. . . and a New Interior Secretary

James G. Watt’s outrageous reign of error as secretary of Interior seems like an old bad dream now, even though it has been only 15 months since he was drummed out of Washington for his intemperate remarks and actions. Considering that, the subsequent tenure of William P. Clark has been a successful one for the Reagan Administration.

Clark was just the sort of low-key, low-visibility figure the President needed to calm the storm at Interior during an election campaign year. As soon as Watt left town, attention strayed quickly from Interior and focused on other political hot spots.

So it is that President Reagan can once again thank his old California friend and fellow California ranchman Bill Clark for playing the role of faithful troubleshooter. Clark has announced that he plans to leave Washington in two or three months and return to his ranch in San Luis Obispo County. By doing so, Clark seems to have removed himself, in advance, from another potential fill-the-breach position: taking over as White House chief of staff in the event that James A. Baker III decides to leave.

Clark was a surprise choice to succeed Watt back in October, 1983. He was not on anyone’s list of candidates, except the President’s. The mere fact that he was one of Reagan’s closest associates helped him move quickly to achieve his primary goal: to put the political lid on the ruckus over at the massive granite Interior building on 18th and C streets Northwest.

He did reopen his door to officials of the environmental protection groups and to congressional staffs, and won grudging appreciation from them on Wednesday. Watt’s tactic of aggressive confrontation on issues gave way to gentlemanliness and respectful consideration. But almost anyone, except perhaps Don Rickles, could have been a success at Interior just by not being James Watt.

The fact is that Interior policies changed little during Clark’s tenure. That should not be surprising, since they are Ronald Reagan’s policies and probably will remain Ronald Reagan’s policies. House Interior Committee Chairman Morris K. Udall says, “It is unlikely we could do much better than Secretary Clark in Mr. Reagan’s second term.” Probably not, although there are a number of Republicans available for appointment who know the value of environmental protection and enhancement.

Lacking such an appointment, the Administration is bound to find its development policies deadlocked in Congress and in the courts. That is not a reasonable way to manage the nation’s resources. But, if necessary, it is one way to spare the environment from unnecessary mistreatment.