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GOV. TOM McCALL to GOV. RONALD REAGAN:

1967

NAWAPA NOW: An OPEN LETTER to OREGON GOV. JOHN KITZHABER; SEN. JEFF MERKELY; SEN. RON WYDEN, and OREGON REPRESENTATIVES

SHOWN: Memo from Jeff Westerdahl, II, Executive Secretary to Oregon Gov. Tom McCall dated February 6, 1967, reading “Parsons Engineering; NAWAPA Plan; -- Final letter; Check with Wanda”

“RECONTACT FOR APPOINTMENT”

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DEAR OREGON ELECTED OFFICIALS:

Greetings:

WITHIN BUT A FEW HOURS spent in the Oregon State Archives in Salem last week, ca. January 2-4, 2013, concentrating on the Administrative Records of Oregon Governor Tom McCall -R (‘67-75), I was able to unearth indications that our direct political forebears, of noble memory, had investigated for our State, an advanced series of LONG-LOST PLANS for the FUTURE OF OREGON and for the NATION, dealing with effective water-management. The year was …. 1967.

There, hidden in a stream of the Gov. McCall’s long-forgotten Administrative Correspondence, for 1967 – the first year of his first term -- and continuing into 1969 and thereafter -- I found detailed, comprehensive plans indicating a future-directed, long-range program for guaranteeing an abundant WATER SUPPLY to the State of OREGON – but also, in an unusual display of a broader species of civic-minded imagination that I can only describe as…

PATRIOTISM, .. this same program seemed also to be designed for the mutual benefit of neighboring states, and even the entire Western and Central Region of the United States, including the arid Great Basin, the southwest, down to Texas, – and thus, potentially, to the ENTIRE UNION – reminding me, in a moment, of the state flag of Oregon, and the motto:

THE UNION. I was almost as surprised as you may be, to be reminded of this broader vision for our State: that is, as a people dedicated to The UNION, by our pioneer forebears. That we should see ourselves in Oregon, foremost, as part of The UNION, and -- not only that -- but as citizens having a special mission directed thereto – seemed to stir my very being. AND – this water plan investigated and endorsed by Gov. McCall, was so broad in scope, so far-sighted in its vision down the decades, that it required a shift in my perspective about my own PRESENT MOMENT in time. For it appeared that Gov. McCall -- a short-term elected official -- was looking beyond the period of his own elective term, and was peering into the annals of time to our own day: considering a vast undertaking that would heavily burden his immediate constituents, in an exercise of dedication to “generations yet unborn:” giving them the opportunity of serving the NATION AT LARGE, and benefitting not only themselves, but FUTURE GENERATIONS, throughout The UNION.

After the fashion in which we ourselves, in OREGON, have been benefitted and blessed by the development and improvement plans of our forebears – for instance, by such large scale FEDERAL development plans as Lincoln’s

program for the construction of transcontinental railroads to the western states – which benefitted Oregon and Oregon manufacturers, farmers and ranchers, who had been theretofore so comparatively isolated, and served by virtually only a single solitary seaport access to national markets – viz., though shipping out of the mouth of the Columbia river… and usually to such an intermediate seaport as San Francisco (California). Once completed, these rail connections provided effective, cheap transportation for Oregon goods, which were then provided to a waiting, almost an insatiable market, across these United States. This was a transportation revolution which made Oregon’s aggressive producers, men who knew how to work -- like the ranchers and farmers of Polk County -- rich beyond their dreams

Such abundance of foresight, as Lincoln manifested, soon made for an abundance of resources in the present – here in Oregon. And of course, there was always PLENTY OF WATER : for instance, as here, for this July 4th, 1923 RODEO in Dallas (Oregon).

“PLENTY OF WATER” An afterthought, on this poster.

