James G. Watt

James Gaius Watt (January 31, 1938 – May 27, 2023) was an American lawyer and politician. He was United States Secretary of the Interior from 1981 to 1983. He was called an "anti-environmentalist". He was one of Ronald Reagan's most controversial cabinet appointments.^[1] Watt resigned after saying a controversial remark about affirmative action.^[2]

James G. Watt
43rd United States Secretary of the Interior
In office January 23, 1981 – November 8, 1983
President	Ronald Reagan
Preceded by	Cecil Andrus
Succeeded by	William Clark
Member of the Federal Power Commission
In office November 11, 1975 – August 30, 1977
President	Gerald Ford Jimmy Carter
Personal details
Born	James Gaius Watt (1938-01-31)January 31, 1938 Lusk, Wyoming, U.S.
Died	May 27, 2023(2023-05-27) (aged 85) Arizona, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Education	University of Wyoming (BS, JD)

In 1995, Watt was indicted on 18 counts of felony perjury and obstruction of justice for making false statements before a federal grand jury. He was sentenced to five years probation.

Watt died on May 27, 2023 in Arizona at the age of 85.^[3]

References

1. "A look back at Reagan's environmental record". Grist. 2004-06-11. Archived from the original on 2021-12-02. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
2. "556. James G Watt, US Secretary of the Interior. Simpson's Contemporary Quotations. 1988". Archived from the original on September 20, 2000. Retrieved October 4, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
3. "Former Secretary of the Interior James "Jim" Watt dies at 85". Wyolife. Archived from the original on June 8, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2023.

Other websites

• Wolf, Ron. 1981. "God, James Watt, and the Public Land". Audubon 83(3):65
• Time magazine article (August 23, 1982). "Going, Going...! Land sale of the century"
• James G. Watt papers at the University of Wyoming – American Heritage Center
• Appearances on C-SPAN