Debate for Padre Island (1962)

Located in the Gulf of Mexico, Padre Island National Seashore is located on North Padre Island. Protecting 70 miles of coastline, dunes, and prairies, the park is the longest undeveloped barrier island in the world. The clips in this footage—shot in 1962 by KTBC cameraman Gordon Wilkison—consist of government personnel discussing plans for the future of Padre Island. At the time, Congress was debating a bill about establishing the island as a national seashore. (President John F. Kennedy ultimately signed the legislation into law in September 1962.) Officials featured include General Land Office Commissioner Jerry Sadler, United States Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall, and United States Senator Ralph Yarborough of Texas.