Collection Summary
Watt, James G.
James G. Watt Papers
1958-2013
07667
51.32 cubic feet (50
record boxes, 1 F31 oversize flat box, and 1 safe folder)
University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
English
Papers of a Secretary of the Interior of the
United States during the Ronald Reagan Administration.
Biography of James G. WattJames G. Watt began his long and
distinguished political career in 1962, when he joined the campaign to elect
Milward Simpson to U.S. Senator. Upon Simpson's successful bid, Watt joined the
newly elected Wyoming senator where he served as a legislative assistant and
counsel. He held this position through 1966 when Senator Simpson retired. Watt
then held numerous positions in Washington D.C. from 1966-1972 including
Secretary to the Natural Resources Committee and the Environmental Pollution
Advisory Panel of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States, Special
Assistant to the Secretary and Under Secretary of the Department of the
Interior, and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water and Power Resources. In July
1972, he was appointed Director of the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation. In 1975,
Watt joined the Federal Power Commission where he served as its commissioner
and vice chairman. In 1977, Watt became the President and Chief Legal Officer
of the Mountain States Legal Foundation. On December 22, 1980, James Watt was
nominated by President Ronald Reagan to become the 43rd Secretary of the
Interior of the United States. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on January
22, 1981, and was sworn into office at the White House the following day. In
the fall of 1983, Watt began receiving tremendous pressure from various
interest groups, the media, and elected officials to resign. Under this
scrutiny, Watt submitted his resignation to President Reagan on October 9,
which became effective at noon on November 8, 1983. James Gaius Watt was born
in Lusk, Wyoming, on January 31, 1938, to William Gaius Watt and Lois Mae
(Williams) Watt. He was raised in Lusk and in Wheatland. He earned a B.S.
degree in business (College of Commerce and Industry) from the University of
Wyoming in 1960, and received his J.D. law degree from there in 1962. He was
very active during his years at the University of Wyoming including being the
ASUW business manager and being the "Wyoming Law Journal Editor." He was a
graduate instructor from 1960 to 1962, having taught business law and real
estate. Mr. Watt married Wyoming native Leilani Bomgardner on November 2, 1957,
and from this union they had two children, Erin and Eric.
Scope and ContentThe James G. Watt Papers consist mostly of
material related to his political career in Washington D.C., which dated from
1962 through 1983. The bulk of these materials relate to his time as Assistant
to Senator Milward Simpson, as Director of the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation, as
Commissioner of the Federal Power Commission, and as the Secretary of the
Interior. Files regarding these positions include correspondence, travel
vouchers, itineraries, speeches, magazine and newspaper clippings, video and
audio recordings, scrapbooks, reports, bound printed matter, and photographs. A
small amount of material relates to the Water and Power Resources Commission,
the Mountain States Legal Foundation, and to some of his activities between
1984 and 2005. There are several files containing personal and family material
including letters, documents, and photographs.
Access Restrictions
There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes,
and the collection is open to the public. Please note, there is one Safe
Folder. Copies of this safe material are easily accessible by requesting Box
50. If you wish to see the original documents, please contact the Reading Room
Supervisor about requesting the Safe Folder.
Copyright Information
The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright,
property, and libel laws as they apply.
Related Materials
There are no known other archival collections created by James G. Watt
at the date of processing.
Acquisition Information
The James G. Watt Papers were received from James G. Watt in numerous shipments
from the 1980s through 2013.
Processing Information
The collection was processed by John Richard Waggener in 2005 and updated by D. Claudia Thompson in 2014.
Preferred Citation
Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, James G. Watt Papers,
Collection Number 7667, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
Access Terms
United States. Dept. of the
Interior
Land use - United
States
Environmental policy - West
(U.S.)
Wilderness areas - West
(U.S.)
Wildlife conservation - United
States
Wetland conservation - Law and
legislation
Outdoor recreation - United
States
Indian reservations - West
(U.S.)
Coal leases - West
(U.S.)
Oil and gas leases - West
(U.S.)
Mass media
Wyoming -- History --
1946-
Watt, Leilani
Reagan, Ronald
Simpson, Milward L. (Milward
Lee), 1897-1993
Photographs
Audiotapes
Videotapes
Scrapbooks
Politics, Government, and Law
Laws and Legislation
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Fisheries and Wildlife
Environment and Conservation
Land Use
Mines and Mineral Resources
Container List
Series I. Alphabetical Files
Series I contains twelve boxes (1-12) of files
that are organized alphabetically. Topics cover Watt's entire professional
career from the time of his graduation at the University of Wyoming through his
appointment as Secretary of the Interior. There are some personal and family
files as well as photographs.
