POLITICAL NOTES: Morse’s Right-to-Work Law

Oregonians recognize U.S. Senator Wayne Morse’s instinct for the political jugular, but until last week they never realized that it extended even to a right-to-work-for-Wayne-Morse law. Last week all Oregon learned what the Senator’s neighbors in Eugene have known for two months: that fiery Democratic (and ex-Republican) Liberal Morse had fired a part-time gardener, horse handler and 25-year friend because the 65-year-old handyman dared defend Dwight Eisenhower to Morse’s face.

Morse and Handyman DeForest (“Dee”) Pickert were bound for a campaign rally in Oregon City last October when a third friend remarked to Republican Pickert: “Wayne really gave your old pal Ike a good working over last night.” Snapped Pickert: “Ike has forgot more about war than the common man will ever know.” At that point Wayne Morse blew with a fury old friends in Oregon and the U.S. Capitol are wary of. Soon after Morse sent to Employee Pickert a check for $49.25 in wages and a parting explanation: “I am very sorry that it became necessary to end our working relationships. However, I have found from experience that whenever one has such strong differences with my political views which you expressed to others, loyalty of friendship is sacrificed.”