Hugh Morrow; Nelson Rockefeller’s Speech Writer, Adviser

Hugh Morrow, 76, a speech writer and longtime adviser to Nelson A. Rockefeller who announced the former governor and vice president’s death 12 years ago. Morrow started working as a speech writer for Rockefeller in 1959 and served as a special assistant in the 1960s. Morrow became director of communications for Rockefeller in 1969 and remained in that post until Rockefeller left the New York governorship in 1973. Morrow followed Rockefeller to Washington as a secretary when he became vice president in 1974. When Rockefeller returned to private life, Morrow followed once again, this time as a press counselor and confidential aide. When Morrow announced Rockefeller’s death in 1979, he became involved in an imbroglio when it was revealed that Rockefeller had not died at his desk as Morrow reported but at his townhouse with a female aide. Morrow remained an adviser to the Rockefeller family until his retirement in 1982. In Chestnut Ridge, N.Y., on Wednesday of the complications of a stroke.