1
1
Address Books and Contact Lists
1965-1972
1
2-3
Biographical Material
1962-1983
1
4-5
Bureau of Outdoor Recreation
1972-1975
1
6-11
Calendar
1969-1980
1
12-19
Correspondence
1958-Dec. 1969
2
1-15
Correspondence
January 1970-1975
3
1-10
Correspondence
January 1975-December 1981
3
11-14
Correspondence, A-H
1981
3
15
Correspondence - Heinz-Specter (OSM)
1981
4
1-8
Correspondence I-Z
1981
4
9
Correspondence - Congressman Yates (OSM)
1981
4
10-11
Correspondence
January-December, 1982
4
12-13
Correspondence, A-C
1982
4
14
Correspondence - Conservation Conference
(DOI/API)
1982
4
15-16
Correspondence, D-G
1982
4
17
Correspondence - General Accounting Office
(GAO)
1982
4
18
Correspondence - Gianelli, William R. (Army)
1982
4
19-20
Correspondence - H-K
1982
4
21
Correspondence - Senator Edward Kennedy, (5-year
OCS)
1982
4
22-23
Correspondence - L-M
1982
5
1-4
Correspondence - N-S
1982
5
5
Correspondence - Dr. Francis Schaeffer Dinner
1982
5
6-7
Correspondence - T-Z
1982
5
8-9
Correspondence
January-October, 1983
5
10-11
Correspondence - A-E
1983
5
12
Correspondence - Eagle Letters (Republican)
1983
5
13
Correspondence - F-J
1983
5
14
Correspondence - Jewish Community
1983
5
15-16
Correspondence - K-P
1983
5
17
Correspondence - Robert M. Pittenger
1983
5
18-19
Correspondence - Q-V
1983
5
20
Correspondence - Vietnam Veterans Memorial
1983
5
21
Correspondence - W
1983
5
22
Correspondence - Western Governors Meeting
1983
5
23
Correspondence - X-Z
1983
5
24
Federal Power Commission
1977
5
25
Federal Power Commission - Appointment to
1975
5
26-27
Federal Power Commission - John Moss File
1975-1977
5
28-29
Federal Power Commission - Nomination Hearing
1975
6
1
Fergusen, Herbert H. (Biography/Resume)
1962
6
2-8
Invitations and Meetings
1966-1975
6
9-14
Magazine Articles about Watt
1973-1983
7
1
Magazine Articles about Watt
1983
7
2
Memos
1972-1975
7
3
Monday Morning Group
1983
7
4
Mountain States Legal Foundation
1979-1981
7
5
News (Press) Releases
1964-1971
7
6-14
News (Press) Releases
January 1981-September 1983
8
1-2
Newspaper Clippings
1962-1983
8
3
Newspaper Clippings - Letters to the Editor
Material
1981-1983
8
4
Oral Roberts University
1981
8
5
Photographs - autographed (includes Wyoming Political
Leaders)
1964-1973
8
6
Photographs - Negatives and Slides
1963-1973
8
7
Photographs - Secretary of the Interior
1981-1983
8
8
Photographs - Secretary of the Interior in
Yosemite
1981
8
9
Photographs - Simpson, Milward and Lorna
1963-1966
8
10
Photographs - "Stagecoach", painting by N.C.
