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Hoover Dam
Controversy over Naming the Dam
Los Angeles Times; May 18th, 1933
This section details the controversy that occurred during the administrations of Hoover and Roosevelt over what the dam should be called. Construction on the Boulder Canyon Project in Black Canyon commenced with President Hoover’s signature on the Appropriation Bill of July 7, 1930. Secretary of the Interior Ray Lyman Wilbur named it the “Hoover Dam” at the commencement of construction; September 17, 1930. Secretary of the Interior during the Roosevelt administration, Harold L. Ickes, changed the name in a “Memorandum for Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation” to ‘Boulder Dam’ on May 8, 1931. And the debate began on what to call the dam with many people expressing their opinions. Some still refer to it as Boulder Dam today. President Harry S. Truman signed a bill officially declaring it “Hoover Dam” in 1947.
Table of Contents
Los Angeles Times; May 18th, 1933


Los Angeles Times; May 18th, 1933

 

Excerpt from Secretary Wilbur’s speech; September 17, 1930


Excerpt from Secretary Wilbur’s speech; September 17, 1930

 

Letter from Secretary Wilbur to John D. Reavis; October 3, 1930


Letter from Secretary Wilbur to John D. Reavis; October 3, 1930

 

Letter from Ward Bannister to FDR; June 10, 1933
Letter from Ward Bannister to FDR; June 10, 1933
Los Angeles Times cartoon, “Memo to Hyde Park;” September 22, 1935
Los Angeles Times cartoon, “Memo to Hyde Park;” September 22, 1935
Letter from Ickes, Secretary of Interior, to I.H. Sorrick; June 15, 1933
Letter from Ickes, Secretary of Interior, to I.H. Sorrick; June 15, 1933
Editorial from New York Harold Tribune; September 28, 1938
Editorial from New York Harold Tribune; September 28, 1938
Editorial from Newark Star-Eagle; March 1, 1939
Editorial from Newark Star-Eagle; March 1, 1939
Editorial from San Francisco Chronicle; January 29, 1939
Editorial from San Francisco Chronicle; January 29, 1939
Editorial from Los Angeles Times; January 30, 1939
Editorial from Los Angeles Times; January 30, 1939
Editorial from Washington Post; June 9, 1947
Editorial from Washington Post; June 9, 1947
Letter from James Webb, Director of Bureau of the Budget, to White House Secretary Latta; April 29, 1947
Letter from James Webb, Director of Bureau of the Budget, to White House Secretary Latta; April 29, 1947

 

INTERVIEW OF RAYMOND MOLEY
INTERVIEW OF RAYMOND MOLEY
By Raymond Henle
November 13, 1967
INTERVIEW OF JACK Z. ANDERSON


INTERVIEW OF JACK Z. ANDERSON
By Raymond Henle
January 19, 1970

INTERVIEW WITH EARL BEHRENS
INTERVIEW WITH EARL BEHRENS
By Raymond Henle
August 1, 1971
Letter from the Law Offices of Northcutt Ely to Editor of The New York Times; March 31, 1947
Letter from the Law Offices of Northcutt Ely to Editor of The New York Times; March 31, 1947
Before You Build the Dam
Controversy over Naming the Dam
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