Hi there. What are you doing way back there . Come on up here. [laughs] thats better. Im glad you dropped by. I have a little story i think you would like. It is about a four Legged Friend of mine. I dont need i dont mean him back there. This happened a while back in the Beautiful Mountain country of new mexico on the Lincoln National forest. It was made time, dry and hot, but still nice and peaceful. All the animals in the forest were having a grand old time in the sunshine of spring. [applause] there was one little three month old fella in particular who did not have a care in the world. He was spending his time having fun. A growing and a prowling and a scratching. Thats right, that america did not have a care in the world. Until somebody, a two legged somebody got careless. It took several hundred men five days to extinguish that fire. 17,000 acres of timber were destroyed. Timber that could have been used for homes and furniture along with emails that could have turned it out. A lot of wild animals lost their homes. Many lost their lives. But there was one little fella who somehow survived the terrible fire. Yes, the little bear cub came through. He was found clinging to what was left of a small tree. New mexico game warden rushed that burned and frightened cub to the nearest Animal Hospital by plane. We warden saw that he was given the best of care. His burned feet received treatment. The hair group back, and with a belly full of good food he grew fat and sassy. They named him little smoky. And in a special piper cub plane, took him on another trip by air. This time, it was clear across the country over americas farms, factories and cities. Finally, little smoky and his plane landed in washington, our nations capital. Here, along with his official escort, little smoky was greeted in the rain by a very enthusiastic committee. Chief forester lyle watts accepted no smoky as a gift from the new Mexico Department of game and fish. For our little hero, that welcome in the rain was only the beginning of a new and very worthwhile life. On the first sunny day little smoky was presented to the national zoo in washington and became a living symbol of forest fire preventions. The kids went for the whole idea like a bar goes for honey and little smoky seemed to like the new set up as well. It was a really big occasion. The senator of new mexico was there to welcome the former constituent to his home in this new. The state foresters joined indicating the life of little smoky to the School Children of america to serve as an honest to goodness reminder of the danger of forest fires. And the need to save our forests and wildlife from destruction by fire. [laughs] youre probably wondering if little smoky lived up to all the findings that were planned for him. You can take my word for it that he has. You see, i had a personal invitation to visit to visit little smoky awhile back. Of course, hes kind of a big smoky now. A year or so well do that to aid their. I was mighty glad to see him and i soon learned i was not the only one. That smoky is a famous character all right. He sure like the oranges i brought him, but i would do that for any forest fire preventing pell. I hate forest fires worse than all the time back rattlesnakes in the world. That is why i have tried to do my little bit toward preventing them. I guess thats why the forestry boys were on hand to and why they gave me a special certificate making me an honourary forest ranger. That really made me proud because it put me right on smokys team. Of course, smoky had to check the document to see if it was genuine, and scratches seal of approval on it. On that trip, i learned just how much good smoky has done in preventing manmade forest fires, mostly as a model for those postcards you see everywhere. Smoky and his message short get around. On the trucks along the city streets. In the buses and trolleys cars. In the wood. Even in the comics. And now theres a song about smoky the children all around our country can sing. Smoky the bear, a living reminder to all of us today of the need to protect our forest and wildlife for the good of all those who follow us in the future. Well, thats the story of smoky bear, your friend and mind. But smoky needs our help, so lets be mindful of fire in the force always. And remember, only we, you and i, can prevent forest fires. So long for now, partners. Weeknights this month on American History tv past president ial debates. Tonight the debates of 2000 between Vice President al gore and Texas Governor george. Bush published included tax, policy and abortion and we will show the acceptance speeches at the conventions. It starts at 8 pm eastern. Enjoy American History tv this weekend every weekend on cspan 3. And the 2000 president ial campaign Vice President al gore was the democratic nominee and Texas Governor, george w. Bush was the republican candidate. The two met for the first debate at the university of massachusetts in boston, and to questions on social security, texas, the supreme court, abortion, and a number of other issues. The debate was moderated by jim layer of pbs. 30 seconds
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