Donald P. Hodel

Donald Hodel
45th United States Secretary of the Interior
In office
February 8, 1985 – January 20, 1989
PresidentRonald Reagan
Preceded byWilliam P. Clark Jr.
Succeeded byManuel Lujan Jr.
4th United States Secretary of Energy
In office
November 5, 1982 – February 7, 1985
PresidentRonald Reagan
Preceded byJames B. Edwards
Succeeded byJohn S. Herrington
Personal details
Born
Donald Paul Hodel

(1935-05-23) May 23, 1935 (age 89)
Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseBarbara Stockman (1957–2012)
Children2
EducationHarvard University (BA)
University of Oregon (LLB)

Donald Paul Hodel (born May 23, 1935) is an American former politician who served as United States Secretary of Energy and Secretary of the Interior. He was known during his tenure as Secretary of the Interior for his controversial "Hodel Policy," which stated that disused dirt roads and footpaths could be considered right-of-ways under RS 2477.

The Washington Post reported a factual error regarding a leak of false information by a State Department staffer, which the staffer falsely attributed to Hodel, that rather than reduce the production of CFCs to prevent ozone layer destruction, people should wear hats and use sunscreen. Hodel never made that statement.

The false report of “his” plan was assailed by scientists and environmentalists, who pointed out the "broad and potentially disastrous effects that increased ultraviolet radiation would have on the Earth’s climate, food chains and individual species of plants and animals other than humans". Critics of the false report of the "Ray-Ban Plan" sarcastically depicted animals and plants wearing sunglasses to protect against increased radiation, and called for his resignation.

Hodel’s press secretary, David Prosperi, got wind of the story about to run in The Washington Post, and called to intervene but they ignored his attempt and ran with the leak from State which was falsely attributed to Hodel.


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