In episode two of Biographical Conversations with James G. Martin, Governor Martin discusses his six terms as a U.S. Representative, as well as his successful campaign for, and first term as, governor as North Carolina.

Martin won his first congressional term in November 1972--the year that Republican President Richard Nixon won a landslide reelection victory over Senator George McGovern. Even so, Democrats held majorities in both houses of Congress. "I sort of had a career of being in the minority party," Martin says with a rueful grin. But Martin also explains that during his terms in Congress, members of rival parties treated one another politely and amicably. "Back then, you had friends not only in your state and neighboring states, but friends from both parties, you'd get to be friends with others on your committee from the other party."

During Martin's first term in the House, he served under the leadership of Gerald Ford, who was House minority leader until he was tapped to be Nixon's vice president in October 1973. The two Republicans formed a close working relationship during this time, and Martin retained a great deal of respect for Ford when he became president after Nixon's resignation in August 1974.

Martin also served in Congress under President Jimmy Carter, from 1977 to 1980. He remembers Carter as a "thoughtful and very open and very friendly," if not "a strong leader." President Ronald Reagan, on the other hand, is described as "a man who had very clear ideas about a few things that were very important."

After remaining in the House during Reagan's first presidential term, Martin decided to leave Washington, DC, at the end of his sixth term, in order to run for governor of North Carolina in 1984. Martin campaigned throughout the state, emulating Reagan's strategy of stressing a small number of priorities in a clear manner. "I was able to get across as a message, it even became a slogan after a while, that I was for better schools, better roads and better jobs." It proved to be a successful slogan; Martin was elected governor in November 1984.

But serving as a Republican governor in the Democratic-controlled Raleigh legislature proved to be a much less collegial situation for Martin, who came to realize that getting the legislature to agree to his proposals would be a challenge." I did not understand until I was elected and saw the steps that they took to try to, to minimize my ability, my effectiveness, my authority, and to usurp appointed power, that we were in for a real struggle."

Martin found his first term a constant battle, as he worked to find common ground with his often-adversarial legislature. But the governor did manage to remain popular with the people of North Carolina, who elected him--by a solid margin--to a second term in November 1988.