South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has been an active spokesman for Former President Donald J. Trump, the Republican nominee, leading to continued speculation that Noem could be in line for a position in the Trump administration if he prevails.
Only once in South Dakota history has a governor resigned, and it was to accept a presidential appointment. On July 24, 1978, Governor Richard F. Kneip resigned to become U.S. Ambassador to Singapore, accepting an appointment from President Jimmy Carter.
Kneip was in his final year as governor, and his resignation elevated Lt. Governor Harvey Wollman to the governor’s office for about five months. Wollman had been a candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor at the time that the appointment was announced, but by the time Kneip resigned, Wollman had lost the primary.
I looked back at the press coverage from that time, using newspapers that are available on newspapers.com. They show how the possibility of Kneip resigning to accept an ambassadorship went from rumor to reality:
February 11, 1978: In the midst of the legislative session, the Associated Press reports for the first time about rumors that Kneip could be appointed U.S. Ambassador to Singapore, as seen in this short item in the Rapid City Journal:
February 12, 1978: The following day, the Argus Leader reports that Kneip confirmed that he may be under consideration for an ambassadorship:
February 15, 1978: Responding to the speculation, the Argus Leader runs an editorial, discouraging Kneip from accepting an appointment. Among its reasons is the impact such a move would have on the 1978 Democratic primary for governor:
February 16, 1978: While not confirming that he would accept an ambassadorship, Kneip clarifies, the day after the Argus Leader editorial appeared, that he would not leave office until July 1, after the primary election:
February 24, 1978: Kneip continues to refuse to either confirm or deny the rumors:
March 19, 1978: A few weeks go by with nothing, and then the Argus Leader runs a story speculating about Wollman’s potential selections for lieutenant governor, predicated on the idea that if he succeeded to the governorship, he would need to appoint a new lieutenant:
March 25, 1978: A week later, a Republican legislator pours cold water on the Wollman running mate speculation, opining in the Argus Leader that in such a case the office should be left vacant:
March 30, 1978: The appointment at this point must have been all but final, as Kneip’s chief of staff, Dan Garry, openly discusses it with the Associated Press, confirming that the ambassadorship will be to Singapore. Garry also discusses the timing considerations, and the interplay between the appointment and Wollman’s gubernatorial campaign:
April 22, 1978: Nearly a month later, though, there is no further word on the appointment:
April 27, 1978: Finally, the news is announced by U.S. Senator George McGovern that, as had been rumored since February, Kneip will be appointed U.S. Ambassador to Singapore:
April 28, 1978: The Argus Leader runs a story based on interviews with Kneip and Wollman (the first image starts both stories, the second image continues both):
Kneip ultimately resigned on July 24, 1978. By that point, Wollman had lost a close Democratic primary to Sen. Roger McKellips of Alcester. Kneip served as ambassador until late 1980, then returned to South Dakota, where he unsuccessfully sought a return to the Governor’s Office in 1986. Kneip died in early 1987; Wollman never again sought statewide office, but was an active Democrat and elder statesman until his death in 2022.
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