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PLENTY OF WATER, but .... WATER and WATER SUPPLY was still little more than an afterthought in the minds of most Oregonians, even during the Great Depression: but it was not so in the mind of a truly foresighted President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, who anticipated a need, long before the need had manifested, and -- as a key element of his plan to pull the United States out of the Great Depression -- authorized, regional development projects: works of a new and unprecedented scope – Monumental projects, largely for the transfer, storage and distribution of water. Plenty of water …

Canal Construction

In the Pacific Northwest, the Columbia River Basin Project was authorized and went under construction. Far, far more than just a make-work project, this program -- for the construction of over 40 dams along the length of the Columbia River, and associated electrical power generation facilities, irrigation canals, and canal and lock systems for shipping -- worked synergistically with the needs of the community, to generate in this region, an entirely new and elevated economic platform – marked by, and dedicated to, not only the generation and transmission of low-cost, highly reliable electrical power for the benefit of all -- manufactories and citizens -- but also providing abundant and controlled water supplies for agricultural purposes, for flood control, and for recreation.

This new economic platform also demanding a widespread advance – a leap forward -- in the level of skills and technical competence of the men -- and now women -- who had to be employed for the effective and safe operation of the intricate mechanisms …. Permanently.

The availability of such cheap, reliable, long-term access to electrical power brought to the region manufacturers whose technologies required just such steady delivery – such as ALCOA, whose plants along the Columbia numbered 10 smelters, and employed 11,000 workmen at one time: turning out high-grade varieties of aluminum alloys, demanded – in particular – by the budding aircraft industry. This in turn encouraged the location of manufacturers such as Boeing into Washington State, and resulted in the proliferation of high–tech machine shops and job shops throughout the region, with a heavy concentration of them in Portland and environs -- where skilled and dedicated labor was plentiful – and the riverways and rail linkages provided easy access to transportation & shipping. Portland is NOW still a major manufacturing center on the West Coast, precisely because of the kick-start given the region, through President Roosevelt’s initiatives, on Columbia River Basin project. In short, our modern prosperity in Oregon,was triggered and has been maintained, by the development of this large-scale economic platform, envisioned by President Roosevelt.

Where did such foresighted, long-range planning vanish to?

Construction method, Long-Lake dam, O’Sullivan

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President Kennedy -- Sen. Frank E. Moss (Utah) -- and NAWAPA This OPEN LETTER is not the context within which to treat the larger subject of the outspoken and official support, and on-the-ground advocacy, and the future-oriented vision, of no less a figure than President John F. Kennedy, who, during his administration, in 1962 and 1963, campaigned at length and tirelessly, throughout the arid states of the West, to promote advanced development programs for water collection & distribution. Material on this aspect of Pres. Kennedy’s otherwise unknown, strong political leadership for large-scale Western water projects, has been recovered and is best represented by the LaRouchePAC team of researchers, and is available for viewing in their short trailer on “NAWAPA in the 1960’s” found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHQSxWsz11c -- as well as in a detailed, full-length historical treatment of the patriotic, scientific, engineering & political enthusiasm that was surging behind the NAWAPA program, during the 1960’s, available here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_j35loVuccQ .

Viewing this later video is a virtual imperative to understanding the history of “the rise and fall” of the NAWAPA program, during the tumultuous so-called “cultural revolution” of the 1960’s in America. As this video highlights, the NAWAPA program was not shelved, as a consequence of any intelligent arguments brought to bear against it, or active political resistance – but rather because of a lack of political will, borne of the radical apathy that overtook the county, with the advent of the “68’ers, and the demoralization of the populace, brought on by the Viet Nam war …

Sen. Frank E. Moss of Utah, was another 1960’s advocate for such large-scale, regional water-development projects. Not incidentally, Moss was also in frequent contact with Gov. McCall, as can be seen in the Governor’s Administrative Correspondence, at the Oregon State Archives. An introductory treatment of Gov. Tom McCall’s interest in NAWAPA appears in the last-linked NAWAPA video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_j35loVuccQ. From that YOUtube video, beginning at about minute-mark 39:40, I quote the following correspondence between Utah Sen. Frank Moss of Utah, and Oregon Gov. Tom McCall -- during the later part of the month of February, 1967:

Feb. 20, 1967

Dear. Governor McCall;

I was delighted to read in the Christian Science Monitor of February 18th that you had endorsed the NAWAPA plan to bring water from Alaska and Canada southward into the United States. Your action, in completing a water survey in Oregon is the thing that must be done by all of our states, and indeed by all of the provinces of Canada, so that we have specifics to talk about. We do know however, that vast amounts of water flow unused into the north Pacific and Arctic Oceans, and that this water could be utilized, rather than totally wasted.

