Phil Swing and Boulder Dam

Phil Swing and Boulder Dam is an exploration into the legislative and political intricacies surrounding the creation of Hoover Dam, focusing on the contributions of California Congressman Phil Swing. This study sheds light on Swing's pivotal role in advancing the Boulder Canyon Project Act, while also revisiting widely accepted narratives, particularly Herbert Hoover's claimed influence over the legislation. Through meticulous examination of primary sources, including Swing's papers and Hoover's presidential library records, the book uncovers discrepancies in Hoover's memoirs and other historical accounts, highlighting Swing's earnest advocacy for resource conservation and his clashes with Hoover's preference for private-sector control. The research also delves into the broader socio-political climate of the 1920s, such as the Teapot Dome scandal and the rising progressive movement, which shaped public and legislative attitudes toward hydroelectric power and national resource management.

The book contextualizes the Boulder Canyon project within its era, addressing the economic, political, and environmental debates it ignited. It revisits the project's unforeseen outcomes, from its pivotal role in supporting Southern California's war industries during World War II to the subsequent disputes over water allocation between Arizona and California. By tracing the legislation's trajectory and its impact, this study offers a nuanced perspective on the intersection of public policy, conservation, and political maneuvering. For readers interested in the history of American infrastructure, environmental policy, or 20th-century western development, this book provides a compelling addition to the historical discourse, framed by a careful reassessment of the individuals and ideas that brought one of the country's most iconic engineering marvels to life.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press's mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1971.