Served as Secretary for eight years (1961-1969) under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson • September 24, 2003
Stewart Udall served as Secretary for eight years (1961-1969) under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson, during which time he successfully pressed for landmark environmental legislation, including the Clean Air Act, the Wilderness Act, the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act, and the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. On his watch, the National Park Service added over 2.4 million acres to its holdings, including four new national parks, six national seashores, and five national recreation areas. Udall was known at the time not only as one of the most effective spokesmen for the West, but also for his ability to manage controversy and gain bipartisan support for the Department of the Interior.