Gaylord Nelson, Father of Earth Day - MINDS@UW Home
Gaylord Nelson, Father of Earth Day - MINDS@UW Home
Gaylord Nelson, Father of Earth Day - MINDS@UW Home
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…the idea occurred to me that if I could persuade President<br />
Kennedy to do a nationwide conservation tour, the whole country<br />
would focus on the issue and it would force the environment onto<br />
the national political agenda. 95<br />
<strong>Nelson</strong> continues and describes an appointment he made with Robert Kennedy,<br />
to which he brought “…a substantial collection <strong>of</strong> newspaper headlines<br />
about…wide public interest in the environment,” and persuaded the Attorney<br />
General that “…it was a good idea to do a nationwide tour.” 96<br />
Senator <strong>Nelson</strong>‟s interview with Edwin Bayley <strong>of</strong> the Kennedy Library Oral<br />
History Project contradicts the Newbold interview somewhat. According to<br />
<strong>Nelson</strong>, he first discussed conservation with John Kennedy during the Jefferson-<br />
Jackson <strong>Day</strong> dinner in Milwaukee in the spring <strong>of</strong> 1962. 97 During the course <strong>of</strong><br />
their day together, the President and Governor <strong>Nelson</strong> discussed the issues that<br />
confronted the United States at the time. <strong>Nelson</strong> recalled that Kennedy said that<br />
with exception <strong>of</strong> Medicare, “…all the issues had become so complicated the<br />
public had great trouble understanding them…” 98<br />
95 <strong>Gaylord</strong> <strong>Nelson</strong>, interview by Dr. Heather Newbold, October 23, 1996,<br />
transcript. <strong>Gaylord</strong> <strong>Nelson</strong> Papers, 1954-2005. Box 1, Folio 4. Wisconsin State<br />
Historical Society, McIntyre Library, University <strong>of</strong> Wisconsin – Eau Claire. Eau<br />
Claire, Wisconsin.<br />
96 <strong>Gaylord</strong> <strong>Nelson</strong>, interview by Dr. Heather Newbold, October 23, 1996,<br />
transcript. <strong>Gaylord</strong> <strong>Nelson</strong> Papers, 1954-2005. Box 1, Folio 4. Wisconsin State<br />
Historical Society, McIntyre Library, University <strong>of</strong> Wisconsin – Eau Claire. Eau<br />
Claire, Wisconsin.<br />
97 <strong>Gaylord</strong> <strong>Nelson</strong>, interview by Edwin R. Bayley <strong>of</strong> the Kennedy Library Oral<br />
History Project, July 1, 1964. <strong>Gaylord</strong> <strong>Nelson</strong> Papers, 1954-2005. Box 6, Folio<br />
40. Wisconsin State Historical Society, McIntyre Library, University <strong>of</strong> Wisconsin<br />
– Eau Claire. Eau Claire, Wisconsin.<br />
98 <strong>Gaylord</strong> <strong>Nelson</strong>, interview by Edwin R. Bayley <strong>of</strong> the Kennedy Library Oral<br />
History Project, July 1, 1964. <strong>Gaylord</strong> <strong>Nelson</strong> Papers, 1954-2005. Box 6, Folio<br />
40. Wisconsin State Historical Society, McIntyre Library, University <strong>of</strong> Wisconsin<br />
– Eau Claire. Eau Claire, Wisconsin.<br />
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