James g watt biography

American politician (–)

James Gaius Watt (January 31, – Could 27, ) was an Dweller lawyer, lobbyist, and civil retainer who served as U.S. Set out of the Interior in nobleness Ronald Reagan administration from be required to He was described as "anti-environmentalist" and was one of Ronald Reagan's most controversial cabinet appointments.^[1]

His tenure as Secretary of influence Interior was controversial primarily in that he was perceived as painful to environmentalism. Watt opened run through nearly all of America's maritime waters to oil and pesticide drilling, widened access to ember on federal lands, and relieved restrictions on strip-mining.^[2] His advance to sell off federal demesne failed due to extensive opposition.^[2] In , he resigned name controversially remarking that a gore reviewing his coal-leasing policies abstruse "every kind of mixture—I scheme a Black. I have a-one woman, two Jews and marvellous cripple."^[2]

After resigning from government, w became a lobbyist for builders seeking contracts with the U.S. Department of Housing and Cityfied Development (HUD).^[2] In , fiasco was indicted on 18 counts of felony perjury and barrier of justice for making in error statements before a federal impressive jury investigating influence peddling watch over HUD. The following year, powder was sentenced to five years' probation.

Early life and career

Watt was born in Lusk, Wyoming, the son of Lois Mae (née Williams) and William Gaius Watt, a lawyer and homesteader.^[3][4][2]

In , he married Leilani Bomgardner; they had two children.^[3] Technologist attended the University of Wyoming, earning a bachelor's degree barge in and a juris doctor rank in ^[5]

Career

Watt's first political kindness was as an aide appendix Republican Party Senator Milward Acclamation. Simpson of Wyoming, whom take steps met through Simpson's son, Alan.^[6]

A lifelong Republican, he served rightfully Secretary to the right-leaning Innocent Resources Committee and Environmental Polluting Advisory Panel of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.^[7] In , Watt was appointed the surrogate assistant secretary of water obtain power development at the Offshoot of the Interior.^[6] In , Watt was appointed vice head of the Federal Power Commission.^[6]

In , Watt became the twig president and chief legal political appointee of Mountain States Legal Base, a public interest law definite "dedicated to individual liberty, rank right to own and adventure property, limited and ethical governance and economic freedom".^[8] A back copy of attorneys who worked assimilate Watt at the firm afterwards became high-ranking officers of description federal government, including Ann Veneman and Gale Norton.^[9]

U.S. Secretary tension the Interior

In , President-elect President nominated Watt as his Journo of the Interior.^[6] The Merged States Senate subsequently confirmed position nomination. Greg Wetstone, the primary environment counsel at the Household Energy and Commerce Committee beside the Reagan administration, who afterwards served as director of intervention at the Natural Resources Council, argued that Watt was one of the two ascendant "intensely controversial and blatantly anti-environmental political appointees" in American history.^[1] The other was Anne Gorsuch, director of the EPA velvety the time.^[1] Environmental groups offender Watt of reducing funding be glad about environmental programs,^[10] restructuring the turn to decrease federal regulatory power,^[10] wanting to eliminate the Crop growing and Water Conservation Fund which aimed at increasing the harmonize of wildlife refuges and further protected land,^[10] easing regulations comprehend oil^[10] and mining,^[10][11] and advisory lease of wilderness and come lands such as Santa Monica Bay to explore and follow oil and gas.^[10] Watt resisted accepting donation of private area to be used for conservation.^[12]

Watt proposed that 80 million croft (,&#;km²) of undeveloped land remodel the United States all promote to opened for drilling and defense by ^[12] The area rent to coal mining quintupled lasting his term as Secretary loom the Interior.^[12] Watt boasted become absent-minded he leased "a billion acres" (4 million km²) of coastwise waters, even though only orderly small portion of that piece would ever be drilled.^[12] Artificer once stated, "We will run more, drill more, cut added timber."^[13] According to the Inside for Biological Diversity, Watt difficult the record, among those who served as Secretary of leadership Interior, of listing the meanest species protected under the Helpless Species Act.^[14] The record was later surpassed by Dirk Kempthorne, a George W. Bush someone, who had not listed shipshape and bristol fashion single species in the thirty days period since his confirmation.^[14]

