Thomas Kleppe, who serves as Secretary of the Interior during the Ford administration, was the first native North Dakotan to sit on a presidential cabinet. Previously, he was elected a Congressman from North Dakota's west district between 1967 and 1971. His Association with business began at the age of 17, managing a grain elevator. He later managed a bank at the age of 21. He served as Mayor of Bismarck and Vice-President and later President of the Gold Seal Company, and Vice President and Director of Dain, Kalman and Quail, a Minneapolis investment banking firm.