Mo Udall

Mo Udall – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

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Explore the life of Mo Udall (Morris K. “Mo” Udall): from rural Arizona to the U.S. Congress, his 1976 presidential bid, his lasting legacy in environmental stewardship, Congressional reform, and his wit immortalized in quotes.

Introduction

Morris King “Mo” Udall (June 15, 1922 – December 12, 1998) was an influential American politician, lawyer, and statesman. Serving three decades as U.S. Representative from Arizona, Udall was a liberal icon known for his advocacy on environmental protection, ethics and transparency in government, and institutional reform in Congress. His 1976 campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination, though unsuccessful, showcased his wit, vision, and independent spirit. Beyond politics, he is remembered for his humane character, humor, and enduring legislative achievements.

Early Life and Family

Mo Udall was born on June 15, 1922 in St. Johns, Arizona, to Levi Stewart Udall (later Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court) and Louise Lee Udall, part of a long-standing Utah/Mormon pioneer family.

When Mo was six years old, he lost his right eye in an accident (a misplaced cut by a friend’s pocket-knife) and wore a glass eye for the rest of his life.

His upbringing in rural Arizona—modest, self-reliant, close to the land—shaped much of his political instincts, especially regarding resource stewardship and local community.

Education, Military Service & Early Work

During World War II, Udall served in the U.S. Army Air Forces, attaining rank of Captain, and was stationed in the South Pacific.

After the war, Udall pursued higher education: he completed a bachelor’s degree at the University of Arizona, where he was active (student government, basketball)

Before his Congressional career, Udall practiced law (Udall & Udall), served as Pima County Deputy Attorney and County Attorney (1950s), taught labor law, and engaged in public service locally.

Political Career & Achievements

Entry to Congress & House Service

In 1961, Udall won a special election to fill the Arizona 2nd District seat vacated by his brother, Stewart Udall, who had become Secretary of the Interior under President Kennedy.

In Congress, Udall became Chair (from 1977 to 1991) of the House Interior and Insular Affairs Committee (later Natural Resources).

Environmental & Land Legacy

One of Udall’s hallmark achievements was passage of the Alaska Lands Act in 1980, permanently protecting over 104 million acres of wilderness.

He also pushed for regulations on strip mining, reclamation of mined lands, and reform of energy legislation and resource extraction.

Reform & Institutional Change

Udall was a critic of entrenched House seniority and secretive legislative procedures. He challenged leadership (once even attempted to challenge the Speaker) and pressed for more openness, term limits on committee chairs, and other reforms.

He produced a guidebook for freshmen Congressmen titled The Job of a Congressman (1966).

President Campaign & Later Years

In 1976, Udall ran for the Democratic presidential nomination, positioning himself as a liberal alternative to more centrist candidates. Though he gained substantial support and was competitive in many primaries, he narrowly lost to Jimmy Carter.

In 1980, Udall was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, which progressively impaired him.

Later honors include the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1996, and Congress established the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation (originally Morris K. Udall Foundation) to support environmental policy and public service scholarships. Udall Centers of Excellence for Parkinson’s Disease Research also bear his name.

He died December 12, 1998, in Washington, D.C.

Personality and Character

Mo Udall was tall (6’5″), with a lean, Lincolnesque bearing, an approachable style, and a sharp, self-deprecating humor.

His humor was a political tool as well as a personal trait. Journalists often labeled him “too funny to be president,” a phrase he embraced (and used as a title for his autobiography).

He also held a strong ethical compass: convinced that public service demanded accountability, he campaigned for openness, fairness, and integrity. Personal adversity (e.g. losing an eye) reinforced his empathy toward those marginalized by systemic injustice.

In later years, his Parkinson’s disease was a public struggle—he faced decline with dignity, continuing to press for causes even as the illness progressed.

Famous Quotes

Here are some well-known quotes attributed to Mo Udall:

• “If you can find something everyone agrees on, it’s wrong.”

• “Lord, give us the wisdom to utter words that are gentle and tender, for tomorrow we may have to eat them.”

• “In Reaganomics, however, the poor get all of theirs in winter.”

• “The voters have spoken — the bastards.”

• “In terms of wilderness preservation, Alaska is the last frontier. This time, given one great final chance, let us strive to do it right.”

These statements reflect his wit, his grasp of political irony, and his environmental consciousness.

Lessons from Mo Udall

1. Courage to dissent
   Udall’s bold early opposition to the Vietnam War within his party shows how integrity sometimes demands breaking with orthodoxy.

2. Humor as a bridge
   His wit disarmed opponents, endeared him to colleagues and constituents, and humanized politics.

3. Large vision, local roots
   His environmental legacy was built from personal experience of land and place. His major conservation victories came from balancing national ambition with local sensitivity.

4. Institutional reform matters
   Changing the rules of how Congress works—how power is shared, how leaders are checked—is as lasting as passing individual laws.

5. Perseverance in adversity
   Even with Parkinson’s, Udall continued to press for causes he believed in, leaving a legacy beyond his physical struggles.

Conclusion

Mo Udall stands out as a unique figure in late 20th-century American politics: a man who combined principle with pragmatism, humor with seriousness, and reformist zeal with respect for tradition. His 30-year Congressional career produced landmark conservation laws, structural reforms, and a culture of ethical expectation. His words continue to echo, and his legacy endures in institutions, landscapes, and scholarship programs established in his name.