in 3 sentences, describe two events that inspiered the environmental legislation nixon urged congress to pass in this speech. how did these events create a feeling of urgency about the environment for nixon and other americans?

Answer 1

In his speech, Nixon was influenced by the Santa Barbara oil spill of 1969, which released over three million gallons of crude oil into the ocean, leading to widespread ecological damage and public outcry. Another pivotal event was the Cuyahoga River fire, which highlighted the severe pollution issues in industrial waterways, capturing national attention and outrage. These events created a sense of urgency as they laid bare the immediate and visible consequences of environmental negligence, prompting Nixon and many Americans to recognize the need for strong legislative action to protect natural resources and public health.