With Distance in His Eyes: The Environmental Life and Legacy of Stewart Udall

With Distance In His Eyes: The Environmental Life and Legacy of Stewart Udall is a contemporary tribute to one of the most environmentally successful Secretaries of the Department of the Interior in American history (1960-1969). Environmental historian and former National Park Service employee Scott Raymond Einberger presents a fascinating story of Udall’s life, times, and accomplishments. Udall (1920-2010), a Mormon from Arizona, accomplished and was involved in many important environmental things, and one finds here descriptions of his many achievements like the creation of new national parks and monuments, drafting of environmental legislation, and outreach to troubled peoples.

The book does not show as much of how he was part of the long-lasting legacy of the Department of the Interior, which has a number of government branches. It is also part of an effort to give credit for achievements to government figures (similar efforts with books now about the Roosevelts) rather than the activists who mobilized public concern for wild places. Udall as shown had a broader scope than the Preservationists, though without them there might not be many parks or much wilderness left, but he was depicted as an environmental hero in this. Udall hit his stride when environmentalism became mainstream in the 1960s, and as shown he also made accommodations to those who showed concern. Udall learned that nature as wilderness needed to be set aside, at least for the sake of wildlife, but he also needed to respond to all sorts of folks. Here is a positive presentation of Udall in a time when there is plenty of cynicism.