Nixon fired then Interior Secretary over Vietnam

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Walter Hickel dies at 90
Nixon fired then Interior Secretary over Vietnam
updated 1 hour, 20 minutes ago

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Walter J. Hickel, twice Alaska's governor and an Interior secretary fired by President Richard Nixon after objecting to the treatment of Vietnam War protesters, died Friday. He was 90.

Hickel died of natural causes at Horizon House, an assisted living facility in Anchorage, according to longtime Hickel assistant Malcolm Roberts.

Hickel was dismissed from his Interior post in late 1970, several months after he wrote Nixon a letter critical of the president's handling of student protests following the National Guard shootings at Kent State and the U.S. invasion of Cambodia.

"I believe this administration finds itself today embracing a philosophy which appears to lack appropriate concern for the attitude of a great mass of Americans — our young people," began the letter, which helped stir the national debate about the growing generational rift over the Vietnam War.





Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37034368/ns/us_news-life/

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Walter J. Hickel, Richard M. Nixon

[livetohike]

1. I remember when the firing happened

I was a Freshman in college and was taking a class in Political Science and we discussed it in class. I even remember our Prof's comment about the firing: "On the floor and out the door. See you later Walt." Strange to remember that after all these years....

[Are_grits_groceries]

2. RIP Secretary Hickel.

You had the courage of your convictions. You also had a better record in a lot of areas than people think.

[DesertDiamond]

3. I hope he wears his firing as a badge of honor.