Water Quotes From U.S. Presidents

By Jim Lauria

I recently wrote an open letter to President Joe Biden requesting a commitment to make the funding of U.S. water infrastructure a priority in his Build Back Better program. I sent a similar open letter to president-elect Donald Trump back in 2016.

On this Presidents’ Day, in recognition of the important role water plays on our country’s health, food, energy, transportation and security, here are my favorite water quotes from U.S. presidents:

1. “Anyone who can solve the problems of water will be worthy of two Nobel prizes — one for peace and one for science.” – John F. Kennedy

2. “There is too little public recognition of how much we all depend upon farmers as stewards of our soil, water and wildlife resources.” – John F. Kennedy

3. “We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch – we are going back from whence we came…” – John F. Kennedy

4. “Civilized people ought to know how to dispose of the sewage in some other way than putting it into the drinking water.” – Theodore Roosevelt

5. “The forest and water problems are perhaps the most vital internal questions of the United States.” – Theodore Roosevelt

6. “Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of liberty.” – Thomas Jefferson

7. “True conservation of water is not the prevention of its use. Every drop of water that runs to the sea without yielding its full commercial returns to the nation is an economic waste." – Herbert Hoover

8. “We think of our land and water and human resources not as static and sterile possessions but as life giving assets to be directed by wise provisions for future days.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt

9. “A nation that fails to plan intelligently for the development and protection of its precious waters will be condemned to whither because of its shortsightedness. The hard lessons of history are clear, written on the deserted sands and ruins of once proud civilizations.” – Lyndon Johnson

And finally, a reminder to my fellow water professionals that talking up the value of water helps all of us…

10. “The rising tide lifts all boats.” – John F. Kennedy