WSP09219

• File Number: 8030
• Description: Section D General Compact Issues - US Water Resources Council
• State: CO
• Basin: Statewide
• Date: 6/23/1969
• Author: US Water Resources C
• Title: Interstate Conference on Water Problems and Federal Water Resources Council - Proceedings of the Third National Conference of State and Federal Water Officials
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

002756

-9-

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

by

Honorable James R. Smith
As sistant Secretary of the Interior

I see so many of my good friends out there that I have met and worked
with over the years that I am delighted that my schedule permitted me
to get out here. I have been on a fact-finding and briefing trip for the
last week and a half. This is the second time that I have appeared on.
the same program as Governor Rampton, although I will tell you it is unde r
entirely different circumstances. Last week, we dedicated Lake Powell
and we stayed out in that hot desert sun and it was-- well, we all had
to shorten our speeches before the women out there fainted. It was that
hot.

I have been in Montana, the. Pacific Northwest, down the Pacific South-
west, trying to get on top of this job without getting Washingtonitis, and
without getting to the point that one could, if he wanted to take the easy
way out, sit behind that desk and make decisions on the basis of memos
and statements that were sent up from other people; on the basis of long
strings of statistics and figures and so forth, without ever realizing how
they relate to the development of the economy of a region, perhaps
affecting the fate of millions of people. If I ever get into the position, as
long as I am in this job, where I try to make decisions on that kind of
academic basis, I hereby give all of you people the opportunity to come
in and beat me over the head. It just plain shouldn't work and it won't
work and I will never be a party to it.

I told the Governor that I certainly was going to see that Cliff Hardin got
the message and also the Vice President. I don't know the Vice President,
but Secretary Hardin is from Nebraska and I have known Cliff on a first-
name basis for a good many years.

I am real happy to be out here and talk to you Federal and State people
because, as Henry said, I think we all share the same general philosophy.
We all feel that it is absolutely essential that the water and related land
resources of this nation continue to be developed, because I don't think
there is any other way in which we shall continue to have a viable economy
in this nation. As far as the West is concerned, I feel greatly honored to
have had the opportunity to see so much in such a short period of time as
I have.

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