Assuming you haven't fixed this already, something similar happened to my OE 4 speed. Maybe this applies to you also.
Operating from memory here - don't have transmission now, but ...
As I remember, the shifter lever fits into a plastic (nylon?) cylindrical block that is a reasonably snug fit into a steel sleeve on the top of xmission. To get into R, you had to push down on shifter, which pushed the plastic block down into the xmission. When leaving R, there was a spring under the block that returned it to its original position.
Problem was that the plastic block swelled up (causing a bind) such that the spring underneath couldn't return it to original position when leaving R. The symptoms were exactly as you describe - really hard to find 1st.
Fix for me:
Remove shifter from xmission - seemed like snap ring held it in, then reduce OD of plastic block w sandpaper till it didn't bind. The spring underneath was fine.
Good Luck,
Bill
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