And so the Antiquities Act was born, but you can call it 16 USC 431-433 for short. This act gave the sitting president full discretion to declare a National Monument of any historic landmarks, structures, or objects of historic or scientific interest.
Theodore Roosevelt’s Antiquity Act language goes like this:
… any person who shall appropriate, excavate, injure, or destroy any historic or prehistoric ruin or monument, or any object of antiquity, situated on lands owned or controlled by the Government of the United States… shall, upon conviction, be fined in a sum of not more than five hundred dollars…
The Antiquities Act language has changed a bit since those early days, and twice there has been a reduction in presidential power for specific cases (Wyoming and Alaska now require congressional consent). The act has been used successfully 157 times by 16 presidents from Teddy to O’Boyfrend — but it’s faster to name the presidents who didn’t designate a National Monument: Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, and George The Father.
Even Doubleya named three marine National Monuments protecting coral reef ecosystems:
The National Monuments designation is often the first stop in converting the land to National Parks — and that is done with the help of Congress. An example of such a conversion is the Grand Canyon.
In the 111 years of the Antiquities Act, no president has ever stripped National Monument land established by a previous president.
Sallie says
December 7, 2017 at 2:16 amBring back Teddy! Or anyone. Anyone at all but who we have.
BOSSY says
December 7, 2017 at 11:36 amAen.
BOSSY says
December 7, 2017 at 11:36 amThat would be AMEN.
Momo says
December 7, 2017 at 2:57 amThe last line. All the truth.
Bossy's Mom says
December 7, 2017 at 3:06 amWill we ever get to see the comments? Like, at the end of post as it always was?
Cactus Petunia says
December 7, 2017 at 6:59 amOy! Who would have thought that we would ever long for George W? This guy is walking all over the constitution, the law and the F*ing American Way. We need to tell him, “You’re FIRED!!”
Yvonne says
December 7, 2017 at 10:52 amTeddy will always be remembered for this. Donnie will only be remembered for the nightmare he is.
Meg says
December 7, 2017 at 3:10 pmPraying daily that someone finally puts America out of the misery that is our long national nightmare.
Ellen says
December 8, 2017 at 1:02 amSo perfect. Thank you. Teddy would be a Democrat today.