Gaylord Nelson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gaylord Nelson
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Nelson in 1963
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| United States Senator from Wisconsin |
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| In office January 8, 1963 – January 3, 1981 |
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| Preceded by | Alexander Wiley |
| Succeeded by | Bob Kasten |
| 35th Governor of Wisconsin | |
| In office January 5, 1959 – January 7, 1963 |
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| Lieutenant | Philleo Nash Warren P. Knowles |
| Preceded by | Vernon Wallace Thomson |
| Succeeded by | John Reynolds |
| Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 26th district |
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| In office January 3, 1949 – January 5, 1959 |
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| Preceded by | Fred Risser |
| Succeeded by | Horace W. Wilkie |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Gaylord Anton Nelson
June 4, 1916 Clear Lake, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died | July 3, 2005 (aged 89) Kensington, Maryland, U.S. |
| Resting place | Clear Lake Cemetery, Clear Lake, Wisconsin |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Carrie Lee Dotson
(m. 1947) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | San Jose State University (BA) University of Wisconsin–Madison (LLB) |
| Profession | lawyer |
| Awards | Presidential Medal of Freedom (1995) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Gaylord Anton Nelson (June 4, 1916 – July 3, 2005) was an important American politician and a champion for the environment. He was from Wisconsin. Nelson served as a U.S. Senator and also as the governor of his state. He was a member of the Democratic Party. He is best known for creating Earth Day, which helped start a big movement for protecting our planet.
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Early Life and Education
Gaylord Nelson was born in 1916 in Clear Lake, Wisconsin. His mother, Mary, was a nurse, and his father, Anton, was a country doctor. He had family roots from Norway and Ireland. He went to local public schools as he grew up.
In 1939, he earned a degree in political science from San Jose State University in California. Later, in 1942, he got his law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School. After becoming a lawyer, he joined the United States Army. He fought in World War II, including the Battle of Okinawa.
Political Career and Environmental Action
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Gaylord Nelson began his political journey in 1948. He was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate. He served there for ten years. In 1958, he became the governor of Wisconsin. He was governor for four years, serving two terms.
In 1962, Nelson was elected to the United States Senate. He served as a senator for three terms, from 1963 to 1981. In 1963, he convinced President John F. Kennedy to travel around the country. They talked about important ways to protect nature.
Senator Nelson is most famous for starting Earth Day. This special day began on April 22, 1970. It was a "teach-in" event to help people learn about environmental problems. Earth Day helped many people become more active in protecting the environment.
During his 1968 re-election campaign, Nelson received praise from Vince Lombardi. Lombardi was a famous coach for the Green Bay Packers. He called Nelson the "nation's #1 conservationist." Nelson's campaign used Lombardi's words in ads. This made Lombardi and his wife, Marie, upset because she was a strong Republican.
Nelson was known for his environmental work. But he also cared about other important issues. He was a strong supporter of civil rights and personal freedoms. He was also one of the first politicians to speak out against the Vietnam War.
He also worked to help small businesses. As chairman of the Senate Small Business Committee, he helped create Small Business Development Centers. These centers help small businesses at universities across the U.S. He also worked to make sure federal rules were fair for small businesses.
Environmental Legacy
After he left the Senate in 1980, Nelson continued his environmental work. In 1981, he became a counselor for The Wilderness Society. This group works to protect wild places.
In 1995, Nelson received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is one of the highest awards a civilian can get in the United States. He received it for all his hard work in protecting the environment.
In 1986, Nelson was honored by being added to the Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame. This hall of fame is located at the Schmeeckle Reserve Visitor Center. It is maintained by the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point.
Nelson believed that controlling the size of the nation's population was also important for the environment.
Death and Memorials
Gaylord Nelson passed away on July 3, 2005, at the age of 89. He died from heart problems.
Many places and organizations are named after him. The Gaylord Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison is one example. It honors his love for nature. The Gaylord Nelson Wilderness is also named after him. This wilderness area is part of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. It covers most of the park's land. Governor Nelson State Park near Waunakee, Wisconsin, also carries his name. Even an elementary school in his hometown of Clear Lake, Wisconsin, is named the Gaylord A. Nelson Educational Center.
See also
In Spanish: Gaylord Nelson para niños
