As the time quickly approaches for Americans to decide the next commander in chief, Corporate Knights, the magazine for clean capitalism, decided to have a look into the history of “green” and the executive office. So who IS the greenest US president? Have the Democrats beaten out the Republicans or is it actually the other way around?
The rankings, determined by a survey of 12 environmentalist groups, revealed that Republican presidents have nabbed the two top spots. Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt, America’s 26th president, was the overwhelming choice due to his dedication to conservation policies for the country’s natural resources. And despite his infamous tenure as president, Richard Nixon ranked second for his role in creating the Environmental Protection Agency and signing several pieces of environmental legislation into law.
"Conservative environmentalist is not an oxymoron," said Theodore Roosevelt IV, a managing director at Barclays Capital and the great-grandson of Teddy Roosevelt. "The records of my great grandfather and Richard Nixon show the GOP is also the 'Green Old Party.'
The result is a first-of-its-kind survey that shines a light on a bi-partisan environmental tradition in the White House that is often forgotten. So will there be a return to the environment in this election? Would Teddy be proud? We'll see as the election period picks up more steam.
The ranking and an accompanying feature story can be found in the latest issue of Corporate Knights, distributed today through the Washington Post and available for download on iTunes via the App Store. Results, including each judge's selections and a background research document, can also be found at www.corporateknights.com.