Sincerely,

Frank E. Moss

Governor McCall wrote back to Sen Frank Moss, as follows:

Feb. [24?], 1967

Dear Senator Moss:

It was exciting to get a letter of approbation from NAWAPA’s No. 1 champion. Considerable research, including an aerial tour of the Columbia basin on both sides of the border, has caused me to lean toward this awesome concept. I’m looking forward to completion of the water studies, so that negotiations can begin in earnest, on this urgent problem.

Sincerely,

Tom McCall

I did not find this particular exchange, between Sen. Moss and Gov. McCall at the Oregon State Archives, but a raft of correspondence confirms its existence, and McCall’s active endorsement of the NAWAPA program, as discussed below:

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Gov. Tom McCall correspondence with the Ralph M. Parsons Co. – February, 1967

The Ralph M. Parsons Company of Los Angeles, California, is well-known as the progenitor and developer of the full-scale NAWAPA program plans, which it promoted -- especially to the representatives of the government of the Western States, including California of course, and Oregon.

Gov. Mark O. Hatfield invited the Parsons Company to brief him on NAWAPA, in 1966, and this was done.

Later, shortly after McCall assumed office, in early February, 1967, the Parsons Co. telephoned to set-up an appointment for McCall to be briefed, as is represented in this inter-office memo, which appears in a sequence of the Governor’s administrative records from early March, 1967. The Parsons Co. “… had briefed Gov. Hatfield on the water and power situation in Oregon especially as it concerns NAWPA [sic] and would be very glad to do the same for Gov. McCall….”

The Parsons Co. representative who called offering McCall a briefing, was an engineer named Charles M. Poll.

As Gov. McCall was already on the record as supporting NAWAPA, his office responded with this letter dated February 6, 1967 – this is the same letter featured on the cover of this OPEN LETTER.

McCall noted in his letter, that he could “foresee a very real need for you counsel and I will plan to be in contact with you when that time arrives.”

THE TIME ARRIVED: the next month -

Gov. McCall was not one for idle words; and that time arrived … probably sooner than even Gov. McCall expected. The next month, on March 13, 1967, Gov. McCall wrote again to Charles Poll, offering him an opportunity for a briefing at the end of the legislative term. Gov. McCall wrote:

“Thank you for sending the further materials regarding the North American Water and Power Alliance Concept. When the Legislature is over, I would very much appreciate the briefing which you volunteered for both myself and appropriate staff. Perhaps if you are taking a trip into Oregon in June or July, such a briefing could be planned … [An image of this letter appears below, p. 8 ]

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Gov. Ronald Reagan correspondence with Gov. McCall – Feb. 14, 1967

During precisely this period Gov. McCall received a letter, dated February 14, 1967, from neighboring Gov. Ronald Reagan of California – in which Gov. Reagan sought to discourage Gov. McCall, from his persistent interest in addressing national issues of water distribution, with national plans – like NAWAPA -- that required federal funding and White House impetus and coordination. Reagan asked McCall to instead direct his energies into inter-state affiliations:

My dear Governor:

I am impressed with the need for the states of the west to look beyond sectional interests and to approach water resource development on a regional basis. Few endeavors offer more challenge to the state of the west and greater potential for lasting benefit. Unless we are successful, lack of water will soon limit development throughout much of the west.

I am convinced that the best approach to westwide regional is through cooperate state action. I see no need, certainly at this time, for the states to look to Washington to act as a broker in this endeavor.

