Editing Mo Udall (section)

====Government legislative reform====
Udall challenged the arcane and Byzantine rules and protocols of the House of Representatives, demanding a reduction in the ability of powerful leaders to covertly control legislation and dominate committees. Udall's efforts eventually led to substantial reform of congressional rules and operations.<ref name="this_fella_from_arizona_1981_11_audubon" /><ref name="obit_1998_12_14_new_york_times" /><ref name="will_rogers_1974_12_new_york_magazine" />

Udall gained early national political notoriety for being the first congressman in the 20th century to challenge a sitting [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|Speaker of the House]] for his seat. He challenged Rep. [[John William McCormack|John McCormack]], in 1968.  Though defeated, Udall tried again two years later, against [[House Majority Leader]], [[Hale Boggs]]; he lost again but shook the foundations of the House seniority system. This was eventually reformed, largely as a result of the revolt begun by Udall.<ref name="this_fella_from_arizona_1981_11_audubon" /><ref name="obit_1998_12_14_new_york_times" /><ref name="will_rogers_1974_12_new_york_magazine" />

Like any freshman congressman, Udall struggled to adapt to the office during his first term; but in his second term, he responded to the experience by organizing a school for other incoming freshmen congressman, to teach them the complex and subtle ways of the House of Representatives, and how to navigate the Washington bureaucracy. To aid this effort, Udall wrote a 1966 guidebook, ''The Job of a Congressman.''<ref name="this_fella_from_arizona_1981_11_audubon" /><ref name="obit_1998_12_14_washington_post" />