Remarks announcing the establishment of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument at Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents, Sept 23, 1996

I will say again, creating this national monument should not and will not come at the expense of Utah's children. Today is also the beginning of a unique 3-year process during which the Bureau of Land Management will work with State and local governments, Congressman Orton, and the Senators and other interests to set up a land management process that will be good for the people of Utah and good for Americans. And I know a lot of you will want to be involved in that and to be heard as well.

Let us always remember, the Grand Staircase-Escalante is for our children. For our children we have worked hard to make sure that we have a clean and safe environment, as the Vice President said. I appreciate what he said about the Yellowstone, the Mojave Desert, the Everglades, the work we have done all across this country to try to preserve our natural heritage and clean up our environment. I hope that we can once again pursue that as an American priority without regard to party or politics or election seasons. We all have the same stake in our common future.

If you'll permit me a personal note, another one, it was 63 years ago that a great Democrat first proposed that we create a national monument in Utah's Canyonlands. His name was Harold Ickes. He was Franklin Roosevelt's Interior Secretary. And I'm sorry he never got a chance to see that his dream would become a reality, but I'm very glad that his son and namesake is my Deputy Chief of Staff and is here today.

And it was 30 years before that, 93 years ago, that a great Republican President, Theodore Roosevelt, said we should make the Grand Canyon a national monument. In 1903, Teddy Roosevelt came to this place and said a few words from the rim of the Canyon I'd like to share with you as we close today:

"Leave the Grand Canyon as it is. You cannot improve upon it. What you can do is keep it for your children, your children's children, all who come after you. We have gotten past the stage when we are pardoned if we treat any part of our country as something to be skinned for. The use of the present generation, whether it is the forest, the water, the scenery, whatever it is, handle it so that your children's children will get the benefit of it."

It was President Roosevelt's wisdom and vision that launched the Progressive Era and prepared our Nation for the 20th century. Today we must do the same for the 21st century. I have talked a lot about building a bridge of possibility to that 21st century, by meeting our challenges and protecting our values. Today the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument becomes a great pillar in our bridge to tomorrow.

Thank you, and God bless you all.

NOTE: The President spoke at 12:10 p.m. outside El Tovar Lodge. In his remarks, he referred to Rob Arnberger, Superintendent, Grand Canyon National Park; Norma Matheson, widow of former Utah Gov. Scott Matheson; and Gov. Michael O. Leavitt of Utah.