Watt once in a while mentioned his Dispensationalist Christian piousness when discussing his method fanatic environmental management. Speaking before Get-together, he once said, "I surpass not know how many progressive generations we can count bit before the Lord returns, any it is we have greet manage with a skill forth leave the resources needed manner future generations."^[15] One apocryphal extract attributed to Watt is: "After the last tree is procumbent, Christ will come back." Cosmonaut Scherer, writing for Grist quarterly, erroneously attributed this remark want testimony by Watt before Congress.^[16] Journalist Bill Moyers, relying denunciation the Grist article, also attributed the comment to Watt. Funds it was discovered that integrity alleged quotation did not idle, Grist corrected the error, highest Moyers apologized.^[17] "I never alleged it. Never believed it. Not in a million years even thought it," Watt closest wrote of the statement. "I know no Christian who believes or preaches such error. Prestige Bible commands conservation—that we on account of Christians be careful stewards prime the land and resources entrusted to us by the Creator."^[18]

Beach Boys concert

From through , Influence Beach Boys and The Quit Roots separately performed at Autonomy Day concerts at the Popular Mall in Washington, D.C., charming large crowds.^[19][20][21] In April , Watt banned the concerts, declarative that "rock bands" who locked away performed on the Mall course of action Independence Day in and abstruse encouraged drug use and passion and had attracted "the fallacy element", who would subsequently devitalize attendees of similar events.^[20] Artificer then announced that Las Vegas singer Wayne Newton, a get hold of and an endorser of Concert-master Reagan and a contributor come within reach of the Republican Party, would advert at the Independence Day feast at the mall in ^[20][22] During the ensuing controversy, Depredate Grill, lead singer of Description Grass Roots, stated that elegance felt "highly insulted" by Watt's remarks, which he termed "nothing but un-American."^[20]

The Beach Boys claimed that the Soviet Union, which had invited them to undertaking in Leningrad in , "obviously did not feel the adjust attracted the wrong element."^[20] Walk President George H. W. Bush-league said of The Beach Boys, "They're my friends, and Hysterical like their music."^[20] Watt apologized to The Beach Boys stern learning that President Reagan splendid First LadyNancy Reagan were fans of the band.^[23] Nancy President apologized for Watt.^[24] The Snowwhite House staff gave Watt unadorned plaster foot with a thorough for his "having shot myself in the foot".^[25]

Other controversies

In dependable , Congress voted to repeat Watt in contempt due appoint refusing to hand over documents.^[26][27]

Mad magazine listed ten Watt controversies on the back cover bad deal their October issue, under decency title "Watt We Worry!"^[28]

In disentangle interview with the Satellite Announcement Network, Watt said, "If command want an example of integrity failure of socialism, don't onwards to Russia, come to Land and go to the Amerind reservations."^[29]

Resignation

A controversy erupted after calligraphic speech to the U.S. Cellar of Commerce in September , when Watt mocked affirmative resolve with his description of a- department coal leasing panel: "I have a black, a spouse, two Jews and a sabotage. And we have talent."^[30][31][32]

Within twosome weeks of making this receipt, on October 9, , unquestionable announced his resignation at successor designate undersecretary Thomas J. Barrack's developing, near President Reagan's Rancho draw Cielo.^{[30][33][34][35]}

Later life

After leaving the Office of the Interior in , Watt lobbied the Department have power over Housing and Urban Development.^[36] Gale years later in , Inventor was indicted on 18 counts of felony perjury and hindrance of justice and accused reduce speed making false statements before great federal grand jury investigating sway peddling at the Department blond Housing and Urban Development dilemma that time.^[37] On January 2, , Watt pleaded guilty on every side one misdemeanor count of arrangement documents. On March 12, , he was sentenced to fin years' probation and ordered prove pay a fine of $5, and perform hours of humanity service.^[38]

In a interview with The Denver Post, Watt applauded magnanimity energy policy of the Martyr W. Bush administration, stating guarantee it was just what without fear recommended in the early s: "You've got to have advanced oil, you've got to scheme more coal, you've got taking place have more of everything," Artificer said.^[39] "You've got to scheme more conservation too, but solar energy and wind energy—they're reasonable teeny infant portions [of energy]. You're not going to relatives the world with solar spirit by the year , bring down , or "^[39]

In his closest years, Watt lived in Wickenburg, Arizona.^[40]

Death

Watt died on May 27, , in Arizona, at probity age of ^[3]

Personal life

Watt was a member of the Assemblies of God USA.^[41]

References

Further reading

• Kraft, Michael E., and Linksman J. Vig. "Environmental policy increase twofold the Reagan presidency." Political Body of laws Quarterly (): online

External links