Changes

​

​

==As House Speaker==

==As House Speaker==

The fiscally [[conservative]] Morton was a director of the Wyoming Taxpayers Association, but he an atypical Wyoming Republican. He supported  [[abortion]] and [[gun control]] laws, particularly opposed by his state's large community of hunters.<ref name=statement/> As House Speaker, his colleagues considered him strict, smart, and fair. Tom Stroock, a former state senator from Casper and a United States Ambassador to [[Guatemala]], described the former Speaker as "brilliant. . . Warren had an important part to play in the history of Wyoming in the 1970s and 1980s. He was clearly an outstanding Speaker and an excellent legislator," though Stroock said that he did not always agree with Morton's political positions.<ref name=cst>Joan Barron, "Former House Speaker dies at 77: Casper oil man Morton devoted much of life to civic service," ''Casper Star-Tribune,'' February 20, 2002, pp. 1, A14.</ref>​

The fiscally [[conservative]] Morton was a director of the Wyoming Taxpayers Association, but he an atypical Wyoming Republican. He supported  [[abortion]] and [[gun control]] laws, particularly opposed by his state's large community of hunters.<ref name=statement/> As House Speaker, his colleagues considered him strict, smart, and fair. Tom Stroock, a former state senator from Casper and a United States Ambassador to [[Guatemala]], described the former Speaker as "brilliant ... Warren had an important part to play in the history of Wyoming in the 1970s and 1980s. He was clearly an outstanding Speaker and an excellent legislator," though Stroock said that he did not always agree with Morton's political positions.<ref name=cst>Joan Barron, "Former House Speaker dies at 77: Casper oil man Morton devoted much of life to civic service," ''Casper Star-Tribune,'' February 20, 2002, pp. 1, A14.</ref>​

​

​

Marlene Simons of Beulah, who was a freshman representative when Morton was Speaker, said that he had been a mentor to beginning legislators, seating them among the more experienced lawmakers. "He ran a tight ship. He was a kind, gentle man, but he was stern."<ref name=cst/>

Marlene Simons of Beulah, who was a freshman representative when Morton was Speaker, said that he had been a mentor to beginning legislators, seating them among the more experienced lawmakers. "He ran a tight ship. He was a kind, gentle man, but he was stern."<ref name=cst/>

==Gubernatorial campaign==​​

==Gubernatorial campaign==

​

​

Morton easily won the [[Republican Party (United States)|GOP]] [[primary]] to challenge two-term Democratic [[Governor]] Edgar Herschler of Kemmerer in Lincoln County. Morton polled 52,536 votes (74.3 percent). Rex G. Welty (1921-1992) of Afton in Lincoln County received 9,106 ballots (12.9), and Earl A. Johnson drew 9,025 (12.8 percent). Nels J. Smith of Sundance in northeastern Wyoming, who had been Morton's predecessor as House Speaker, filed for governor but withdrew before the primary. In a nationally Democratic year, Herschler charged that Morton was a tool of the energy interests.<ref name=fof>''Facts on File Yearbook, 1982,'' p. 822.</ref> Morton was active in the Rocky Mountain Oil and Gas Association, having been the president of the [[interest group]] from 1963 to 1965.<ref name=obit/> In addition to his own MKM company, Morton was a director of the American Petroleum Institute and was the Wyoming representative on the Interstate Oil Compact Commission from 1962 to 1972.<ref name=cst/>​

Morton easily won the [[Republican Party (United States)|GOP]] [[primary]] to challenge two-term Democratic [[Governor]] Edgar Herschler of Kemmerer in Lincoln County. Morton polled 52,536 votes (74.3 percent). Rex G. Welty (1921-1992) of Afton in Lincoln County received 9,106 ballots (12.9), and Earl A. Johnson drew 9,025 (12.8 percent). Nels J. Smith of Sundance in northeastern Wyoming, who had been Morton's predecessor as House Speaker, filed for governor but withdrew before the primary. In a nationally Democratic year, Herschler charged that Morton was a tool of the energy interests.<ref name=fof>''Facts on File Yearbook, 1982,'' p. 822.</ref> Morton was active in the Rocky Mountain Oil and Gas Association, having been the president of the [[interest group]] from 1963 to 1965.<ref name=obit/> In addition to his own MKM company, Morton was a director of the American Petroleum Institute and was the Wyoming representative on the Interstate Oil Compact Commission from 1962 to 1972.<ref name=cst/>​

