In memoriam: Edmund Sixtus Muskie.

• Author: Gore, Albert, Jr.

When Ed Muskie passed away in late March, this nation lost a true leader and a great American. His keen ability for politics combined with his zeal for life made him one of the finest public officials ever to represent the interests of both the state of Maine and the entire nation. He was an accomplished legislator, a devoted husband and father, and, perhaps most importantly, a visionary.

When Ed Muskie was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1958, many of Maine's rivers, now famous for their cleanliness, were too polluted for recreational use. Industry had taken its toll on the nation's waterways, and Americans had grown accustomed to riverbeds damaged from the effects of sewage and waste water. Fortunately, Ed Muskie had the vision to change all of that.

For a state like Maine, now dependent on its fishing and tourism industries, the environment needed to become a priority. Ed Muskie viewed an improved environment as a personal challenge. He had the foresight to realize the importance of preserving our natural heritage for future generations, and he used his leadership skills effectively to bring about the right kind of change.

Beyond the obvious, tangible successes heralded by Ed Muskie--for instance, the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act--he should be credited with the most important environmental accomplishment of all--creating a fundamental change in public attitudes toward the protection of our natural resources. Ed Muskie made people understand the significance of clean air and clean water. He helped all Americans recognize the value, wonder, and uniqueness of our natural heritage. His vision set the tone for the current national movement to raise the general level of environmental consciousness.

Nearly forty years have passed since Ed Muskie first began to encourage Americans to take a proactive role in environmental protection, and the results of his efforts are phenomenal. Americans have celebrated twenty-six Earth Days since 1970, worked together to clean up their own communities, established local recycling facilities, encouraged younger generations...