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Environment / Politics / Wisconsin

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The Man from Clear Lake Earth Day Founder Senator Gaylord Nelson Bill Christofferson The winner of the 2007 Elizabeth A. Steinberg Prize awarded by the University of Wisconsin Press for the regional book that has brought the most distinction to the Press. "Widely regarded as one of the leading environmentalists in American history, Gaylord Nelson is best known as the founder of Earth Day. This political biography tells the rest of the story—how a small town boy from Wisconsin became a national champion of a progressive agenda. Nelson's record on civil liberties, consumer issues, and Vietnam is remarkable. His story is an inspiration."—Al Gore On Earth Day 1970 twenty million Americans displayed their commitment to a clean environment. It was called the largest demonstration in human history, and it permanently changed the nation's political agenda. By Earth Day 2000 participation had exploded to 500 million people in 167 countries. The seemingly simple idea—a day set aside to focus on protecting our natural environment—was the brainchild of U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin. It accomplished, far beyond his expectations, his lifelong goal of putting the environment onto the nation's and the world's political agendas. A remarkable man, Nelson ranks as one of history's leading environmentalists. He also played a major role as an early, outspoken opponent of the Vietnam War, and as a senate insider was a key player in civil rights, poverty, civil liberties and consumer protection issues. The life of Nelson, a small town boy who learned his values and progressive political principles at an early age, is woven through the political history of the twentieth century. Nelson's story intersects at times with Fighting Bob La Follette, Joe McCarthy, and Bill Proxmire in Wisconsin, and with George McGovern, Lyndon Johnson, Hubert Humphrey, Russell Long, Walter Mondale, John F. Kennedy, and others on the national scene. "This is a magnificent book, about a magnificent man, by a magnificent writer. Gaylord Nelson, the creative author of Earth Day, is the leading figure in American environmentalism. His prophetic opposition to the American war in Vietnam makes him a foreign policy statesman of the highest rank. During long years in the U.S. House and Senate I came to know many good men and women—and a few great ones. Gaylord is one of the great ones, as this brilliant, well researched biography makes clear." —George McGovern "Gaylord Nelson was one of the great public servants of the post-World War II era. This illuminating book is a priceless account of his life and accomplishments."—Tom Brokaw "A fun book to read-filled with fascinating stories of politics in the twentieth century. We yearn for more political leaders like Gaylord who always voted his conscience and led with integrity and humor."—Bill Meadows, president, The Wilderness Society Bill Christofferson, a former journalist who has worked in local and state government, is a political campaign consultant based in Milwaukee. For publicity information contact Chris Caldwell, our publicity manager, phone: (608) 263-0734, email: publicity@uwpress.wisc.edu Of related interest Beyond Earth Day Fulfilling the Promise Gaylord Nelson With Susan Campbell and Paul Wozniak FOREWORD BY ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.

March 2004 LC: 2003020570 E 416 pp.  6 x 9 25 b/w photos ISBN-13: 978-0-299-19640-0 ISBN-10: 0-299-19640-2 Cloth $30.00 t To order, you can accumulate titles in the Shopping Cart by clicking on the bulleted lines below. You can submit your order electronically, paying for it with MasterCard or Visa. Click here for further explanation of shopping cart feature. Never ordered from us before? Read this first.

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