The Western States Water Council was created in 1965 by the governors of the 11 western states to promote state coordination of water resource planning throughout the West. I heartily subscribe to this purpose and pledge the full support of my administration to making the council an effective instrument of state initiative ….

Etc. Reagan continued on page 2., to call for 11-state cooperation to address the western-states’ water shortages. The full letter is illustrated above . CLICK to ENLARGE …

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Gov. Tom McCall correspondence to Gov. Reagan -- March 6, 1967

Gov. McCall’s response to Gov. Reagan, is represented in the Oregon State Archives, by a carbon copy of his letter of March 6, 1967, imaged below. McCall agreed with Gov. Reagan on the need for wide inter-state cooperation, but also hearkened back to one of his own addresses, in which he had reminded Gov. Reagan publicly, of imperative of a NAWAPA-style plan that brought water to the western states “from north of the Canadian border. ” McCall’s letter read – in relevant part (from page 2 – below right) :

In addition to concurring with your suggestions that the Governors of the western states attempt to reach agreement on long-range objectives with respect to water resource development, I would further suggest that a discussion related to the timing and procedures necessary to reach such objectives would also be fruitful . These matters might be profitably explored at the forthcoming meeting of the Western Governor’s Conference.

In fact, in my introduction to you at Eugene I hoped that the western states “could unite our efforts behind a program to bring new millions of acre feet of water to both the Pacific Northwest and Pacific Southwest from north of the Canadian border.” And I added, “It is none too early for the 1967 Western Governor’s Conference to consider making strong representations to the White House, on the importance of negotiations looking toward relief.”

Governor McCall was foresighted in more ways than one, closing his letter with a flourish, in acknowledgment of Gov. Reagan’s aptitude for national office, and his destiny thereto, as a strong presidential candidate for the Republicans:

By the way, my reference to you in Eugene, as the “outstanding political drawing card – Bobby included” got a heavy play in the media –coast to coast – and apparently added more muscle to the Reagan presidential boomlet.. Glad to oblige, sir.

Sincerely,

[signed]

Needless to say, the only program that had been put forth … in 1967, which envisioned bringing “new millions of acre feet of water to both the pacific Northwest and the Pacific Southwest from north of the Canadian border …” was the Ralph M. Parson’s Co. plan for the North American Water and Power Alliance – NAWAPA. The following images, from the State Archives, are of an administrative copy of Gov. McCall’s letter:

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Note the date of Gov. Tom McCall’s letter to Gov. Reagan – March 6, 1967. In February and March, 1967, Governor McCall was studying only one program and one concept: the NAWAPA plans.

There was only one plan that Gov. McCall had endorsed, and there was only one plan whose representatives he was in contact with, and for whom he was scheduling briefings for himself and for his staff … NAWAPA.

McCall letter, March 13, 1967, to Charles Poll of Parsons Co.,

Governor McCall had introduced Gov. Reagan at the Western Governor’s Conference in Eugene,

In fact, in my introduction to you at Eugene I hoped that the western states “could unite our efforts behind a program to bring new millions of acre feet of water to both the Pacific Northwest and Pacific Southwest from north of the Canadian border.” And I added, “It is none too early for the 1967 Western Governor’s Conference to consider making strong representations to the White House, on the importance of negotiations looking toward relief.”

Such was the view of a true Republican Governor, and a true environmentalist, in 1967. Gov. McCall’s endorsement of the NAWAPA program, and his advocacy of NAWAPA as the solution to the problems facing the western states was unique in the West, and across the nation … He said… “It is none to early… in 1967” for NAWAPA …..

NAWAPA NOW: 1967

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That was LEADERSHIP: Governor McCall also lead Oregon in a number of other initiatives.

One of these was a 4-year inventory and assessment and projection, initiated by Gov. Hatfield, and undertaken by the Oregon Water Resources Board, under McCall, to assess Oregon’s long-term water requirements, looking out 100 years into the future of the State. It was – apparently – the first of its kind among the Northwest states. This assessment, which was called the Ultimate Needs Water Resources Survey, was completed in 1969, and gauged Oregon’s anticipated water needs, with healthy growth projected out to 2070. The Report determined that by that time, Oregon would have insufficient water to meet its “Ultimate Needs.”

