The Man from Clear Lake: Earth Day Founder Senator Gaylord NelsonOn Earth Day 1970 twenty million Americans displayed their commitment to a clean environment. It was called the largest demonstration in human history, and it permanently changed the nation’s political agenda. More than 1 billion people now participate in annual Earth Day activities. The seemingly simple idea—a day set aside to focus on protecting our natural environment—was the brainchild of U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin. It accomplished, far beyond his expectations, his lifelong goal of putting the environment onto the nation’s and the world’s political agendas. The life of Nelson, a small-town boy who learned his values and progressive political principles at an early age, is woven through the political history of the twentieth century. Nelson’s story intersects at times with Fighting Bob La Follette, Joe McCarthy, and Bill Proxmire in Wisconsin, and with George McGovern, Lyndon Johnson, Hubert Humphrey, Russell Long, Walter Mondale, John F. Kennedy, and others on the national scene. Winner, Elizabeth A. Steinberg Prize, University of Wisconsin Press |
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Page 243
... Congress . Nelson was dis- appointed when President Johnson , in his 1966 “ natural heritage mes- sage " to Congress , urged creation of eight new parks and recreation areas but merely called for more studies and planning on the ...
... Congress . Nelson was dis- appointed when President Johnson , in his 1966 “ natural heritage mes- sage " to Congress , urged creation of eight new parks and recreation areas but merely called for more studies and planning on the ...
Page 269
... Congress did authorize a 30 percent federal share , with incentives that could increase it 55 per- cent in some circumstances , but the grants for treatment plants were a paltry $ 3.5 billion over six years , a small fraction of ...
... Congress did authorize a 30 percent federal share , with incentives that could increase it 55 per- cent in some circumstances , but the grants for treatment plants were a paltry $ 3.5 billion over six years , a small fraction of ...
Page 340
... Congress . Nelson registered " probably the clearest knockdown of the evening " in his closing re- marks , when he said Kasten had collected his full salary during his last year in Congress but showed up to vote only half the time ...
... Congress . Nelson registered " probably the clearest knockdown of the evening " in his closing re- marks , when he said Kasten had collected his full salary during his last year in Congress but showed up to vote only half the time ...
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The Man from Clear Lake: Earth Day Founder Senator Gaylord Nelson Bill Christofferson Limited preview - 2009 |
Common terms and phrases
Aldric Revell American Apostle Islands Appalachian Trail April August bill called campaign candidate Carrie Lee Clear Lake committee Congress Congressional conservation Dane County debate Democratic Party detergents Doyle drug Eagleton Earth Day election environment environmental federal Follette Gaylord Nelson governor hearings History of Wisconsin House Humphrey Ibid interview by author interview by Jim issue January Johnson Jordahl July June Kasten Kennedy La Follette land later legislation legislature Lucey Madison March McCarthy McGovern million Milwaukee Nelson asked Nelson Senate Papers Nixon North Vietnam November October ORAP park passed percent phosphate political Polk County pollution President primary proposed Proxmire race recreation reelection reporter Republican Reuss River Saint Croix sales tax September speech Thomson tion took trail troops U.S. Senate Udall Vietnam vote wanted Washington Wiley Wiscon