Richard Nixon: an Unlikely Environmental Hero
~ Nixon's Environmental Legacy ~
Richard Nixon (R) served as the 37th president of the United States, from 1969 to 1974. While he may not have been everybody's favorite president, you can't really argue with all the great things that he did to protect the environment. According to this Richard Nixon Foundation article, he declared that the environment is the defining issue of the new decade, at his 1970 State of the Union address. "The great question of the Seventies is... shall we make our peace with nature and begin to make reparations for the damage we have done to our air, to our land, and to our water," he stated, earning him support from both sides of a politically divided nation.
Nixon left behind a surprising, yet incredible environmental legacy after his resignation, one that hasn't been beaten by another president since. Although he wasn't a huge fan of environmentalists in private, according to this History article, he did realize that this country's new interest in the environment was much more than just a passing trend, and he knew that he could truly do something for it. Then Nixon and his administration did six amazing things for the environment, which are still benefiting the air, land, water, animals, and people of this nation to this day.
Firstly, there was the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. This act required federal agencies to provide environmental impact statements for federally funded programs, it established the Presidential Council on Environment, and it gave the foundation to formally declare national environmental goals and policies for the very first time. Secondly, he created the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1970. This was the absolute first time that the country ever had any sort of central authority monitoring the protection of the environment. Then after that came arguably the most important air pollution control bill in this country's history: the Clean Air Act Extension of 1970. This act made the brand new EPA create and enforce laws that protect people from dangerous and deadly airborne pollution.
Then there was the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. This was the first time any marine mammal (whales, dolphins, walruses, seals, sea otters, manatees, polar bears) were ever protected by law. It protected them from fisherman, being imported/exported, and other ways people could hunt, capture, and kill them. A few days after signing that act, Nixon signed the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act, regulating the dumping of any hazardous and harmful substances into the ocean. A year later came the Endangered Species Act of 1973. This was designed to protect any species heading towards extinction due to human activity. This act created the endangered species list, and has brought countless species from barely surviving to absolutely thriving. Finally, there is the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974. This act protects rivers, streams, lakes and other bodies of water, and utilizes action to protect our sources of drinking water, such as groundwater wells, springs, and reservoirs, all according to this Treehugger article. Nixon's environmental legacy is certainly something to be grateful for. These acts have been substantially crucial in the protection of America's environment since their introductions half a century ago, and they've also been influential in environmental protection becoming more common and mainstream since his time in office.
~ Seeing Earth From a New Perspective ~
Only six months after Nixon took office in January of 1969, the world would suddenly become more real and more meaningful. On July 16, 1969, the Apollo 11 crew, consisting of Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins, snapped a photo while on their way to the moon, according to this Insider article. The "overview effect" often happens when you see the planet from very far away for the first time. Seeing it as a large ball floating through empty space provides an overwhelming, but calming, sense of the unity of life on earth, and a greater understanding of the "big picture." Getting to see our planet like that for the first time was life-changing, for everyone aboard the spaceship, and for the countless TV viewers at home who watched in awe as the live cameras turned around from looking up at the moon, to looking down at earth. It was then that everyone could really start to truly see the big picture.
This world-changing event happened just as environmental protection was just barely starting to take off and slowly become mainstream. Seeing the earth from this incredible new perspective absolutely accelerated the growth of environmental protection becoming a new key part of society as a whole. The sense of unity was now felt by the population that could finally understand the big picture, after seeing our world just floating through the emptiness of space. The love and care towards our environment that people still feel today was finally starting.
A new president just took office only months prior, so there really was lots of potential for the new president to work with the nation's sudden new desire to protect the environment. This was going to become the defining issue of the decade, as Richard Nixon acknowledged, and as the country was ready for. Although Nixon didn't exactly see eye-to-eye with America's massive new population of environmentalists, he still new that there absolutely couldn't be a better time to do what needed to be done to help the country, save the environment, and please the people.
~ It Still Wasn't Enough ~
It was the summer of 1972, and Richard Nixon's reelection campaign was starting up. According to this History article, early one June morning, in Washington D.C.'s Watergate complex of buildings, multiple burglars were arrested in the office of the Democratic National Committee. The robbers, who were in connection with Nixon's reelection campaign, were caught stealing documents and wiretapping phones in the office of the DNC. Nixon was able to cover up his tracks for a while, winning the election, and beginning his second term in 1973. His role in the conspiracy was revealed by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, reporters for the Washington Post, causing an uproar from the nation's people. This resulted in the people of this country quickly starting to have much less trust in their government, and far more skepticism towards their leaders.
The American people now barely trusted the government, and questioned who they could really believe, which was not good at all for Nixon, his administration, and the rest of the government. People were now thinking much more critically and seriously about what the people they elect actually do. The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency in 1970, the Clean Air Act Extension of 1970, the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, all weren't enough to outweigh the American people's view on the infamous Watergate Scandal. The people no longer trusted the government, which is disastrous for the entire nation, and it's possible that the trust in the government never healed. The Watergate Scandal caused Richard Nixon to become the first president to resign, leaving office on August 9, 1974, a year and a half into his second term.
~ How Nixon's Legacy Lives On ~
America's 37th president, Richard Nixon, definitely left an impact on the nation. The six things he and his administration did for the environment have provided the foundation for the growth of environmental protection into what it is today. Caring about the environment became a mainstream idea during his time in office - an idea which has been passed down and spread around, and is more popular than ever now. People around Keene, and even lots of students around Keene State College all share this interest in caring for our environment. For instance, Earth Day in downtown Keene was absolutely packed with people, supporting and discovering green businesses and restaurants, as well as sustainable lifestyles and ideas.
The 64-mile long Ashuelot River runs through the heart of Keene, and provides a clean and peaceful place for the locals and students to swim, relax, and enjoy. It benefits much more than just us though. According to this informational page from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, the Ashuelot River is home to many state and federally-listed endangered species. This river is known for being clean and safe for the people to enjoy and for the animals and plants to thrive in. I can only imagine how this river could possibly look without some of Nixon's environmental acts, such as the National Environmental Policy Act of 1970. Being right next to a busy town and a college campus, the water needs to be clean. If that water was polluted, that could have devastating effects on the health of everyone that lives anywhere near here. Thanks to the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 as well, our water in Keene is safe for us to drink, and there is no pollution in it that could poison and harm us students, the local residents, or the countless plants and animals that live in or near the Ashuelot River. We all often take our clean water, land, and air for granted, but we are so incredibly lucky to have laws that protect those in order to keep us safe, and to protect the rest of the environment that surrounds us.
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