7 Quotes & Sayings By Gaylord Nelson

As head of the Democratic Party, Gaylord Nelson was the first to speak out on environmental issues. He served as the United States Secretary of Commerce from 1961 to 1965. In 1970, he transformed his passion for the environment into a national environmental movement by co-founding the Environmental Defense Fund. The organization has been credited with helping to clean up America's rivers and lakes and to protect endangered species Read more

During the 1970s, the Foundation was instrumental in securing passage of Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts. It also played a leadership role in establishing the National Parks Foundation and Preserve America program. In 1990, President George H.W.

Bush named him Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. In 1991, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his work in the arts and in promoting environmental protection.

1
The ultimate test of man's conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard. Gaylord Nelson
2
I think the internal combustion engine will disappear from the streets of our cities in the next thirty years because transportation will be mass transportation, or probably electrical power. Gaylord Nelson
3
The most important environmental issue is one that is rarely mentioned, and that is the lack of a conservation ethic in our culture. Gaylord Nelson
4
In the state of Wisconsin it's mandated that teachers in the social sciences and hard sciences have to start giving environmental education by the first grade, through high school. Gaylord Nelson
5
Franklin Roosevelt was very concerned about environmental issues. Gaylord Nelson
6
Loads of chemicals and hazardous wastes have been introduced into the atmosphere that didn't even exist in 1948. The environmental condition of the planet is far worse than it was 42 years ago. Gaylord Nelson