Spearheading Environmental Change: The Legacy of Indiana Congressman Floyd J. Fithian

Spearheading Environmental Change: The Legacy of Indiana Congressman Floyd J. Fithian emphasizes Fithian's role in the emerging environmental movement in late twentieth-century America, highlighting his legislative efforts on water-related issues and his positions on ecologically sensitive issues. He was a highly ethical, pragmatic reformer who fought for preserving the country's natural resources.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 248 pages
Publication date: 15 April 2022
Publisher: Purdue University Press

Spearheading Environmental Change: The Legacy of Indiana Congressman Floyd J. Fithian delves into the remarkable life of a four-term United States congressman, with a primary focus on his pivotal role in the emerging environmental movement of late twentieth-century America.

The book intricately explores Fithian's legislative endeavors, particularly his unwavering commitment to addressing three water-related issues that deeply resonated with Hoosier and midwestern voters. These issues included the creation of a national park on the picturesque Indiana shoreline of Lake Michigan, the cancellation of dam construction near Purdue University, and the mitigation of flooding in the Kankakee River Basin. Furthermore, Spearheading Environmental Change sheds light on Fithian's staunch positions on ecologically sensitive topics such as pesticides, noise pollution, fossil fuels, and nuclear power.

While Fithian is largely remembered for his active participation in the Democratic reform wave that swept Congress in 1975 following the Watergate scandal (the so-called Class of 74), his significant contributions to addressing the nation's environmental challenges have been somewhat overlooked. However, this book aims to rectify that oversight by granting Fithian the rightful recognition he deserves as a formidable environmental warrior on the national stage.

Fithian's unwavering dedication to ethical and pragmatic reform was driven by his profound passion for preserving the country's precious natural resources. His unwavering commitment to these causes earned him the respect and admiration of both colleagues and constituents alike. Through Spearheading Environmental Change, readers gain a deeper understanding of Fithian's remarkable legacy and his instrumental role in shaping the nation's environmental policy during a critical period of history.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781612497389