Robert Burren Morgan
Encyclopedia
Robert Burren Morgan was a Democratic U.S. Senator
from the state of North Carolina
from 1975 until 1981. Born in Lillington, N.C., Morgan attended
Lillington public schools and later East Carolina College
and Wake Forest University School of Law
.
Morgan's political career began early when political leaders in his home county of Harnett, including highly respected Democratic Party stalwart Veneble Baggett, visited him at the Wake Forest Law School and urged him to run for Clerk of Court. Morgan did so and was elected. After building a reputation in that office, he went into the private practice of law. His skill as a trial lawyer caused his practice to grow, and he soon established a reputation that extended across the state. Personal injury, real property and antitrust law were among his specialties.
He next ran for the North Carolina State Senate
and won. He rose to the Senate's highest office, President Pro Tempore
, and chaired key committees. He mastered the legislative process, and the experience he obtained in the State Senate served him well when he was later sent to the United States Senate by the voters of North Carolina.
In 1968, Morgan challenged long-time incumbent Attorney General Wade Bruton in the Democratic Party primary defeated him, and then won the General Election. He served one four-year term and then was re-elected. He served two years of that term and then resigned to run for the U.S. Senate.
Early in his political career, Morgan was considered a conservative because of his allegiance to his former Wake Forest law professor, conservative politician I. Beverly Lake, Sr., who ran a pro-segregation campaign for governor in 1960.
But later, as an influential state senator, as North Carolina attorney general
from 1969 to 1974, and as the successful candidate to succeed Democratic U.S. Senator Sam Ervin
, Morgan was considered a moderate.
After winning the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in 1974, Morgan resigned as attorney general. He then won the General Election over Republican William Stevens, garnering 63% of the vote. He was defeated for re-election in 1980 by Republican John P. East in an extremely close race. Morgan returned to the practice of law and also served as director of North Carolina's State Bureau of Investigation under Attorney General Lacy Thornburg
.
From 2000 to 2003, Morgan served as founding president of the North Carolina Center for Voter Education, a Raleigh, NC-based nonprofit and nonpartisan organization that seeks to increase civic engagement in North Carolina. Morgan is president emeritus of that organization.
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from the state of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
from 1975 until 1981. Born in Lillington, N.C., Morgan attended
Lillington public schools and later East Carolina College
East Carolina University
East Carolina University is a public, coeducational, engaged doctoral/research university located in Greenville, North Carolina, United States. Named East Carolina University by statute and commonly known as ECU or East Carolina, the university is the largest institution of higher learning in...
and Wake Forest University School of Law
Wake Forest University School of Law
The Wake Forest University School of Law is one of the professional graduate schools of Wake Forest University. Located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Wake Forest University School of Law is a private American Bar Association accredited law school and is a member of the Association of American...
.
Morgan's political career began early when political leaders in his home county of Harnett, including highly respected Democratic Party stalwart Veneble Baggett, visited him at the Wake Forest Law School and urged him to run for Clerk of Court. Morgan did so and was elected. After building a reputation in that office, he went into the private practice of law. His skill as a trial lawyer caused his practice to grow, and he soon established a reputation that extended across the state. Personal injury, real property and antitrust law were among his specialties.
He next ran for the North Carolina State Senate
North Carolina General Assembly
The North Carolina General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The General Assembly drafts and legislates the state laws of North Carolina, also known as the General Statutes...
and won. He rose to the Senate's highest office, President Pro Tempore
President Pro Tempore of the North Carolina Senate
The President Pro Tempore of the North Carolina Senate is the highest-ranking officer of one house of the North Carolina General Assembly. The President of the Senate is the Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina, but the President Pro-Tem actually holds most of the power and presides in the...
, and chaired key committees. He mastered the legislative process, and the experience he obtained in the State Senate served him well when he was later sent to the United States Senate by the voters of North Carolina.
In 1968, Morgan challenged long-time incumbent Attorney General Wade Bruton in the Democratic Party primary defeated him, and then won the General Election. He served one four-year term and then was re-elected. He served two years of that term and then resigned to run for the U.S. Senate.
Early in his political career, Morgan was considered a conservative because of his allegiance to his former Wake Forest law professor, conservative politician I. Beverly Lake, Sr., who ran a pro-segregation campaign for governor in 1960.
But later, as an influential state senator, as North Carolina attorney general
North Carolina attorney general
The Attorney General of North Carolina is the head of the state's Department of Justice and provides legal representation and advice to all state agencies. He or she does not have the authority to prosecute specific crimes unless requested to do so by a local district attorney...
from 1969 to 1974, and as the successful candidate to succeed Democratic U.S. Senator Sam Ervin
Sam Ervin
Samuel James "Sam" Ervin Jr. was a Democratic Senator from North Carolina from 1954 until 1974. A native of Morganton, Burke County, North Carolina, he liked to call himself a "country lawyer", and often told humorous stories in his Southern drawl...
, Morgan was considered a moderate.
After winning the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in 1974, Morgan resigned as attorney general. He then won the General Election over Republican William Stevens, garnering 63% of the vote. He was defeated for re-election in 1980 by Republican John P. East in an extremely close race. Morgan returned to the practice of law and also served as director of North Carolina's State Bureau of Investigation under Attorney General Lacy Thornburg
Lacy Thornburg
Lacy Herman Thornburg an American lawyer and judge, was North Carolina attorney general from 1985 to 1993.After serving in the United States Army, Thornburg attended Mars Hill College when it was a junior college. He then earned a law degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill...
.
From 2000 to 2003, Morgan served as founding president of the North Carolina Center for Voter Education, a Raleigh, NC-based nonprofit and nonpartisan organization that seeks to increase civic engagement in North Carolina. Morgan is president emeritus of that organization.