"It is clear that on environmental issues Ronald Reagan rode against the American mainstream for eight years. The 'great communicator' was unable to persuade Congress to repeal a single important environmental law. He is the only president this century who served his term without proposing any major initiative to further the cause of conservation." This powerful quote by Stewart Udall speaks volumes about the environmental backlash of the eighties, engineered by Ronald Reagan and his reactionary Secretary of the Interior James Watt. Surely Mr. Watt ranks as one of the most self-serving and low-minded cabinet appointees in history.

The Secretary would take the reins of office and lead a charge to increase logging, drilling, and mining on public lands. This was shortly after pronouncing to the nation that environmentalism was a "left-wing cult," perhaps his most famous quote, and his swan song. Mr. Watt would resign in disgrace after half a term. Good riddance Mr. Secretary, and to you Mr. President, for appointing him!

Despite the attempted roadblocks of Reagan conservatives the eighties was an active decade for conservation. And it all began at the beginning, in 1980, during the waning days of the Carter administration. After ten years of a well-orchestrated campaign by many leading conservation groups Congress passed the Alaska National Interest Lands Act. In a stroke of the Carter pen more than 100 million acres were added to federal parks, forests, wilderness areas, and wildlife refuges. In one of the more ironic twists to this nation's story, the most sweeping conservation measure in all of history helped to "inaugurate" the antienvironment presidency of Ronald Reagan. (next photo)