The West: Pulling the Plug

The Governors of Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico were madder than wet hens, and all over a dry lake. The object of their ire was Interior Secretary Stuart Udall, whom they accused of stealing their hydroelectric water supply and using it to feed power plants in California and Udall's native Arizona.

The Governors are Colorado's John Love, Utah's George Clyde and Wyoming's Clifford Hansen, all Republicans, and New Mexico's Jack Campbell, a Democrat. They had cause for anger.

For years Western states have battled tempestuously over rights to the Colorado River's precious...

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