On December 28, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon signed the Endangered Species Act. In his signing statement, he said: “Nothing is more priceless and more worthy of preservation than the rich array of animal life with which our country has been blessed. It is a many-faceted treasure, of value to scholars, scientists, and nature lovers alike, and it forms a vital part of the heritage we all share as Americans.”
Joshua L. Pitney has made a short public service video about endangered species: