Press release, Address, Denver Mining Conference, Denver, Colorado

ADDRESS BY SENATOR LYNDON B. JOHNSON DENVER MINING CONFERENCE DENVER, COLORADO, APRIL 22, 1960 FOR RELEASE IN AM'S OF APRIL 23, 1960 A NATIONAL MINERALS POLICY I want to thank you for inviting me to come to Denver. And I'm grateful that through Bob Palmer you have given me the opportunity to get back to talk to friends in the West, and to discuss some of our mutual problems and oppor- tunities. You and I and all Americans have common hopes -- we want the best for ourselves, for our children, for our country. We want to do the right things now, make the right decisions, so the future will judge that we acted with vision and that we anticipated the consequences of today's actions on tomorrow's citizens. Now, I don't recommend that we spend too much time worrying about our place in history, but a little reflection on that subject can be a humbling and puzzling experience. I know that when I've done the best that I can on some issue, and in the end we can see some substantial accomplishment, there are going to be two reactions. First, what's been done isn't good enough or isn't good at all -- and it's my fault. Or, second, what's been done is as close to a miracle as you can come in public life. Now the first reaction, naturally, you can dismiss offhand as blind prejudice. As for the second, you can only marvel at the wisdom of those who see the light and right so clearly. What does this have to do with you? VISIONARIES OR TAXEATERS Well, ask your selves: When the time comes to write the history of this era, how will you men and your in ustry fare? Will you receive the recognition you deserve as men who took a chance, developed your mines, and tapped the mineral resources of the West for the good of the whole nation and the world? Will you be remembered as the men who produced the metals that have made our economy possible? Or will you be stuck with the old and unfair label of "Treasury raiders?" Will you be remembered as the men whose vision and hard work produced strength for the nation and the free world when we needed it most? (over)