Sold – John F. Kennedy Defends His Expansion of Conservation Programs

Just days before his election as President, JKF issued a statement detailing his support for wide-ranging conservation programs, and promising expanded efforts, while criticizing the Republican administration for its lack of interest in this area.

“The administration has requested less than 50 percent of the amount needed to make useful this most important national asset. We must reverse this failure. We must restore our woodlands as a source of strength for the Nation’s future… The Nation should set aside shoreline recreational areas and develop them for public use…Wildlife refuges and ranges must be protected to serve the purposes to which they are dedicated without interference by commercial exploitation…” As President, Kennedy did all he could to implement conservation measures and opposed private interests that would hinder those programs.

The National Wildlife Refuge System, administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is a network of lands and waters managed specifically for the protection of wildlife and wildlife habitat. Units of the system stretch across the United States, from  northern Alaska to the Florida Keys. There are a number of refuges in the state of Delaware, including one at Bombey Hook that was established in 1937. Not far from there is Prime Hook, which consists of thousands of acres of grasslands, timberland, marshlands, tidal marsh areas and open water in the Delaware Bay Estuary. During the Kennedy administration, the Department of the Interior proposed to establish Prime Hook as a National Wildlife Refuge, primarily to preserve coastal wetlands as wintering and breeding habitat for migratory waterfowl. Delaware’s Republican legislature and governor, Elbert N. Carvel, opposed the designation and Carvel wrote directly to President Kennedy to protest it.

Kennedy responded defending the proposed refuge and the procedures being used to establish it, and made it clear that the project would go forward with or without Carvel’s support.

Typed Letter Signed on White House letterhead, Washington, June 18, 1963, to Delaware Governor Carvel. “This is in reply to your letter of May 22 and…your opposition to the plans of the Department of the Interior for the acquisition of lands for the proposed Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge in Delaware. I am informed that in order to fully inform all citizens of the plans for this refuge two public meetings and numerous group conferences have been held with interested persons. The objectives and purposes of the Department of the Interior were fully presented. I understand that the Department’s proposed water management in the area has been considered by officials of the Soil Conservation Service who believe the surrounding areas will be benefited by the planned water levels and that individuals at the public hearing…were so informed. It is also my understanding that the individuals…were informed that recreation for the public would be one of the goals of the refuge with bathing, clamming, and other recreational activities planned for the beach. The Secretary of the Interior informs me that the appraisals of the land within the proposed area…appear to be just and fair. The Department of the Interior is pleased with the reception given its acquisition agents in the area and has obtained agreements from a number of the landowners. Secretary Udall assures me that the personnel of his Department are ready at any time to hold any necessary conferences and to explain further any of the activities about which there may be questions. I am hopeful that after further consideration of the refuge proposal you will find it possible to retract your objections.” Provenance: Governor Carvel’s estate.

Later in 1963, the Kennedy administration acted and the Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge was formally established under the authority of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act, for use as a sanctuary for migratory birds. Today the refuge remains active, playing host to 75,000 people who visit each year.