Sample chart from the 1969 Ultimate Needs Water Resources Survey – Oregon State Water Resources Dept.

The Klamath Basin Crisis: Despite Governor McCall’s foresighted efforts, Oregon fell into a position of “Ultimate Needs” for water, much earlier … as early as 2001, when shortfalls in water supply in the Klamath Basin, became acute, and were declared a “crisis” –as in fact they were. These shortfalls of available water, necessitated the prioritizing of water allocations for endangered fish, as against working, invested farmers, caused the shut-off of irrigation to important Oregon farmlands, with consequent unnecessary loss of arable lands, and distress and dislocation of farmers and their families. This was a water supply crisis which, on the timeline of Gov. McCall’s 1969 Ultimate Needs survey, arrived almost 70 years ahead of schedule. Seventy years earlier than anticipated by the best scientific forecasts. The ongoing Klamath Basin crisis need not have occurred: implementation of a NAWAPA program in 1970, would easily have resulted in the delivery of PLENTY OF WATER to the Klamath Basin, and refilled Klamath lake, many time over, before the arrival of the year 2001. Construction of NAWAPA would have averted the Klamath water crisis, that the leadership of the State had – through inaction – left themselves powerless to alleviate. http://www.klamathbasincrisis.org/

What other crises await, or have already occurred – nationwide -- which have been accelerated, perhaps aggressively so, because no national scale water development programs have been constructed, for such clearly foreseeable needs? Widespread flooding, as along the Missouri? Yes. Crop-losses, year after year? Yes. Grain shortages? Yes. Unmitigated drought in the Southwestern states and Texas? Yes. Cattle sell-offs? Yes. Food shortages? Yes.

Should countermeasures, in the form of major water development projects, be undertaken now? _____.

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NAWAPA NOW: 1967 Obviously, in Gov. McCall’s understanding, full implementation and construction of NAWAPA was the obvious answer, to address and meet an obviously foreseeable need -- just for OREGON. And consider, what it could have meant, and could still mean, for all those Americans in the Southwest, who could have been served by its waters already…

NAWAPA NOW:

Telegram, April 30, 1969 , Sen. Mark O. Hatfield to Gov. Tom McCall.

According to Sen. Hatfield’s telegram, above, McCall’s planning marked “a rare occasion of a public body attempting to anticipate the future.” Both Hatfield & McCall were on top of NAWAPA, as early as 1967 -- and it was their choice as the necessary program to implement in response to foreseeable needs. NAWAPA is still the answer, though in many regards – as for the Klamath Basin -- implementation of NAWAPA NOW will be already almost 50 years TOO LATE.

There is no effective water-shortage in the Klamath Basin, and there is no effective drought, even in Texas, except that which has been tolerated – even, virtually created -- by our failure as ONE NATION, to prevent it, while we still had the opportunity. That failure was caused by the persistent institutionalized ignorance and mis-information, and by public apathy leading to government inaction – not just in Oregon, but nationwide. Now, however, there is no longer any leisure of time – LaRouche and LaRouchePAC have the updated program for NAWAPA program -- NAWAPA XXI – virtually ready to roll out. http://larouchepac.com/infrastructure An Oregon-California extension has been engineered -- http://larouchepac.com/node/22581 -- which would address the situation in the Klamath basin.

PLENTY OF WATER … There is still PLENTY OF WATER. It only to needs to be moved …

Are you ready to move it? If you don’t know… call the remaining farmers in the Klamath Basin and ask them ….

NAWAPA NOW: 1967 Images of Gov. Mc Call’s correspondence from Boxes 16, 66, 67 and 112, Locations 4-16-4-3, Or. State Archives

Roch Steinbach rochsteinbach@stanfordalumni.org