Interior building may be named for Stewart Udall

WASHINGTON (Deseret News) — One of the largest buildings in Washington, D.C., could soon be named for a Mormon.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day on Thursday, several senators introduced a bill to name the Interior Department headquarters in honor of former Interior Secretary Stewart Udall, who died last month.

Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., introduced the bill and said, "Stewart Udall was instrumental in the passage of virtually all of our nation's landmark environmental laws," and said he "was among the best" of Interior secretaries.

Udall served as interior secretary for Presidents John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson, after serving as a congressman from Arizona. Later, Udall also represented as an attorney many Utah downwind cancer victims of atomic testing in lawsuits against the federal government.

Udall is the father of Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M, and the uncle of Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo. (who co-sponsored the bill). Stewart Udall also was the campaign manager of the unsuccessful presidential campaign of his brother, Morris Udall, who also was a congressman from Arizona.

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