resigning as commerce secretary to instead serve as Counselor to the President with cabinet rank. Morton's new position was to advise the president on domestic and economic policy. In addition, Morton was to serve as the special liaison to the political committee to elect President Ford. Morton's duties blurred the line between his public and political duties, and caused controversy concerning how Morton would divide his time between the White House and Ford's election campaign, and how much of his salary would be supplied by taxpayers versus the Ford election committee. In rebuttal, Morton stated "you can't separate government from politics", and that Presidential aides should be allowed to offer political advice. In April 1976, Morton was named campaign manager for Ford leading up to the 1976 presidential election. He replaced former U.S. Representative Howard Callaway of Georgia, who was forced to resign following allegations of improper use of authority while he was Secretary of the Army. Morton directed Ford's campaign until August 25, 1976, when he was reassigned as chairman of a steering committee and was replaced by James Baker of Houston, Texas. Morton's demotion was at his own request; he said that he no longer wished to bear "the responsibility and accountability of the chairmanship". After the 1976 campaign, Morton retired from politics to his farm, "Presqu'isle", near Easton, Maryland, where he operated a boat construction business. Morton had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1973, but he said that the disease was in its early phase and was still treatable. In 1979, however, Morton died of the cancer at his home in Easton. He is interred in Old Wye Cemetery in Wye Mills, Maryland. References External links Guide to the Angela Raisch Collection on Rogers C.B. Morton housed at the University of Kentucky Libraries Special Collections Research Center 1914 births 1979 deaths 20th-century American politicians American Episcopalians United States Army personnel of World War II Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons alumni Deaths from prostate cancer Deaths from cancer in Maryland Ford administration cabinet members Military personnel from Louisville, Kentucky Nixon administration cabinet members People from Easton, Maryland Politicians from Louisville, Kentucky Republican National Committee chairs Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Maryland United States Army officers United States Navy officers United States Secretaries of Commerce United States Secretaries of the Interior Woodberry Forest School alumni Yale University alumni