Alan’s TTIM Stories #15

It began with a colorful country lawyer from Ohio.  In 1849, Thomas Ewing became the first Secretary of the Interior. In a few years, the United States exploded with additional territories  – Texas, California, Oregon and everything in between.* The new land put additional responsibilities on existing government agencies.

Prior to the additions, leaders argued over control, ideology, and power. Democrats believed in Manifest Destiny – the country coast to coast achieved by annexation, war, and compromise. Members of the Whig Party disapproved – political party created to counteract perceived executive tyranny of President Jackson and President Polk.

Whether in favor of additional territories or not, Whig President Zachary Taylor confronted an expanded nation. In a bit of irony, the successful General Zachary Taylor during the Mexican American War must claim responsibility for much of the new territory.

The U.S. Land Office was a bureau under the Treasury Department. Secretary Robert Walker rejected the extra responsibility. Creation of a new cabinet agency “the department of everything else” became reality, spurred by the additional of 1,206,896 square miles. The new Department of the Interior included the nation’s internal affairs, parks, DC jail, Office of Indian Affairs, public lands, patents, and pensions – a collection of agencies no other agency wanted.

And what did Thomas Ewing do with this important responsibility? Build an efficient new cabinet department? Preserve our wildlands? Advocate for justice for Indigenous peoples? His first actions was to bring political patronage to the new department. During his brief appointment, Ewing worked to strengthen the Whig party by replacing top officials gaining the nickname, “Butcher Ewing.”

The Office of Indian Affairs moved from the War Department, but depictable policies remained – forced displacement to west of the Mississippi, conversion to a purely farming culture on poor land, and assimilation attempts of youth at boarding schools.  

The issue of slavery erupted in the new territories. Whigs were unresponsive – upsetting both the anti-slavery northerners and the pro-slavery southerners. “If you try to please everyone, you’ll end up pleasing no one.”** Anti-slavery northerners moved to the new Republican Party. The Ewing family supported the Union during the Civil War – Thomas Ewing Jr. a Union general and Thomas Ewing’s former foster son and now son-in-law – General William Tecumseh Sherman.

For the 175 years after the birth of Interior, the Department was plagued with inconsistency in mission and actions. Civil War general and German immigrant, Carl Schurz, was appointed Secretary by President Hayes. He had a refreshing attitude of giving leadership roles to qualified individuals. He fought against a move to return the Office of Indian Affairs back to the War Department. His sympathy to Native Americans did not change the forced displacement policy or avoid the disastrous Northern Cheyenne Exodus of 1878-79.

No other government agency has suffered from extreme pendulum swings as the Department of the Interior.

President Ronald Reagan appointed James G. Watt to the top Interior post. Environmentalists strongly objected and comedians benefited from an excess of lampoon-worthy material. First was an attempt to eliminate the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Next, open more land to mining and oil drilling. The most famous faux pas did not touch on the physical environment. Watt banned the Beach Boys from the Independence Day Concert on the National Mall citing a poor influence of evil Rock & Roll. He discovered the Beach Boys were favorites of President and Nancy Reagan.  

After leaving office, Watt was indicted on 18 counts of perjury and obstruction of justice as an influence peddling lobbyist and spent five years on probation.

President Donald Trump appointed Ryan Zinke from Montana to head the Department. Once again the Land and Water Conservation Fund was threatened with a budget proposal of 8 million down from 425 million. He rescinded the policy banning lead bullets and fishing gear in National Wildlife Refuges and the ban on the import of elephant products. Zinke also worked to reduce the size of National Monuments to open more land for oil drilling and mining. Outrageous expenditures ($139,00 for office doors, private jet trip for $12,375 for a commercial flight costing $300) forced Zinke from office.

Jump ahead to 2021. President Joe Biden appointed Deb Haaland to become the 54^th Secretary of the Interior – the first Native American to hold the post. Her rise is attributed to overcoming hardships with intelligence and determination. Haaland became a single mother soon after graduating from the University of New Mexico. She started a salsa business, Pueblo Salsa – barely able to pay the bills.

In order to pay for her daughter’s preschool, she agreed to clean the school. Haaland sold the business to attend law school.

In 2015, she became the Chair of the New Mexico Democratic Party. She felt compelled to join South Dakota pipeline protest. Elected to the U. S House in 2019 – supporting the Green New Deal and introducing the most bills from any freshman.

Haaland was sworn in on March 2021, making a statement by wearing native clothing, “a rainbow-striped skirt adorned with butterflies, stars, and corn, moccasins with tall white deerskin leggings, a concho silver belt and turquoise necklace, and dragonfly earrings.” She immediately took on issues on behalf of  Native Americans.

• Approved a new constitution for the Cherokee Nation
• Created a new unit created to address the lack of attention to murdered and missing Native Americans
• Federal Indian Boarding School initiative to investigate a history of abuse
• Banned the name “squaw” from all federal owned lands

On the environment, the Department, taking the effects of climate change seriously, is working to help  communities to address drought, wildfires, and coastal erosion. The work includes initiatives “to restore habitat connectivity and secure key migration corridors for wildlife.”

One can’t overlook the commonality of far right conservatives to cater to fossil fuel industries. The difference between exploitation vs preservation is the difficulty of recovering from the damage of exploitation.

Our nation must also recognize the shameful policies toward Native Americans in the past and be joyful for the appropriate attention by our new Secretary with the background, intelligence and passion to make a positive difference.

Last word: if one truth comes out of this story – it’s the importance of your vote.

“I’ll be fierce for all of us.”
Secretary Deb Haaland

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*Annexation of Texas = 389,166 square miles, Treaty with Mexico = 529,189 square miles, Oregon Compromise = 288,541 square miles.

**33 Vinh Giang Quotes on Public Speaking, Communication & Success

Sources:
The Department of the Interior (doi.gov)
Wikipedia

Follow announcements of Alan’s TTIM Stories on Facebook.com/alan.vandervoort or Threads at vandervoort_author. All stories are found at www.alanvandervoort.com. Novels by the author include: Sandhills – A Novel and Key Largo Summer are found at Booklocker.com and other online booksellers.