When actor Cliff Robertson decided to back a presidential candidate in 1976, he gave the matter a lot of thought and study. After researching his choices, Robertson decided Arizona Congressman Mo Udall was his man. And so began a friendship that lasted until Udall’s death in 1998.
Once he made that decision, Robertson offered his services unsolicited and campaigned for Mo in New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Michigan and other primaries. The two became good friends.
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1985 Star files
Cliff Robertson checking his makeup on the set of “Cowboy Up.”
The next year, in 1977, he turned to his good friend and former Pima County Attorney, Mo Udall, for advice regarding a check forgery and the head of Columbia Pictures, David Begelman. Udall advised Robertson to contact the FBI, since local authorities seemed unwilling to investigate what would become known as the “Begelman Affair.”
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Although, Begelman was eventually sentenced for his role in the case, Robertson ended up being blackballed by Hollywood. It was during that down period, in 1978, that he visited with Udall Tucson.
They met with about 100 theater people at the Invisible Theatre and watched several performances by local groups. Robertson said that with more government arts funding, incidents like that would not have happened. “There wouldn’t be the opportunity for crime on that scale. Men wouldn’t have the Rajah-like power that Begelman had.”
In 1985, Robertson was working again and was in Tucson to film a segment for a rodeo program called “Cowboy Up.” The filming was taking place at Old Tucson.
Mo Udall died in 1998 following a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. In 1990, Robertson attended the dedication of the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy at the UA. Robertson said “This center represents in simplicity the greatness of a common man – Mo Udall.”
