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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natural resources.” 101 According to <strong>Nelson</strong>‟s account, by this point Stuart Udall,<br />
Secretary <strong>of</strong> the Interior, and Senator Clinton Anderson also supported the idea<br />
<strong>of</strong> a conservation tour.<br />
On May 16, 1963, Senator <strong>Nelson</strong> received a letter from a member <strong>of</strong><br />
President Kennedy‟s staff, Arthur Schlesinger, indicating that the President<br />
wanted <strong>Nelson</strong>‟s input regarding “…the field <strong>of</strong> conservation.” 102 <strong>Nelson</strong> replied<br />
on May 24, and promised the President a memo outlining his ideas for a<br />
conservation tour. 103<br />
<strong>Nelson</strong>‟s five page memo, dated August 29, 1963, is a tour-de-force <strong>of</strong><br />
environmental activism and political savvy. <strong>Nelson</strong> combined ardent<br />
environmentalism with practical political advice. He explained the details <strong>of</strong><br />
environmental problems, and outlined how he would handle the planning <strong>of</strong> a<br />
conservation tour. As an addendum, he also included quotations from<br />
environmental philosophers and scientists, “…some <strong>of</strong> which may be fitting for<br />
your speeches.” 104<br />
101 <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. Wisconsin State Historical Society,<br />
McIntyre Library, University <strong>of</strong> Wisconsin – Eau Claire. Eau Claire, Wisconsin.<br />
102 Arthur Schlesinger to <strong>Gaylord</strong> <strong>Nelson</strong>, May 16, 1963. <strong>Gaylord</strong> <strong>Nelson</strong> Papers,<br />
1954-2005. Box 2, Folio 35. Wisconsin State Historical Society, McIntyre<br />
Library, University <strong>of</strong> Wisconsin – Eau Claire. Eau Claire, Wisconsin.<br />
103 <strong>Gaylord</strong> <strong>Nelson</strong> to John F. Kennedy, May 24, 1963. <strong>Gaylord</strong> <strong>Nelson</strong> Papers,<br />
1954-2005. Box 2, Folio 35. Wisconsin State Historical Society, McIntyre<br />
Library, University <strong>of</strong> Wisconsin – Eau Claire. Eau Claire, Wisconsin.<br />
104 <strong>Gaylord</strong> <strong>Nelson</strong> to John F. Kennedy, August 29, 1963. <strong>Gaylord</strong> <strong>Nelson</strong><br />
Papers, 1954-2005. Box 2, Folio 35. <strong>Nelson</strong>‟s suggested quotations included<br />
passages by Loren Eisley, Henry David Thoreau, Wallace Stegner, and Aldo<br />
Leopold, to name a few. Interestingly, <strong>Nelson</strong> also included a quotation from J.<br />
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