574 CONFERENCE ON NATURAL BEAUTY 



next 10 years to buy and improve lands for conservation and out- 

 door recreation in Washington State. 



Let's not underestimate our citizens. They wait for someone to 

 make the proposals that we all know make sense to save this national 

 heritage. Let's not talk any more. Let's not wait for plans. Let's 

 start acting now. 



I propose, Madam Chairman, the establishment immediately of 

 a national followup committee with a paid staff after this conference, 

 under the continued leadership of Laurance Rockefeller, which 

 would prepare or obtain the preparation of draft legislation to carry 

 out the proposals of this conference, keep us informed throughout 

 the Nation and assist our various efforts. 



Secondly, I propose that the word be carried further through re- 

 gional White House conferences during the next year, with direct 

 White House involvement, participation by the State governors, 

 and cosponsorship through the national followup committee and re- 

 gional groups to be formed by all of us. 



Regional or local groups should not be new organizations, but spe- 

 cifically ad hoc campaign committees, uniting and working together 

 with and through existing organizations. There is no one formula. 

 Figure out your own way, but let's not spend a lot of time drafting 

 constitutions, writing bylaws, and debating the goals. Let's just 

 assemble a group of people. You, you folks who came from the 

 same State or city, sit down and elect a chairman and start acting. 



President Johnson assembled us. Pardon me, for this isn't in- 

 tended as a partisan remark, but under our constitution his leadership 

 can only last through 1972. We should make the most of this time. 

 Let's get started now. Let's have those bills ready for this season of 

 Congress, and let's be in there testifying and get these things passed. 



Let's bring this White House conference to the home of every 

 American. Every campaign needs a kickoff . I didn't have the idea 

 of the kickoff until I heard from some of the other panelists but, 

 with apologies, they are pikers. I am sorry Mrs. Dickerson left, for 

 I do not want the networks to pass the buck to the local television sta- 

 tions. The President and the national follow-up committee should 

 call on the major television networks for a hard-hitting national docu- 

 mentary to be shown on prime time, to show all Americans what 

 we have seen here, so that Americans can see with their own eyes 

 the ugliness there is in America and a vision of what a truly beautiful 

 America could be. 



