Jack Ward Thomas: The Journals of a Forest Service Chief

American Forests, Summer-Autumn, 2004 by Carl Reidel

Jack Ward Thomas: The Journals of a Forest Service Chief edited by Harold K. Steen.

$30.00. Univ. of Washington Press with Forest History Society, 2004.

This is living history at its best, an intimate glimpse into the life of a man whose dedication to public service gives new meaning to the role of leadership in government and the broader conservation movement. The book is an extract of about 25 percent of the personal journal of Jack Ward Thomas from April 1990 through his term as Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, 1993-1996. It's edited by the former president of the Forest History Society.

Thomas's journal captures the drama of the moment and his personal responses as the events described unfold. The heroic and mundane weave together in a seamless story of a person seeking to live by his principles in a position of leadership. That's understandably difficult where the clash between science and politics is inevitable and the pressure is relentless from politicians with partisan agendas and political appointees maneuvering for power. Thomas writes that "the very atmosphere (of Congressional hearings) is corrupting," but admits that "at the same time the game and the illusions of power and influence are seductive."

This is an inside account of the battles over the Forest Service's spotted owl study--the "Thomas Report"; The "Gang of Four" report of management alternatives for the Pacific Northwest; the controversy over Thomas's political appointment as chief; and the adoption of the "President's (Clinton) Plan," which Thomas saw as "a turning point in forest management and conservation in the United States ... and perhaps in the world." It was, he said, "the first broad-scale consideration of ecosystem management."

This book should be read by every Forest Service employee, past or present, as well as by students of forestry and public administration. It is a complete "course" in natural resource policy, public administration, ethics, and personal courage--a course in philosophy tempered by experience.