Wyeth
1957
8
11
Photographs - Watt, James Portraits (includes Leilani and
Erin Watt)
1963-1973
8
12
Photographs - Watt, James with others
1963-1982
8
13
Photographs - Wheatland, Wyoming
(Reproductions)
circa 1913
8
14
Postcards
1962-1972
8
15
Press Kits (Magazine and Newspaper Clippings for
Media)
1981-1983
8
16
Reagan, Ronald (correspondence and
photographs)
1981
8
17
Republican Leadership Conference
1972
8
18
Resume Material (related to Legal Profession)
1960s
8
19
Secretary of the Interior - Annual Report (Material
for)
1982
8
20
Secretary of the Interior - Annual Report
1983
8
21
Secretary of the Interior - Appointment and
Confirmation
1981
8
22
Secretary of the Interior - Appointment
Comments
1981
8
23
Secretary of the Interior - Appointment
Hearing
1980
8
24
Secretary of the Interior - Artwork (portraits of
Watt)
1983
8
25
Secretary of the Interior - "At the Eye of the Storm," a
book by Ron Arnold (Includes books, correspondence, and
photograph)
1983
9
1
Secretary of the Interior - "Buffalo Letter"
1982
9
2
Secretary of the Interior - Christian Religious Stand of
Watt
1982
9
3
Secretary of the Interior - Colonial National Historical
Park Commemoration
1981
9
4
Secretary of the Interior - "Colorado Day"
1981
9
5
Secretary of the Interior - Congratulations and
Recommendation Letters to Interior Staff Positions
1981
9
6-11
Secretary of the Interior - Congratulations Letters
including Action Items
1980-1981
9
12
Secretary of the Interior - Distinguished Service
Award
1983
9
13
Secretary of the Interior - Environmetal
Accomplishments
1981
9
14
Secretary of the Interior - Fact - Fiction
Sheet
1981
9
15
Secretary of the Interior - "Future Generations"
Quote
1981
9
16
Secretary of the Interior - Gift Lists
1981-1983
9
17
Secretary of the Interior - Hearing Regarding Watt's
Office Policy
1982
9
18-21
Secretary of the Interior - Itineraries
1981-1982
10
1-4
Secretary of the Interior - Itineraries
1983
10
5
Secretary of the Interior - Jewish Community and American
Jewish Committee
1982
10
6
Secretary of the Interior - Memoranda
1981-1983
10
7
Secretary of the Interior - National Energy Policy (Don
Hodel information)
1981
10
8
Secretary of the Interior - Nomination
1981
10
9
Secretary of the Interior - Offshore Drilling
1983-1984
10
10
Secretary of the Interior - Presidential
Appointments
1981
10
11
Secretary of the Interior - Potect our Wetlands and Duck
Resources (POWDR) Legislation
1983
10
12
Secretary of the Interior - Remote Sensing and Mapping
Technology and Uses
1982
10
13
Secretary of the Interior - Resignation - Cabinet
Letters
1983
10
14
Secretary of the Interior - Resignation - Legal
Documents
1983
10
15
Secretary of the Interior - Resignation - Personal
Correspondence
1983
10
16
Secretary of the Interior - Resignation - Reagan Letter
and Response
1983
10
17
Secretary of the Interior - Resignation - Watt's
Reflections
1983
10
18
Secretary of the Interior - Staff
Resignations
1982-1983
10
19
Secretary of the Interior - Western States
Tour
1981
10
20
Simpson, Milward - Campaign Material
1962
10
21-22
Simpson, Milward - Senate Material
1962-1965
11
1-6
Speech Material
1972-1977
11
7-11
Speeches
1964-1983
11
12
Stationary
1975
11
13
Thompson Memoranda (Federal Regional Council)
1982
11
14-15
Travel Vouchers - Bureau of Outdoor
Recreation
1972-1975
12
1-3
Travel Vouchers - Department of the Interior
1969-1970
12
4-5
Travel Vouchers - Federal Power Commission
1975-1977
12
6
Water and Power Development - Muskie-Watt
Feud
1969
12
7
Water and Power Development - Secretary of the Interior,
Deputy Assistant to
1969-1972
12
8
Watt, James - Applications
1962-1971
12
9
Watt, James - Personal File (includes University of
Wyoming
1958-1960
12
10
Watt, James - Personal File
1960-1983
12
11
Watt, James - Pesonal File (Includes Family
History)
1962-1969
12
12-15
Watt, James - Personal File
1968-1981
12
16
Watt, James - Personal File (Federal Power
Commission)
1974-1977
12
17
Watt, James - Personal File
1981-2005
12
18
Watt, Leilani - "Caught in the Conflict" (a book by Mrs.
Watt)
1984
12
19
Watt, Leilani - Personal File
1966-1970
Series II. Bound Material and Printed Matter
This series contains nine boxes (13-21) of bulk
material, the majority of which is within three-ring binders. The material is,
in many instances, related to the alphabetical files listed in Series I. The
contents span Watt's political career beginning with his time as assistant to
Senator Milward Simpson, the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation, and the Federal
Power Commission. Most of the material relates to his service as the Secretary
of the Interior. Contents include bound speeches, newspaper clippings and
editorials, trip itineraries, reports, legal cases, and news media transcripts.
