James Watt, former U.S. Secretary of the Interior, passed away at the age of 85 in Arizona. Born and educated in Wyoming, Watt gained national attention when he was nominated by President Ronald Reagan for the position of Secretary of the Interior in 1980. He was known for his strong views on environmentalism and his advocacy for the interests of ranchers, farmers, and miners who felt that the federal government was impeding their livelihoods.
Watt was the founder of the Mountain States Legal Foundation, a law office that actively challenged environmental and public-lands regulations. When he assumed the role of Secretary of the Interior, the organization had ongoing lawsuits against the department. During his tenure, Watt implemented significant changes in land and environmental policy, which included firing staff attorneys involved in enforcing environmental standards and calling for a moratorium on new land acquisitions for the National Park System. He also supported the proposal to sell a portion of the country’s public lands to reduce the national deficit.
Watt’s uncompromising views on environmentalism made him a controversial figure and led to his resignation from the position after 33 months. His management approach prioritized people and their economic needs, advocating for energy development and investments in park infrastructure to benefit the public.
During his time as Secretary of the Interior, Watt extended an agreement for the Jackson Hole Airport to operate within Grand Teton National Park, making it the only commercial airport situated entirely within a national park. He also gained attention for his clash with the Beach Boys, when he attempted to ban their performance on the National Mall, which resulted in a plaster foot with a hole in it being awarded to him by the White House.
Watt began his political career working on the campaign trail for Wyoming’s U.S. Senator Milward Simpson. He held various federal positions under different administrations and was known for his conservative values. However, his tenure as Secretary of the Interior was marked by controversy and criticism from environmentalists.
Despite his supporters considering him a defender of Reagan’s conservative principles, opponents were concerned about his policies and offended by his comments. Watt faced criticism for actions such as clear-cutting federal lands, weakening environmental regulations for strip mining, and impeding air pollution control efforts.
Throughout his career, Watt focused on cutting regulations and increasing resource exploitation, including expanding offshore drilling and leasing public lands for oil, gas, and coal exploration. He also allocated funds for national park restoration and improvement.
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 Housing and Urban Development. He eventually retired to Arizona and Wyoming.
James Watt’s tenure as Secretary of the Interior highlighted the division between conservationists and proponents of resource development. He was remembered as a controversial figure who strongly advocated for economic interests and faced criticism for his handling of environmental issues.
ncG1vNJzZmiin5fAo7vTrGWcp51kt6K5xKxksJmkqXqnu9GmnKtlpWLAbr%2FEnKmerJGnxm67xWaroZ1dnru1sdGipqtllJ6ytHnArWStoJVirqixjKidZnBlZA%3D%3D