stewart udall knew that and we are all blessed to have had a set for terry udall -- had stewart udall and labor johnson. we were extremely honored to host stewart to go in a visit to the lyndon baines johnson national historical park in my state of texas. we premiere a film on ladybird johnson during that visit. he is prominently featured in that museum, but what was so beautiful about that visit was to observe the secretary and ladybird johnson having a conversation and reflecting on their many challenges and maybe some of the disappointments, it is those kinds of french ships that we need to help this nation to carry on the legacy of stewart udall. there is so much that i can say about his accomplishments, but allow me to speak about my secretary, stewart udall. i probably have hanging in my study hall a letter dated april 4, 1962, signed by none other than the secretary of the interior confirming my appointment as a seasonal rangers in grand teton national park. one has to remember that that was before the enactment of the civil rights act of 1964, where in my state of texas, i cou

stewart udall. mr.tewart udall was a friend to all native people, a friend to our sacred lands, a friend to those who needed their voices to be heard in the halls of power. as one of the most in need of -- significant figures in protecting america's natural environment, he was a friend to all americans. mr. udall was a long time, ardent advocate for mother earth and her children. he understood the earth is sacred, the waters are sacred, the sky is sacred. with his lifelong dedication to protecting our nation's wild plants, he preserve the sacred places for our children and our children's children. mr. udall broad conservation lists and concerns to the mind of american people. at a time when we must bear witness to the devastation in the gulf of mexico, where violent storms, fires and floods seemed to capture headlines almost weekly, we are grateful to the gift of one man's dedication to our nation's environmental and cultural heritage. on behalf of my religious leaders, like tribal council, and my peopl

>> i think it may have been stated a little strongly but i was reminded of words of mo udal of democratic congressman from arizona, and briefly a presidential candidate in 1976 who said when we democrats organize a firing squad, we begin by forming a circle. and i think there was something of that to this. >> lehrer: is it real? >> it is real. it's real on the part of the house democrats. and look at it from their perspective. i mean barack obama is not on the ballot in 2012. two-thirds of the senate is not on the ballot. >> lehrer: 2010 you mean. >> 2010, yeah, not until 201. >> lehrer: yeah. >> 235 of them are. and they have done all the heavy lifting in this two years. i mean they not only passed everything that the president really gave as a priority item, but they passed it in the form which he asked for it, in a tougher form, if anything, than had to go to the senate. they had to wait while the senate went through all of its-- whatever wah tonight call it, dance and pretend. >> lehrer: pros is. >> process. and anything that got 60 votes, then they had to then swallow and vote for. a