Gaylord Nelson

In 1969, as a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, Gaylord Nelson came up with one of the most powerful ideas of his time: Earth Day. Inspired by the teach-ins formed to protest the Vietnam War, Earth Day was an instant success, drawing 20 million participants the first year (1970).

American Heritage Magazine called the first Earth Day "one of the most remarkable happenings in the history of democracy."Gaylord Nelson was born in Clear Lake, Wisconsin on June 4, 1916.In 1948, Nelson began his political career. He served as the Dane County State Senator, then became the governor of Wisconsin in 1958, serving for two terms. In 1962, Nelson was elected to the U.S. Senate where he represented Wisconsin for 18 years.After leaving the Senate in January, 1981, Nelson continued his fight for the planet's health as counselor of The Wilderness Society. He was involved with a wide range of land preservation issues, including elimination of logging subsidies, protection of national parks, and expansion of the National Wilderness Preservation System.Senator Nelson recalled the first seeds of Earth Day, in 1962. “That year an idea occurred to me that was, I thought, something that would put the environment into the political spotlight once and for all.”

THANK YOU TO HIS IDEA NOW WE CAN CELEBRALE "EARTH DAY''