▁Sam oa . ▁His ▁ 7 0 th ▁birth day ▁g ala ▁was ▁held ▁on ▁Saturday , ▁September ▁ 4 , ▁ 2 0 1 0 , ▁at ▁the ▁G ov . ▁H . ▁Lee ▁Aud itor ium . ▁His ▁wife , ▁T of iga , ▁is ▁a ▁long time ▁nur se ▁at ▁L B J ▁Trop ical ▁Medical ▁Center . ▁ ▁Lieutenant ▁Governor ▁U . S . ▁Rep . ▁Phill ip ▁Bur ton ▁of ▁California ▁introduced ▁a ▁Bill ▁on ▁June ▁ 1 0 , ▁ 1 9 7 6 , ▁in ▁the ▁U . S . ▁House ▁of ▁Representatives ▁to ▁allow ▁for ▁the ▁popular ▁election ▁of ▁the ▁Governor ▁and ▁L t . ▁Governor , ▁rather ▁than ▁appointment ▁by ▁the ▁Inter ior ▁Secretary . ▁The ▁Bill ▁passed ▁the ▁House ▁by ▁a ▁ 3 7 7 – 1 ▁majority . ▁American ▁Sam oa ▁Governor ▁H yr um ▁R ex ▁Lee ▁approved ▁Public ▁Law ▁ 1 5 - 2 3 ▁on ▁May ▁ 1 6 , ▁ 1 9 7 7 , ▁which ▁called ▁on ▁the ▁U . S . ▁Secretary ▁of ▁the ▁Inter ior ▁to ▁allow ▁the ▁direct ▁election ▁of ▁the ▁Governor ▁and ▁L t . ▁Governor . ▁On ▁September ▁ 1 3 , ▁ 1 9 7 7 , ▁the ▁Department ▁of ▁the ▁Inter ior ▁issued ▁Order ▁No . ▁ 3 0 0 9 ▁which ▁provided ▁a ▁" Pro vision ▁for ▁Elect ed ▁Governor ▁and ▁Lieutenant ▁Governor , ▁and ▁Cre ation ▁of ▁Office ▁of ▁Government ▁Com pt roller ". ▁This ▁p aved ▁the