George Washington to New Hampshire, 29 December 1777 (Detail, GLC03706) Visions of the American Environment: President Warren G. Harding Visits Yellowstone National Park by Scott Linn Jefferson Middle School- Oak Ridge, TN Toraselli, Robert. In Our Own Words. While on a cross-country trip to Alaska (not yet a state) in June, 1923, President Warren Harding passed through Montana's Yellowstone National Park. He gave an excellent speech on the Park's beauty and how it impacted his spirit. It is a very great pleasure to be greeted so cordially by so many of you on this Sabbath evening. We have been spending two wonderful days in your vicinity. And we spent this Sabbath day, I believe, quite as close to God Almighty as though we worshipped in temples erected by man, for we spent the day amidst the grandeur, the majesty, and the inspirations of the great Yellowstone National Park….. The Yellowstone Park is a wonderful place. It is a great possession for you of Montana and the other states which have territory therein. It is a great possession for those who live nearby. It is a great possession of the United States of America. I have been marveling at our experiences of the last two days. During that time we have seen literally a fine cross section of the citizenship of our land. I believe that during my brief sojourn in the park I have greeted personally travelers from every state in the American Union, and, in addition to that, I have had the privilege of greeting citizens of England, of Canada, and of Cuba. Manifestly all the country is beginning to turn its face toward the Yellowstone National Park, and I am glad of it, for there is nothing more helpful, nothing more uplifting, nothing that gives one a greater realization of the wonders of creation than a visit to that great national institution. I have gathered some interesting impressions from my sojourn in the park, and I wonder if similar impressions have come to you who live nearby. For instance, because of the protection of wildlife in the park, there has been created amongst the wild creatures there an air and feeling of confidence which causes them to experience a sense of security. We saw it everywhere; and as I watched the wildlife of the park today unconcerned and unmiundful of the human beings about them, manifesting their confidence in the security of the situation, I thought how helpful it would be to humankind if we could have a like confidence in one another in all the relations of life. ….In addition to being able to visit the park, it is good to have the privilege of coming to this wonderful section of our country. You of Montana live in a vast and wonderful state. i hope you will never allow it to become too common to you. Not so very long ago I heard the pastor of a Washington church deliver a sermon in which he admonished his congregation never to allow the uncommon things to become common. If I could convey his thought to you, I would urge you never to allow the grandeur of the mountains and the majesty of this great western country to become so common to you that you will lose the ability to appraise the value of their inspiration and worth. You live in a wonderland, indeed, and we who have come from sections further east have been marveling and indulging in the most extravagant comment of admiration and approval. I speak the plain truth when I say to you that I am rejoiced that I have come to know better your state and the people of your state. It is a fine thing, my countrymen, to know each other better. I love to preach the gospel of understanding. I want you to understand your government, and I think your government ought to understand you. I we can only have understanding in the world and, with that understanding, the practice of the Golden Rule, we shall not only be a peaceful people among ourselves, but we shall always remain at peace with the nations of the earth. ____ 1. In his speech President Warren Harding mentions that he greeted citizens of every state and several foreign countries while visiting Yellowstone National Park. Why was he glad to see these people at the Park? 2. How could these visitors be detrimental to the Park? Explain the impact do they have on the environment? 3. President Harding mentions that the wildlife had a sense of security, that they were unmindful of human beings. Are these animals truly "wild" and secure in this environment? Explain your viewpoint on this situation. 4. Have we allowed the uncommon to become common, in regards to our use of national parks as Harding argued against? Explain your viewpoint. 5. Are our national parks too accessible? Discuss whether or not you believe we have we made them too secure by encroaching upon them with cities, amusement parks, and roads? 6. Do you believe President Harding met any Native Americans at the park, and if so what matters might they have discussed?