Gaylord Anton Nelson(June 4, 1916 – July 3, 2005) was an American politician fromWisconsinwho served as aUnited States senatorandgovernor.He was a member of theDemocratic Partyand the founder ofEarth Day,which launched a new wave ofenvironmental activism.
Gaylord Nelson | |
|---|---|
 Nelson in 1963 | |
| United States Senator fromWisconsin | |
| In office January 8, 1963 – January 3, 1981 | |
| Preceded by | Alexander Wiley |
| Succeeded by | Bob Kasten |
| 35thGovernor of Wisconsin | |
| In office January 5, 1959 – January 7, 1963 | |
| Lieutenant | Philleo Nash Warren P. Knowles |
| Preceded by | Vernon Wallace Thomson |
| Succeeded by | John Reynolds |
| Member of theWisconsin Senate from the26thdistrict | |
| In office January 3, 1949 – January 5, 1959 | |
| Preceded by | Fred Risser |
| Succeeded by | Horace W. Wilkie |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Gaylord Anton Nelson June 4, 1916 Clear Lake, Wisconsin,U.S. |
| Died | July 3, 2005(aged 89) Kensington, Maryland,U.S. |
| Resting place | Clear Lake Cemetery,Clear Lake, Wisconsin |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Carrie Lee Dotson (m.1947) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | San Jose State University(BA) University of Wisconsin–Madison(LLB) |
| Awards | Presidential Medal of Freedom(1995) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Early life and education
editNelson was born in 1916 inClear Lake, Wisconsin,the son of Mary (Bradt), a nurse, and Anton Nelson, a country doctor. He had Norwegian and Irish ancestry.[1]He grew up and was educated in the local public schools. In 1939, he received a bachelor's in political science at what is nowSan Jose State UniversityinSan Jose, California.[2]In 1942, he received anLL.B.degree from theUniversity of Wisconsin Law SchoolinMadison[3][4]and was admitted to the bar. He practiced as a lawyer before serving in theUnited States Army,during which time he saw action in theOkinawa campaignduringWorld War II.He rose to the rank of first lieutenant.
Politics
edit
In 1948, Nelson was elected to theWisconsin State Senate.He remained there until1958,when he was elected governor of Wisconsin. He served for four years as governor, in two two-year terms, before being elected to the United States Senate in1962.He served three consecutive terms as a senator from 1963 to 1981. In 1963 he convincedPresidentJohn F. Kennedyto take a national speaking tour to discuss conservation issues. Senator Nelson foundedEarth Day,which began as a teach-in about environmental issues on April 22, 1970.[5]During Congressional debate on air pollution and emissions from automobiles in 1970, Nelson also sponsored an amendment to theClean Air Actwhich would have phased out gasoline-powered automobiles in favor of electric or steam-powered vehicles. The bill was defeated due to lobbying from automotive manufacturers.[6]
During his1968re-election campaign, Nelson was praised byVince Lombardi,the General Manager and former coach of theGreen Bay Packers,as the "nation's #1 conservationist" at a banquet inOshkosh.Nelson's campaign turned Lombardi's banquet speech into a radio and television campaign commercial, infuriating Lombardi, theWisconsin Republican Party,and Vince's wife, Marie, who was a staunch Republican.[7]
Although known primarily for his environmental work, Nelson also was a leading consumer advocate, strong supporter of civil rights and civil liberties, and one of the early outspoken opponents of theVietnam War.[8]In 1969, Nelson was one of four senators tointroduce a bill to establish the Wisconsin Islands Wilderness.[9]
In 1970, Nelson called for Congressional hearings on the safety ofcombined oral contraceptive pills,which were famously called "TheNelson Pill Hearings."As a result of the hearings, side-effect disclosure in patient inserts was required for the pill – the first such disclosure for a pharmaceutical drug.[10]
Nelson further attempted to overhaul howpharmaceuticalswere marketed, proposing a bill that would requiredrug manufacturersto prove both the safety and efficacy of their marketed drugs in 1971.[11]His office received a memorandum in 1975 stating that bothSominexand its competitorCompozhad been shown ineffective when compared toplacebos,in spite of the US$34 million spent onsleeping aidsin 1974.[12]
Nelson was also a noted advocate of small business. While chairman of the Senate Small Business Committee, he led successful efforts to authorize the first modern White House Conference on Small Business, create the system of Small Business Development Centers at U.S. universities, and improve the way that federal agencies regulate small businesses and other small entities, theRegulatory Flexibility Act.[8][13]
In 1973, Nelson was one of the three senators who opposed the nomination ofGerald Fordto beVice President.(The other two wereThomas EagletonandWilliam Hathaway.)[citation needed]
Environmentalism
editAfter Nelson's1980defeat for re-election, he became counselor forThe Wilderness Societyin January 1981. He received thePresidential Medal of Freedomin September 1995 in recognition of his environmental work.
