Remembering Stewart Udall
Washington, DC – No matter where you live in America, chances are that you aren't too far from a wilderness area, a national park, or a national monument. That wasn't true before 1960, though, and former Secretary of the Interior Secretary Stewart Udall, who died Saturday at the age of 90, deserves a lot of the credit. This guest post from the Sierra Club's Rob Smith recalls the man whose legacy includes the Wilderness Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the National Trail System. – Carl Pope
I had the privilege of working for the Sierra Club in Arizona when both Morris and Stewart Udall were still there. While Mo was still in office as the Congressman from Tucson and the chair of the then Interior Committee, Stewart was ever present both behind the scenes and as a public figure, even after his retirement from serving as Secretary of the Interior under Kennedy and Johnson (one of the few Cabinet officers to serve continuously under both).
Stew Udall held fundraisers at his central Phoenix home for up-and-coming Democratic leaders, advocated for alternative flood-control measures to new dams on the rivers above Phoenix, continued to pursue compensation for stricken Navajo uranium-mine workers, and was always interested in the latest land-protection ideas. When we approached him for advice and support on a new wilderness proposal, his quick response was "Listen, I'll call Mo and we’ll get this thing going."
Despite his iconic status, public profile, and list of awards and accolades, his office was classic Stew Udall -- modest size, piles of papers on desks, a large Interior Department plaque leaning on a file cabinet in the corner, and just him, welcoming visitors to come in, take a seat, and tell him what was going on.
A few years back, we took time out from our regional staff meeting in Santa Fe to journey up the hill to Stew’s home above town, where he’d moved to be closer to his son Tom (now a senator from New Mexico) and his family. As always, Stew welcomed us into his home, which was decorated with Southwestern art alternating with photographs of him with the Kennedys and other luminaries, pictures of him rowing a raft down the Grand Canyon with his family and the ever-present papers of his latest book project, in this case one on the history of early Southwest explorers.
He served us iced tea and held court with our group of encircled staff organizers on his back porch for a couple of hours, asking about each of our projects and calling up personal stories on how he got Utah senators to support Canyonlands as a national park, made a reluctant Park Service accept Cape Cod National Seashore, and worked any number of other deals by personal persuasion, timing, never-ending determination, and a smile.
He was that rare public figure -- his brother Mo was another -- who could move the politics of the day toward a vision for tomorrow. He grew in his role from a local congressman, preceding Mo in his southern Arizona seat, to a conservation leader and visionary who shaped the modern environmental movement. He and Mo initially opposed the Sierra Club’s David Brower over dams in the Grand Canyon, but ultimately relented when it became clear that Americans wanted to protect their parks. He then helped push for even more parks, wilderness, and the Land and Water Conservation Fund to create a lasting legacy for all of us.
Stewart Udall is now gone, but he lives on in the protected areas he helped set aside, the inspiration of his written words, and the work of his son, Tom, and his nephew, Mark, both U.S. senators who carry forward the conservation torch today. Stewart Udall gave "politicians" a good name -- and serious meaning to the words "public servant." -- Rob Smith