Morton received 62,128 votes (36.9 percent) to Herschler's 106,427 (63.1 percent). Morton polled only 9,592 more votes in the [[general election]] than he had the primary. Herschler, however, received 62,031 more votes in the final round than he had in the Democratic primary against Pat McGuire. Herschler's plurality over Morton was hence almost numerically the same as Morton's total vote in the general election.<ref>''Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections,'' 1982 gubernatorial primary and general election returns, pp. 1539, 1608.</ref>​

Morton received 62,128 votes (36.9 percent) to Herschler's 106,427 (63.1 percent). Morton polled only 9,592 more votes in the [[general election]] than he had the primary. Herschler, however, received 62,031 more votes in the final round than he had in the Democratic primary against Pat McGuire. Herschler's plurality over Morton was hence almost numerically the same as Morton's total vote in the general election.<ref>''Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections,'' 1982 gubernatorial primary and general election returns, pp. 1539, 1608.</ref>​

​

​

Morton ran nearly twelve percentage points behind [[John C. Ostlund]], a former state senator, who had lost to Herschler in 1978. Of the three Republicans who challenged Herschler, Ostlund had fared best, losing by one percentage point. While Morton lost the governorship, Republican [[U.S. Senator]] Malcolm Wallop of Sheridan defeated the Democrat former Wyoming state Senator Rodger McDaniel, 57 to 43 percent.<ref>''Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections,'' 1978 and 1982.</ref> McDaniel had been the Wyoming state coordinator for the unsuccessful presidential campaign in 1980 of Senator [[Edward M. Kennedy]] of [[Massachusetts]].<ref name=fof/>​

Morton ran nearly twelve percentage points behind [[John Ostlund]], a former state senator, who had lost to Herschler in 1978. Of the three Republicans who challenged Herschler, Ostlund had fared best, losing by one percentage point. While Morton lost the governorship, Republican [[U.S. Senator]] Malcolm Wallop of Sheridan defeated the Democrat former Wyoming state Senator Rodger McDaniel, 57 to 43 percent.<ref>''Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections,'' 1978 and 1982.</ref> McDaniel had been the Wyoming state coordinator for the unsuccessful presidential campaign in 1980 of Senator [[Edward M. Kennedy]] of [[Massachusetts]].<ref name=fof/>​

  ​

  ​

After his gubernatorial defeat, Morton continued to support Republican candidates in Wyoming, such as U.S. Senators Craig L. Thomas, [[Alan K. Simpson]], [[Mike Enzi]], and Malcolm Wallop, as well as his state's GOP organization. In 2000, he also donated to then [[U.S. Representative]] Rick Lazio of [[New York]] in the latter's bid against [[Hillary Rodham Clinton]] for the U.S. Senate. In 1979, Morton contributed to the failed presidential bid of former [[Texas]] [[Governor]] [[John Connally]] before switching his support to [[Ronald W. Reagan]].<ref>Newsmeat, List of Campaign Contributions:http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?zip=82601&last=MORTON&first=WARREN</ref>​

After his gubernatorial defeat, Morton continued to support Republican candidates in Wyoming, such as U.S. Senators Craig L. Thomas, [[Alan K. Simpson]], [[Mike Enzi]], and Malcolm Wallop, as well as his state's GOP organization. In 2000, he also donated to then [[U.S. Representative]] Rick Lazio of [[New York]] in the latter's bid against [[Hillary Rodham Clinton]] for the U.S. Senate. In 1979, Morton contributed to the failed presidential bid of former [[Texas]] [[Governor]] [[John Connally]] before switching his support to [[Ronald W. Reagan]].<ref>Newsmeat, List of Campaign Contributions:http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?zip=82601&last=MORTON&first=WARREN</ref>​

​

​

==Death and legacy==​

==Death and legacy==​

  ​

  ​