President Nixon, a college student, and a Wisconsin senator: How Earth Day came to be

Published April 20, 2024 5:00am ET



On April 22, 1971, former President Richard Nixon planted a tree at the White House, commemorating the one-year anniversary of Earth Day.

Nixon was one of America’s “greenest” presidents, signing 14 pieces of environmental legislation into law while he was in office. He signed laws such as the National Environmental Policy Act, the Clean Air Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the Safe Drinking Water Act.

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