1964 Land Ownership and the National Interest

Federal ownership of national forest lands received public affirmations of support in 1963 and 1964. In 1963, the regional forester of the Eastern Region of the Forest Service noted that the American Forestry Association maintained a platform for American Conservation that stated, "The American Forestry Association reaffirms its long-standing support of federal and state forests."

In 1964, the Assistant Secretary of Agriculture spoke to the American Forest Products Industries and declared, "Public ownership of certain lands is clearly in the national interest...National Forests are [one example]." These comments came as the Cold War was heating up with the recent Bay of Pigs conflict and national security ranked high in the public's concern.

Source:

"Department of Agriculture Views on Land Ownership and the National Interest" address to American Forest Products Industries Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C., October 30, 1964, by John A. Baker, Assistant Secretary of Agriculture.

"Public Lands and the Job Ahead" speech by Richard F. Droege, Regional Forester, Eastern Region, at Fifth Forest Congress, Washington, D.C., October 27-30, 1963.