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Show 108 WAR FOR THE COLORADO RIVER President Eisenhower's advisers decided that the time had arrived to do something about the situation. The way was carefully paved for the action they deemed necessary. On March 18, Budget Director Joseph M. Dodge officially informed Secretary McKay that development of the Upper Basin, as proposed in the crsp report, had the support of the President, and that legislation which would authorize economically justified projects would be in accord with the President's program.130 The Budget Bureau letter to McKay had made un- assailable the fact that the White House would give full support to the Upper Basin states. It also was a com- mand to McKay to push with all speed and force toward the goal of getting the crsp approved by Congress with a minimum of delay. To give impetus to the campaign and to let the public know where he stood on the matter, President Eisen- hower issued a press release.126 Given to correspondents on March 20, 1954, it said in part: I have today approved recommendations for the de- velopment of the upper Colorado Basin. This is a comprehensive, well-planned development of a river basin. The development will conserve water, enabling the region to increase supplies for municipal uses, industrial development, and irrigation. It will develop much- needed electric power. The development calls for sound financing. The legis- lation now being drafted will set up a fund for the entire project so that it will be constructed and paid for as a basin program. Construction of the Echo Park and Glen Canyon Dams, two of the large projects in the basin plan, is recommended. These dams are key units strategically located to provide |