680 CONFERENCE ON NATURAL BEAUTY 



Senate than any time that I know of in the 35 years that I have been 

 here. 



So for natural beauty, our next State of the Union message to the 

 Congress will contain our recommendations that require legislation. 

 I will immediately give careful consideration to any that require 

 immediate Executive action and that can be taken without legis- 

 lation. 



Second, all recommendations for State and local action will be 

 sent to the governors of the States, and the mayors and the town 

 officials across the country. Wherever further information is needed 

 I will send a personal representative to explain your proposals as 

 well as the Federal program. 



In addition, I intend to call for a series of regional and local con- 

 ferences to discuss specific ways to insure natural beauty in each 

 section of this country, and the members of the Cabinet and the 

 authorities in this field will be available for these conferences. I 

 have already said to the members of the Cabinet that this is required 

 reading. 



Third, all the recommendations that call for citizen action and 

 public education will go to the local governments and the private 

 groups in every State. In the Federal Government itself, I will set 

 up a special unit for citizen education to help inform people how 

 they can best combat blight and decay in their own neighborhoods. 

 I hope that every governor in every State will do the same. 



In this way I think we can keep the fruits of this enormous effort 

 for which Mr. Rockefeller has provided the leadership from being 

 dissipated. We can truly translate your work into action and action 

 into pleasure and sustenance for every American. 



I know you will be glad to hear that we have not even waited for 

 the end of this conference to take important action, based in part 

 on your discussions in several fields. 



At two Cabinet meetings I have asked each Secretary to give high 

 priority to making sure all our programs advance the natural beauty 

 of America. I have asked for a progress report this month. I can 

 inform you that in response to this request your Government has 

 taken hundreds of important steps already large and small to in- 

 crease natural beauty. We still have a long way to go, but I am 

 determined that this Government in all of its activities shall be a 

 model and a pacesetter for the entire Nation. Every public building 

 that is built will be built under a natural beauty microscope. 



