Arthur B. Langlie was defeated for reelection in 1944 by a mere 28,000 votes, but in the 1949 election he reversed the verdict by about the same margin and reassumed the governorship. Many of the problems of Langlie's second term stemmed from the post-World War II adjustment period and national issues which had an important impact on the state. Washington served as a major staging area for the Korean War, civil defense became important in view of the "Cold War" and in the same vein, Washington established its own un-American activities committee to root out Communists. When Langlie assumed office in 1949 the state government had accumulated a large fiscal deficit. A U.S. Department of Commerce study of state governments revealed that Washington topped the list of states in expenditures per capita, spending more than twice the national average. To meet the situation Governor Langlie called far new taxes and an austerity program, but a decision by the State Supreme Court voided the imposition of the new taxes. Consequently, to increase revenues Langlie recommended expansion of the fishing and lumber industries and the encouragement of agriculture and food processing. Management of the state's natural resources was also improved, to encourage continuing prosperity while ensuring that the state's natural resources would not be depleted.
Transportation systems were also expanded during Langlie's second term. Several new bridges were built and the state bought the ferry system which serves Puget Sound. Langlie's program boosted the state's economy and thus the state's revenues. In his parting address to the legislature in 1957 Langlie was able to point to a substantial surplus in the treasury and advances in almost every area of economic activity. At the urging of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, in 1956 Langlie challenged Warren G. Magnuson for his seat in the U.S. Senate, but lost. He then retired from public life and went back to the practice of law. He later moved to New York City where he became the president of the McCall Corporation. Arthur B. Langlie died at his home in Seattle at the age of 65 in July, 1966.
From the description of Governor Arthur B. Langlie (Second Term) papers, 1949-1957. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70977480
