"WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO OUR CHILDREN & USE WHAT NATURE HAS GIVEN US"

JFK'S CONSERVATION TOUR CONCLUDES IN LAS VEGAS

Las Vegas, Nevada (JFK+50) On September 28, 1963, President John F. Kennedy concluded a five day conservation tour of the Western United States here in Las Vegas.  The President spoke at the Convention Center where he said...

"We devour...the resources of this country and therefore we have to pay attention to two basic resources.  One is our children, to make sure they are the best educated citizens in the world...and the second is to use what nature has given us and wherever we can to improve it."

JFK pointed out that 92% of the Atlantic and Pacific coasts were held by a comparatively few and so he recommended that we "take these areas...which offer the maximum for recreation for all of our people...before it is too late."

The President concluded is speech by stating the following major conclusions he had reached after his conservation trip...

1. We mount a new campaign to conserve our natural environnment.
2. We educate our children.
3. We use every chance we have to promote the peaceful relations between countries so that we can enjoy what God has given us.

Earlier in the day, the President spoke at the dedication of the Whiskeytown Dam and Reservoir* where he said...

"...every time we bet on the future of this country we win.  Every time we set aside a seashore for the use of future generations, every time we build these great projects, we develop the water resources, we set aside recreational areas, we can be sure they are going to be used.

 I am proud to be associated with those who are contributing to this country, who are making it better, not merely right now...but who are looking to the long future of those who come after us."


*Whiskeytown Dam is located on Clear Creek, a tributary of the Sacramento River in northern California.  It was one of the 1st units built of the Trinity River Division of a Federal project intended to provide irrigation water to the Central Valley.  The Whiskeytown Dam and Lake are named after a Gold Rush camp which was submerged in 1963 with the filling of the new reservoir.

Whiskeytown Dam and Reservoir

National Bureau of Reclamation Photo

TO MOBILIZE THE ATTENTION OF THE COUNTRY

JFK BEGINS CONSERVATION TOUR IN PENNSYLVANIA, WISCONSIN AND MINNESOTA

Duluth, Minnesota (JFK+50) On September 24, 1963, President John F. Kennedy traveled to Milford, Pennsylvania, Ashland, Wisconsin, and Duluth, Minnesota beginning a five day conservation tour of the United States.

The President's first stop was in Milford where he spoke at the Pinchot Institute for Conservation Studies.  JFK said...

"I don't think many Americans can point to such a distinguished record as can Gifford Pinchot* and this institute...There is no more fitting place to begin a journey ... across the U.S. to see what can be done to mobilize the attention of this country so we in the 1960's can do our task in preparing America for all the generations which are still yet to come."

JFK commended Gifford Pinchot as being the father of American conservation and a gifted administrator as well as a "tutor of Presidents."

*Gifford Pinchot (1865-1946), the 1st Chief of the US Forest Service and twice governor of Pennsylvania, was born in Simsbury, Connecticut and graduated from Yale University.  He became known for reforming the management and development of the Nation's reserves by planned use and renewal.

 TR and Gifford Pinchot (1907)

National Archives/Library of Congress