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Show 150 state, and private land that would add four national monuments and expand the boundaries of three. In Utah, that would enlarge Arches and Capitol Reef national monuments. Considering the fierce debate that surrounded the creation ofCanyonlands National Park during the early 1960s, Udall's plan would certainly stir controversy. Johnson told Udall that he would consider 1he proposal only if it came with clearance from the congressional delegations of the affected states and from the Interior and Appropriations committees in the House and Senate. Udall gave the president vague assurances that the proper members of Congress approved of the proposal and that an executive order would be welcomed. The Deseret News later explained how Udall received "approval" from the Utah delegation: "[Udall] 'cleared' the plan with Utah by telling Sen. Frank E. Moss, D·Utah, that he had plans for Arches and Capitol Reef, but did not give the Utahn details of the plan. 'Don't even tell your wife,' he admonished the senator.'"'54 Udall never briefed Colorado Democrat Wayne N. Aspinall, chairman of the House Interior Committee or Nevada Democrat Alan Bible, chairman of the Senate Parks and Recreation Subcommittec.451 But Udall's attempts to slip millions of acres into the national monuments hit a roadblock during Johnson's final State of the Union address, one week before leaving office. During that speech, Johnson highlighted his administration's accomplishments, including his conservation record and the number of national parks created during his tenure. Then Johnson set aside his prepared text, looked ' 54 Gordon Eliot White, "Behind·Sccnes Story of Parks Land Grab," Deseret News, January 25, 1969, BI . m Ibid. |
