Gaylord Nelson papers, 1954-2006 (bulk 1963-1980)

Author / Creator

Nelson, Gaylord, 1916-2005

Available as

Online

Physical

Summary

Papers, mainly 1963-1980, of former Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, founder of Earth Day and Counselor of the Wilderness Society. His papers document his Senatorial career and his post-Senator...

Papers, mainly 1963-1980, of former Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, founder of Earth Day and Counselor of the Wilderness Society. His papers document his Senatorial career and his post-Senatorial activities, including his initial election to Congress and his subsequent re-election campaigns, legislative achievements and activities, relationships with other politicians and residents of his home state, the administration of his office and staff, personal and official finances, activities and interests in the environment after 1981, as the Counselor of the Wilderness Society; and the 20th and 25th anniversaries of Earth Day.

Most importantly, the Gaylord Nelson collection documents Nelson's involvement in the origins of Earth Day and legislation related to the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore; the St. Croix, Wolf, and Namekagon Rivers; Alaska Pipeline; Supersonic Transport (SST); environmental education; Mississippi Locks and Dam No. 26; Appalachian Trail; the pharmaceutical industry; Job Corps (Manpower); Project ELF (Project Sanguine); Kickapoo River Valley Dam; Menominee Indian Restoration; and tire safety. The collection also provides information about a number of issues as a result of Nelson's committee assignments and his own personal interests including small business, taxes, the pollution of the Great Lakes, actions of the Reserve Mining Company, the Vietnam War and the draft, and the Panama Canal Treaty. Other broad subjects covered include matters related to the environment, civil rights, transportation, poverty, foreign affairs, civil liberties, labor, trade, agriculture, consumer affairs, education, Indian affairs, social security, veterans' affairs, and the state of Wisconsin in general. Prominent correspondents include Wisconsin legislators, John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Walter Mondale, Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Lyndon B. Johnson, Gerald Ford, Hubert H. Humphrey, Ronald Reagan, Tom Eagleton, Stewart Udall, and William Proxmire.

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