Veteran reporter Swenson: Greg Redlin's book on S.D. political legend ‘Wild Bill’ Janklow is insightful, enjoyable
I recently read Greg Redlin’s book about legendary South Dakota politician Bill Janklow, and I liked it.
Although it’s written as fictionalized history, “Janklow: A Novel of Politics and Power on the Prairie,” convincingly discusses the best and worst of the fast-talking lawyer who dominated politics in South Dakota for decades. Janklow’s time in the spotlight included four years as attorney general, 16 years as governor and one year in Congress. Janklow also was prominent among American Indians for a few years as a Legal Services lawyer on the Rosebud Reservation.
I covered state government as a Pierre-based reporter for the Sioux Falls Argus Leader for a few years in the early 1980s. Those early years in Janklow’s state government career are a major focus of the book. A lot of big, historic issues began unfolding during that era, including the prosecution of American Indian activist Dennis Banks, legislative efforts to preserve railroad service, conversion of USD-Springfield into a state prison, and the arrival of Citibank in Sioux Falls. Janklow seemed to be in the middle of every debate.
Redlin uses a fictional legal aide who was a member of Janklow’s inner circle, Jake Keating, to narrate action in the book and provide behind-the-scenes insight. Once I adjusted to that literary device and the use of some composite characters, the book was a smooth read.
His description of “Wild Bill” Janklow’s sometimes charming, usually aggressive, often intimidating, and driven-to-win nature — with or without the support of accurate facts — seemed to be right on target. The book also offers interesting glimpses of discussions that might have taken place behind the scenes. The conversations created by the author went largely as my colleagues in the press and I probably would have imagined.
Redlin worked in Janklow’s budget office during the governor’s early years in office, so the author can write with knowledge about how state government works. Redlin is also an experienced author. He wrote “White Hawk,” a book about a 1967 murder in Vermillion.
Janklow's political career ended abruptly in 2003 when he was prosecuted and briefly jailed after running a stop sign in rural South Dakota and colliding with a motorcyclist, who died in the crash. Janklow died of brain cancer in 2012 at age 72. He left a significant mark in state history.
Redlin’s book about Janklow’s rise and fall captures many of the high points and low points. The book might be hard to find in bookstores, but it’s available on Amazon. It’s worth finding and reading.
Rob Swenson is a retired journalist from Sioux Falls. He worked for more than 40 years as a newspaper reporter and editor and as a freelance writer and marketer.
Photo: John Tsitrian
