The Michigan Daily-Tuesday, July 27, 1982-Page 5 WHAT'S WA TT DOING TO AMERICA? Our troubled interior Editor's note- Controversial decisions to ease various enriron- mental laws have marked the term of Interior Secretary James Watt. Last week, his approral of a plan to open rirtually the entire U.S. coastline for commercial oil and gas drilling brought the secretary back into the critical spotlight. The following is a profile of the man ratel a scourge by enrironmen- talists and a champion of fr"' mark>t ideals by Republican sp- porters. WASHINGTON (AP)-His name is emblazoned on bumper stickers, pro and con. As secretary of the interior, he has personally rejunenated the nation's environmental groups-while he's fat- tened the coffers of the Republican par- ty. Like him or not, James Watt is making his voice heard across America. Stories about the man abound: " At dinner in a Washington restaurant, a gray-haired man ap- proached Watt's table and quietly han- ded the interior secretary a note signed by six other diners: "I and my fellow diners thoroughly disagree with all you're doing." " During a recent trip to New York, the secretary's car got caught in a tun- nel on its way to the airport. Watt was so overcome with air polution that he couldn't work on the return plane trip. "It will have no effect on his legislative policies," an aide said. " Early in his term, Watt told a group about a recent raft trip down the Colorado River. Watt grew so bored by the fourth day that, in his words, "we were praying for helicopters. And they came." " He reversed his personal Interior Deoartment seal to make the buffalo face right instead of left and gave top aides lapel pins to match. "To make a philosophical point," his spokesman says. The lanky, balking native of Wheatland, Wyo., is the third most sought after speaker in the Republican party, after President Reagan and Vice President George Bush. Republican National Committee press secretary Jennifer Hillings said that since last January, Watt has made 60 appearan- ces for the GOP. Last year alone he raised more than $400,000, she said. ON THE OTHER hand, practically every environmental group has enjoyed a surge in membership since Watt took over at Interior. The Sierra Club repor- ted its ranks grew more than in any year since it was founded-in 1892. James Gajus Watt, 43, steward of the nation's natural resources, villain of the environmental movement, darling of the conservatives. His mission, in his own words: "To baring about changes needed to restore America's Greatness." Watt's manner is persuasive. But his actions and words have angered Democrats and Republicans alike. IN A CARTOON strip by Marlette of The Charlotte Observer, Watt is depic- ted as the man who makes Bambi a trophy on his office wall. One of Watt's most severe critics is Nathaniel Reed, his boss when Watt served as director of Interior's bureau AP PI AS SECRETARY of the Interior, James Watt has angered environmental groups, opened millions of square miles to oil and gas exploration, and reversed his personal Interior department's seal to make the buffalo face right, in line with his own personal politics. of outdoor recreation. "He's a bright, articulate, God- fearing man," said Reed, who was assistant secretary for fish, wildlife and parks during the Nixon and Ford years. "He's also narrow, vindictive, arrogant and bullheaded. He shows a remarkable lack of respect for his fellow man and fellow workers. He looks you in the eye and lies. The Department of Interior is in shambles." PETITIONS WITH 1 million signatures calling for his removal cir- culated on Capitol Hill. Government auditors told Watt he had to repay at least $4,300 for his unauthorized use of taxpayers' money to throw Christmas parties at the ancestralhhome of Robert E.Lee. He became only the second Cabinet member in history to be cited for con- tempt of Congress. A House committee did so after Watt refused to turn over some documents to the legislature. Bumper stickers proclaim "Watt? Me Worry?" The secretary has his own bumper sticker: "Watt: An answer, not a question." Watt on Watt: "Because I feel so strongly about issues, I project strong feelings." DESPITE THE controversy, White House spokesman David Gergen said Watt not only has Reagan's confidence but, "the president believes Jim is one of his most loyal supporters. I never UNISEX Long or Short Haircuts by Professionals at ... DASCOLA STYLISTS Liberty off State ........668-9329 East U. at South U........662-0354 Arborland ..............971-9975 Maple Village ...........761-2733 heard the president say a bad word about him." However, administration officials who don't want to be identified say Watt's feisty nature is controversial even within the White House. "He represents the president's ideals," said one top aide, who asked not to be identified. "But I have trouble with his style. Yet he is very good at holding the core Reagan supporters together." RNC CHAIRMAN Richard Richards describes Watt as "a spellbinder," and he says of his popularity on the fund- raising circuit: "A lot come to hear him because he's controversial, andwest of the Mississippi, they like what he says." A lot of people don't like what he says, or does. A fall 1981 Associated Press-NBC.poll on environmental issues, the latest taken on the subject, showed that 70 percent of those respondents with opinions about Watt disapproved of the way he was handling his job.. WHEN ASKED to choose between protecting the enfironment or building an oil refinery or pipeline, a majority chose the environment. the same was true when people were asked whether they favored easing environmental laws in order to reduce industry costs. As interior secretary, Watt overseas 350 million acres of federal land, in- cluding more than half of the West. He is custodian of the national parks and wilderness, fish, wildlife and en- dangered species. He grants oil and strip-mining leases and determines policy for air and water pollution. He manages Indian affairs, grazing land and dam building. In his 16-month reign, he Chas proposed an ambitious schedule that will open virtually the entire U.S. coastline for oil and gas drilling over the next five years; imposed a moritorium on buying parkland, declaring that the government needs to spend money taking better care of the parks it already owns; engaged in a running battle with Congress over the question of oil and gas exploration in wilderness areas. He also cut 57 percent from the enfor- cement budget for the agency respon- sible for regulating strip miring of coal and boosted dramatically the amount of mineral resources leased on federal lands. See WATT, Page 10 There once was a man from Irvine, Who could not pick the best place to dine. He'd consult all his friends, But all talk would soon end Lunch 11:30 to 1:15 'Cuz his friends think the League's just divine! Dinner 5:00 to 7:15 CS. SPECIAL LOW PRICES FOR STUDENTS Send your League Limerick to: Te CHgManager. 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