The news coverage transcripts relate to Watt's controversial resignation and
his controversial quotes. Also contained here are the lists of videotapes of
his time as Secretary of the Interior (videotapes are located in Series IV.)
These videotape lists include the date the news program aired, the channel on
which the program appeared, and the program title. The trip itineraries include
schedules, tour information, contact information, media information, and
summaries of issues. The printed matter consists of Federal publications of
Senate and House Hearings of issues pertaining to Department of the Interior.
Also included is the "Watt Book," a two-volume set of negative information
about Watt that was compiled and distributed by the Wilderness Society.
13
1
Simpson, Milward - Right-to-Work Reports, Speeches,
etc.
1966-1967
13
2
Simpson, Milward - Resource Laws
1966-1967
13
3
Speeches
1967-1975
13
4-5
Supreme Court Oil and Natural Gas Cases (span of many
years)
compiled from 1975-1977
14
1
Federal Power Commission - Speeches
1975-1977
14
2
Federal Power Commission - Hearing of the Committee on
Interstate and Foreign Commerce about Adverse Personnel Matters
1977
14
3
Federal Power Commission, Speech and Speech Material for
Statement Made to Gas Men's Roundtable
1976
14
4-6
Federal Power Commission - Dissents, Concurrences, and
Orders
1975-1977
15
1-3
Secretary of the Interior - Videotape Lists
1981-1983
15
4
Secretary of the Interior - Administrative Transition
Reports and Recommendations
Dec. 1980
16
1-7
Secretary of the Interior - Trip Itineraries
1981-1983
17
1-2
Secretary of the Interior - "The Watt Book"
1980-1982
17
3-5
Secretary of the Interior - Congressional Hearings and
Testimony related to the Department of the Interior
1981-1983
18
1-4
Secretary of the Interior - Speeches and
Statements
1981-1983
18
5
Secretary of the Interior - Media Coverage Transcripts of
Watt Resignation and Controversial Statement
October 1983
19
Secretary of the Interior - Book: Sagebrush Rebel: Reagan's Battle with Environmental Extremists and Why It Matters Today, by William Perry Pendley
2013
19
1-3
Secretary of the Interior - News and Magazine Articles
about Watt
1981-1983
20
1-3
Secretary of the Interior - News Editorials about
Watt
1980-1983
21
1-29
Secretary of the Interior - Congressional Hearings related
to Department of the Interior (bound & printed volumes)
1980-1983
Series III. Scrapbooks
Contained in this series are thirteen boxes (22-34) of
scrapbooks and cartoons. These include ten boxes of scrapbooks of Watt's
political career from 1972-1983. These scrapbooks contain material such as news
clippings, awards, letters, and photographs. There is one box that contains
scrapbooks of photographs during Watt's time as Secretary of the Interior.
There is one box of scrapbooks related to Watt's trips and ventures during his
time as Secretary of the Interior. Included are his Alaska trips and his trip
to Wyoming for the One Shot Antelope Hunt. Finally, there is one box containing
hundreds of political cartoons about Watt.
22
1-5
Scrapbooks (5 volumes)
1972-1973
23
1-5
Scrapbooks (5 volumes)
1973-1975
24
1-5
Scrapbooks (5 volumes)
1975-1977
25
1-3
Scrapbooks (3 volumes)
December 1980 - May 1981
26
1-2
Scrapbooks (2 volumes)
June -August 1981
27
1-3
Scrapbooks (3 volumes)
September - December. 1981
28
1-2
Scrapbooks (2 volumes)
January-June 1982
29
1-2
Scrapbooks (2 volumes)
July-December 1982
30
1-2
Scrapbooks (2 volumes)
January-April 1983
31
1-3
Scrapbooks (3 volumes)
May-November 1983
32
1-4
Photograph Scrapbooks (4 volumes)
1981-1983
33
1-11
Trips and Ventures Scrapbooks (11 volumes)
1981-1983
34
1-3
Cartoon Scrapbooks (3 volumes)
1980-1983
34
4-5
Cartoons (2 folders)
1981-1983
34
6
Cartoon Books (1 folder containing 2 books), "100 Watts:
The James Watt Memorial Cartoon Collection," and "Best Editorial Cartoons of
1983"
1980-1983
Series IV. Audio-Visual Material
The Audio-visual material is contained in 15 boxes
(35-49.) Included are videotapes, audiocassette tapes, and microfilm. The bulk
of this series consists primarily of 3/4-inch videotapes of James Watt during
his time as Secretary of the Interior. A list of videotape titles, dates, and
descriptions can be found in Box 15. These videotapes are arranged by date.
