James Watt, former Secretary of the Interior of the United States, has died at the age of 85 in Arizona. Born and educated in Wyoming, Watt gained national attention when he was nominated by President Ronald Reagan to be Secretary of the Interior in 1980. He was known for his strong views on environmentalism and advocates for rights. The interests of ranchers, farmers and miners feel that the federal government is hindering their livelihoods.
Watt is the founder of the Mountain State Legal Foundation, a law office that actively challenges environmental and public land regulations. When he assumed the role of Interior Minister, the organization had a series of lawsuits against the department. During his tenure, Watt made important changes to land and environmental policy, including firing staff attorneys involved in enforcing environmental standards and calling for a ban. new land acquisition for the National Park System. He also supported the proposal to sell part of the country’s public land to reduce the national deficit.
Watt’s uncompromising stance on environmentalism made him a controversial figure and led to his resignation after 33 months. His management approach prioritizes people and their economic needs, favors energy development, and invests in park infrastructure to benefit the public.
During his time as Home Secretary, Watt renewed an agreement to have Jackson Hole Airport operate within Grand Teton National Park, making it the only commercial airport located entirely within the national park. He also gained attention for clashing with the Beach Boys, when he tried to ban their performance on the National Mall, which resulted in the White House handing him a plaster leg with holes in it.
Watt began his political career campaigning for US Senator Milward Simpson of Wyoming. He held many federal offices under different administrations and is known for his conservative values. However, his tenure as Interior Minister was marked by controversy and criticism from environmentalists.
Although his supporters saw him as a defender of Reagan’s conservative principles, opponents remained concerned about his policies and offended by his comments. Watt faces criticism for actions such as federal land cuts, weakening environmental regulations for strip mining and hindering efforts to control air pollution. .
Throughout his career, Watt has focused on cutting regulations and increasing resource extraction, including expanding offshore drilling and leasing public land for oil, gas and coal exploration. He also allocated funds to restore and improve the national park.
After leaving the Reagan administration, Watt worked as a lobbyist and faced legal issues related to his consulting work and involvement in corruption investigations at the Department of Development. Housing and Urban Development. He eventually retired to Arizona and Wyoming.
James Watt’s tenure as Home Secretary has highlighted the divide between conservationists and resource development advocates. He is remembered as a controversial figure, a strong advocate of economic interests and criticized for his handling of environmental issues.
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Source: vothisaucamau.edu.vn
