After watching Part 2 Of Ken Burns's "National Parks" last night,

[Lancer]

I got curious about National Monuments. So, I looked them up. It's enough for those of you who missed it to know that legislation was passed by Congress in 1906 that allowed the President to designate National Monuments by fiat, without Congressional approval. President Teddy "Mr. Conservation" Roosevelt eagerly dipped his pen in the inkwell and started protecting natural wonders right and left. He signed 15 orders while president to protect things like those amazing cliff dwellings out West.

So, since 1906 nearly 100 sites have been designated, but some have been upgraded to National Park status or turned over to the jurisdiction of their respective states. Fifteen U.S. presidents have designated National Monuments. Bill Clinton created the most -- 19. Three have not. Richard Nixon and George H.W. Bush designated none, along with...

Ronald Reagan!! Mr. Horse Rancher! Mr. Movie Cowboy! Mr. Field and Stream! Mr. "My favorite TV show is Little House on the Prairie".

Not a single wilderness or historical area protected by a swipe of his pen in 8 years. Well, I'm not surprised. Are you? Even Dubya protected atolls and coral reefs in the last few weeks before leaving office.



(This series is absolutely wonderful, by the way.)

[EmilyAnne]

1. Interesting! And no I'm not surprised about Reagan nor Daddy Bush. I suppose your discovery sheds

even more light on the right wing's anger about this documentary. They know that the majority of heros in "National Parks" will be from the left.

[Arkansas Granny]

11. It's hard to believe that anyone could be angry about this documentary or

it's subject, but just a quick check around the web confirms it. Sometimes I am astounded by the ignorance that some people are willing, even eager, to put out there for all to see.

[Barack_America]

2. Interesting about Reagan.

Though I'm sure had he lived back in the day of Yosemite and Yellowstone debates, he would have been soundly on the side of private industry, arguing for access of miners, loggers, etc.

Reagan had a knack for being on the wrong side of history like that, i.e. Medicare.

[lamp_shade]

3. Ken Burns should be designated a National Treasure.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

7. +1

With all due respect to the legions of wonderful history teachers out there, Ken Burns has single-handedly done more to tell our story than any other American.

And when I say "single-handedly" I'm referring to Ken Burns and his uber-talented crew. They're a package!

[Captain Hilts]

4. Eleanor Roosevelt and Yosemite, etc.

Earlier we had the pleasure of welcoming Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt and her secretary when they visited the Park from July 21 to 24, 1934. A camping trip to Young Lake with Chief Ranger Townsley in charge was planned for them. Ranger Nelson, Ranger Brown and I set up the camp and looked after the food and sleeping gear. Ranger Brown was the cook, Nelson had charge of the equipment, the Chief, the guide, and I handled the mail, telegrams and messages to and from camp.

Mrs. Roosevelt was a most charming and gracious camper extremely interested in all Park activities. At the time an unnamed lake near Mt. Conness was being stocked with Rainbow Trout and was named Roosevelt Lake in her honor. She assisted with the plant, showing great interest in how it was done. Mrs. Roosevelt offered to help with the cooking. Ranger Brown the Cook, declined the offer for he figured he should do the work himself. A few years later Mrs. Roosevelt made another trip to the Park and visited our Station at Wawona. She said she wanted to know how the rangers lived. Martha had the pleasure of showing her around our quarters. Our display of maps and information circulars at the Station interested her particularly. We had the pleasure of being luncheon guests of the CCC Camp that day at Captain Rockwell’s invitation and were seated at Mrs. Roosevelt’s table.

Soon after this event I received a token of appreciation, a paper knife, made of redwood coming from the White House roof, Washington, D.C., with my name and date engraved on it. This I have prized very highly. So in reminiscing back through the years of our contacts and friendships of people from all walks of life it gives one a feeling of great satisfaction, to have served some in a small way.

[Ineeda]

5. This is an awe-inspiring series and the historical aspect of the politics involved

is so sadly similar to today's. Even then, over a hundred years ago, money/profit was the driving force of those fiercely fighting against the protection of these glorious places. ANWR drilling, anyone?

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

8. There's a delightful subtext to this whole series

As somebody pointed out either here or on Kos, you'd have to be blind to not see the parallels between creating the national parks and creating national healthcare.

[peekaloo]

6. St. Ronnie was too busy tackling the all important, time consuming issue

of school lunches.

He did designate ketchup as a vegetable.

[TheCowsCameHome]

9. Imagine if these places had fallen into the hands of developers

I can't bear to think of the results.

Thank you, Ken Burns.

[XOKCowboy]

17. Just look at Lake Tahoe for an example

Gridlock traffic, casinos, curio shops, art galleries and very little public access to the actual lake. Plus with all the development the lake is losing it's trademark deep blue color.

[PreacherCasey]

10. Great info point. Thank you for sharing.

And what a series Burn's has created! Beautiful. :applause:

[FSogol]

12. Agreed. The series is wonderful. n/t

[get the red out]

13. I love this series!!!

But watching it I get the feeling that the same morons just reincarnate over and over to plague us with their greed, selfishness, and complete lack of human consciousness. :banghead:

One of the best things on TV in ages.

[TuxedoKat]

14. I'm not surprised

Reagan's Secy of the Interior was not someone who seemed to be looking out for it, IMHO.

Great post! Thanks for doing this research.

[Lancer]

15. It has been interesting

and fun to introduce my BF to Ken Burns. James has lived much of his adult life off the grid by choice; had watched almost no TV for the 20 years before we met three years ago. Now after two nights of being guided through the national parks by Mr. Burns, he wants me to put all the Civil War episodes at the top of my Netflix queue. I have Jazz on homemade, lovingly hand-labeled VHS tapes, so I guess we'll watch them next and then play ball! (9 innings of Baseball).

I hope they use the Burns Civil War miniseries in schools. I know my military history professors would have organized house parties so we could watch it if it had aired 30 years ago when I was in college. That is one of the two or three best things made for television -- ever -- in my opinion.

Ken Burns also did a one-part documentary about Frank Lloyd Wright. I give that one **** as well.

:)

[Octafish]

16. Those kind of puke turds were busy selling off the Best-of-America to their rich chums

Take Poppy Bush, for instance:

George Bush's $10 billion giveaway to Barrick Gold

[elvisbear]

18. Excellent series so far.

Thanks for the info.