Nelson was inducted into the Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame in 1986.[14]The Wisconsin Conservation Hall of fame is located at the Schmeeckle Reserve Visitor Center in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. The visitor center is maintained by theUniversity of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
Nelson viewed the stabilization of the nation's population as an important aspect of environmentalism. In his words:
The bigger the population gets, the more serious the problems become... We have to address the population issue. The United Nations, with the U.S. supporting it, took the position in Cairo in 1994 that every country was responsible for stabilizing its own population. It can be done. But in this country, it's phony to say "I'm for the environment but not for limiting immigration."[15]
He also rejected the suggestion that economic development should take precedence over environmental protection:
The economy is a wholly owned subsidiary of the environment, not the other way around.[16]
In 2002, Nelson appeared onTo Tell the Truthas a contestant, with his founding of Earth Day highlighted.
Death and legacy
editNelson died ofcardiovascularfailure at age 89 on July 3, 2005.
The Gaylord Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies (or Nelson Institute) at theUniversity of Wisconsin–Madisonis named after him in recognition of his love for nature.[17]In addition, theGaylord Nelson Wildernessin theApostle Islands National Lakeshore–comprising more than 80% of the land area of the park – was named after him in honor of his efforts to have the park created.[18][19]Governor Nelson State ParknearWaunakee, Wisconsin,is also named after him. The elementary school inClear Lake, Wisconsinis named Gaylord A. Nelson Educational Center.
References
edit- ^"Nelson, Gaylord Anton".Encyclopedia.RetrievedApril 21,2021.
- ^"Distinguished Alumni".SJSU. Archived fromthe originalon October 28, 2014.RetrievedJune 7,2014.
- ^University of Wisconsin-Madison News. "Alumni Park opening date, first featured grads announced".May 10, 2017.
- ^"Earth Day Founder Gaylord Nelson to Receive Medal of Freedom"(PDF).The Wilderness Society. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on March 22, 2017 – via Gaylord Nelson and Earth Day.
- ^Seely, Ron (July 4, 2005)."A Wisconsin giant; Founding Earth Day one of many achievements of the former governor and senator Gaylord Nelson: 1916-2005".Wisconsin State Journal.Archivedfrom the original on July 31, 2005.RetrievedApril 23,2015.
- ^Stern, Scott (August 28, 2024)."The forgotten fight to ban gas-powered cars in the 1960s".Grist.Archivedfrom the original on August 28, 2024.RetrievedAugust 31,2024.
- ^Maraniss, David (1999).When Pride Still Mattered.Simon & Schuster.ISBN0-684-87290-0.
- ^abAukofer, Frank A."Gaylord Nelson: Earth Day founder was a voice crying out for the wilderness".Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.Archived fromthe originalon January 31, 2006.RetrievedApril 23,2015.
- ^Designation of Wilderness Areas: Hearings Before the Subcommittees on Public Lands and National Parks and Recreation of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs,1970, page 228–229
- ^Seaman, Barbara (July 2005)."A Planetary Loss. Senator Nelson had more than one string to his bow".Healthy Skepticism.RetrievedMarch 11,2007.
- ^Kirkman, Don (July 22, 1971)."Stricter Control of Drugs to Be Asked".Knoxville News Sentinel.No. 29, 075. p. 24.RetrievedApril 16,2024– viaNewspapers.
- ^Anderson, Jack (October 17, 1975). "Washington merry-go-round | Public service profitable for senator".Delphos Tri County Daily Herald.Vol. 106, no. 106. p. 6 – viaNewspaperArchive.
- ^Verkuil, Paul A. (April 1982)."A critical guide to the Regulatory Flexibility Act".Duke Law Journal.31(2): 227.
- ^Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame
- ^"Earth Day founder sees some progress".Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.April 22, 2001. Archived fromthe originalon June 3, 2001.RetrievedMarch 11,2007.
- ^Nelson, Gaylord (November 2002).Beyond Earth Day: Fulfilling the Promise.Wisconsin Press.ISBN0-299-18040-9.
- ^"The Nelson Legacy".The Nelson Institute.RetrievedSeptember 30,2016.
- ^"Gaylord Nelson | The Wilderness Society".Wilderness.org. October 22, 2008. Archived fromthe originalon October 7, 2008.RetrievedMarch 20,2010.
- ^"Apostle Islands National Lakeshore – Gaylord Nelson Wilderness".U.S. National Park Service.RetrievedMarch 20,2010.
This article incorporatespublic domain materialfrom theBiographical Directory of the United States Congress
Further reading
edit- Christofferson, Bill.The Man from Clear Lake: Earth Day Founder Gaylord Nelson.Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 2004.ISBN0299196402
- Jones, Clayton R. "Gaylord Nelson, Father of Earth Day: Bridging the Gap from Conservation to Environmentalism"(Senior thesis). University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, 2009.
- Nelson, Gaylord, Susan Campbell and Paul R Wozniak.Beyond Earth Day: Fulfilling the Promise.Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 2002.ISBN0299180409
External links
edit- Gaylord Nelson and Earth Day: The Making of the Modern Environmental Movement– a narrative account of the origins of Earth Day, Gaylord Nelson's political career
- Gaylord Nelson papers, 1954–2006held by the Wisconsin Historical Society.
- AppearancesonC-SPAN
- Gaylord NelsonatFind a Grave
- United States Congress."Gaylord Nelson (id: N000033)".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.Retrieved on 2008-02-06
- Gaylord Nelson (Gamma Nu) – Former U.S. Senator– Biography.