Topics include news broadcasts, interviews, speeches, hearings, tours, and
other events. One box contains audiocassettes, most of which are from his time
as Secretary of the Interior. These include speeches, interviews, media
responses, testimony, hearings, and news conferences. A few tapes include some
of Watt's speeches between 1972 and 1976. Most of these deal with Bureau of
Outdoor Recreation and natural resources topics including one speech delivered
at the University of Wyoming. There is also a set of four mass-produced,
commercial tapes titled "Battle for America", which were produced by the Revive
America Committee. The microfilm rolls include calendars, planners, phone
numbers, business cards, and steno notepad entries. These date from
1978-1983.
35
1-13
Videotapes
January-May 1981
36
1-14
Videotapes (Includes trip to Alaska)
June-September 1981
37
1-14
Videotapes (Includes BLM, Fish and Wildlife Service, and
Sierra Club)
September-November 1981
38
1-14
Videotapes
December 1981 - March 1982
39
1-15
Videotapes (includes ski industry, Mt. St. Helens, and
coyote poison)
April-July 1982
40
1-12
Videotapes (includes Vietnam War Memorial and Senate Bill
1409)
August-October 1982
41
1-13
Videotapes (includes wilderness areas, and the Black Women
Museum dedication)
November-December 1982
42
1-15
Videotapes (includes American Indian Reservations, and the
National Parks Service)
January 1983
43
1-12
Videotapes (includes coal leasing in the Powder River
Basin)
February-March 1983
44
1-15
Videotapes (includes Beach Boys Concert controversy, and
coal, and oil and gas leasing)
April-May 1983
45
1-15
Videotapes (includes eagle poaching, Beach Boys coverage,
Alaska oil, and POWDR wetlands legislation)
June-July 1983
46
1-12
Videotapes (includes Grand Coulee Dam celebration, and the
Watt controversy and his resignation)
July-September 1983
47
1-15
Videotapes, (includes Watt resignation, and Watt's
reception party before he left office)
September-November 1983
48
1-11
Videotapes (miscellaneous undated or untitled
videos)
1981-1983
49
1-167
Audiotapes (includes mostly Secretary of the Interior
material including interviews, broadcasts, etc. from 1981-1983. These tapes are
from "Broadcast Services." Also included are several tapes of speeches from
1972-1976 related to the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation and natural resources
issues including a speech at UW. There is a tape set titled "Battle for
America." Also included are microfilms with information from 1978-1983.
Information includes calendars, day planners, address lists, etc.)
1972-1983
Series V. Oversize Material, Artifacts, and Safe
Material
This series includes three containers (50-52.) There is
one box of artifacts (50), one flat box of oversize material (51), and one safe
folder (52.) The artifact box contains miscellaneous three-dimensional
artifacts such as awards, plaques, etc. Also included in the artifact box is a
folder of photographs of artifacts that were returned to Mr. Watt. The
photographs of the objects are included as part of the collection simply to
preserve the information of those artifacts that were returned. Oversize
material includes photographs, posters, certificates, and diplomas. The safe
folder contains letters from prominent individuals like Richard Nixon, Laurance
Rockefeller, and Charles A. Lindbergh, as well as an invitation to the 1965
presidential inauguration of Lyndon Johnson and Hubert Humphrey. Please note,
for easier access, copies of all safe material are available in Box 50.
50
1
Artifacts (includes photographs of artifacts removed from
collection)
1974-1984
50
2
Safe Material Copies (includes copies of material
contained in the safe folder.)
1964-1973
50
3
Artifacts (contains many three-dimensional
artifacts)
1958-1984
51
1
Artifacts (includes mounted newsclipping and an album from
a 1982 trip to the Navajo Indian Reservation in Arizona)
1981-1982
51
2
Cartoons
1981-1983
51
3
Photographs (includes Watt in Glacier National Park and
former Secretaries of the Interior Rogers Morton and Walter
Hickel)
1970-1983
51
4
Certificates and Diplomas (includes diplomas from
University of Wyoming and many certificates of Watt's public
service)
1962-1983
51
5
Posters
1973-1981
52
1-7
Safe Folder (includes documents such as letters, photos
and invitations. Copies of this material are in Box 50)
1964-1973