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Gerald H. Robinson collection on Wayne Morse's political career

 Collection
Identifier: Mss2595

Scope and Contents

The bulk of the collection consists of papers either created by or related to Gerald Robinson that concern the election campaigns of Senator Wayne Morse, particularly Morse's 1968 re-election campaign and the subsequent recount. Materials include correspondence, much of which is either to or from Robinson; administrative records; and printouts of election results. Other papers of note relate to Morse's 1960 presidential campaign; Morse's Senate campaigns in 1962, 1972, and 1974; and financial records relating to Bob Packwood's 1974 Senate campaign.

Dates

  • 1947-1974
  • Majority of material found within 1967-1974

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.

Biographical Note

Gerald H. Robinson (1927-2020) was an attorney and photographer from Portland, Oregon. He worked as an attorney and advisor for U.S. Senator Wayne Morse of Oregon.

Biographical Note

Wayne Lyman Morse was born in 1900 in Verona, Wisconsin. He came to Oregon in 1929 and began teaching law at the University of Oregon in Eugene. Two years later, he was named dean of the law school, becoming the youngest head of a law school in the United States. During the 1930s, he acted as a labor mediator in shipping and dockworking negotiations. In 1944, he ran for the United States Senate and won. Although he ran as a Republican, Morse quickly established a reputation as a maverick, often voting with the Democrats. In 1952, he left the Republican party in protest of the Eisenhower-Nixon platform, which he believed had been hijacked by the party's reactionary wing. He served as an independent for over two years before becoming a Democrat.

Morse was reelected in 1956 and 1962. His opposition to the Vietnam War led him to support Republican Mark Hatfield, who was also a critic of America's involvement in Vietnam, in the 1966 Senate race. In 1968, Morse narrowly lost to Republican Bob Packwood in an election that concluded with a recount.

Morse spent much of the rest of his life attempting to regain his Senate seat. In 1972, he unsuccessfully ran against Mark Hatfield. At the time of his death in 1974, he was running against Bob Packwood.

Extent

3.69 Cubic Feet (5 document cases; 4 flat boxes (13x16))

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Papers and election data relating to the political campaigns of U.S. Senator Wayne Morse of Oregon, particularly his 1968 run for re-election and the subsequent recount. The materials were compiled, and some created, by Gerald H. Robinson, an attorney and photographer from Portland, Oregon. Robinson worked for Morse as an advisor and attorney.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in six series: Series 1. Pre-1968 election papers; Series 2. 1968 re-election campaign records; Series 3. 1968 election recount records; Series 4. Election law and political papers, 1968-1972; Series 5. 1972 election campaign records; Series 6. Post-1972 election campaign papers.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gifts of Gerald H. Robinson, May 1980 and February 1984 (Lib. Accs. 15119 and 16689).

Related Materials

Art photography by Robinson is held at the University of Oregon Libraries in Eugene, Oregon.

General

Collection was titled Gerald H. Robinson papers prior to October 2019.

Title
Guide to the Gerald H. Robinson collection on Wayne Morse's political career
Status
Completed
Author
Jeffrey A. Hayes
Date
2019
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
Finding aid is written in English.

Repository Details

Part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library Repository

Contact:
1200 SW Park Ave.
Portland OR 97205 United States
5033065204
5033065240