for his involvement with europe he has about him sort of the perfume of a foreign court in some way and there's some discussion as to whether his account books for example were always held to the highest while he was in france. stacey schiff is the author of this book. it's called a great improviser, and she is also contributor to the state department's americas collection. we appreciate you joining us here in the franklin room at state department

i. all right. well, what you doing away back there? come on up here. that's better. i'm glad you dropped by. i've got a little story i think you'll like. it's about a four legged friend of mine. no, i don't mean to have her back there. this happened a while back in the beautiful capital mountain country of new mexico on the lincoln national forest. it was my time on the carpet and ryan hot, but still nice and peaceful. all the animals in the forest were having a grand old time on

the sunshine of spring. there was one little three month old brother in particular who didn't have a care in the world. he was spending his time having fun at all. a growling and up growling and a scratch on. that's right. and bear cub didn't have a care in the world. and somebody, a two legged somebody, got careless.

like. that back. when. you know, one or more close round. you know, and. it took several hundred men five days to lick that fire.

17,000 acres of timber were destroyed. timber that could have been used for homes and furniture along with the mills that could have turned it out. a lot of wild animals lost their home. many lost their lives. but there was one little fellow who somehow survived that terrible fire. yes, the little bear cub came through the farm, clinging to what was left of a small tree. new mexico game warden ray bower rushed that burned and frightened cub to the nearest animal hospital by plane.

warden dale saw to it that he was given the best of care. his burns feet responded. the treatment. his hair grew back and with a little belly full of good food, he grew fast and sassy and. they named him little smokey. and in a special piper cub plane took him on another trip by air.

this time it was clear across the country over america's farms, factories and city. finally, a little small village plane landed in washington. our nation's capital. here, along with as official as new mexico's assistance state game warden overseas beckoned. little smokey was greeted in the rain by a very enthusiastic committee. of the. chief forest alawites, except that little smokey is a gift to the state foresters and uncle sam's forest service from the new mexico department of game and fish.

but 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 smokey was presented to the national zoo in washington and became a living symbol of forest fire prevention. the kids went for the whole idea, like a bear goes for a holiday. and little smokey seemed to like the new set up to. was really a big occasion. senator chavez of new mexico was there to welcome the former constituents to his home in the zoo. and. the state forest to join them, dedicating the life of little smokey to the schoolchildren 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. when when i. you're probably wondering out little smokey has lived up to all the fine things that were planned for him. you can take my word for it. he has. you see, i had a personal invitation to visit little smokey a while back. of course, he's kind of a big smokey now. a year or so will do that to a bear. i was mighty glad to see him and i soon learned that i wasn't the only one. that smokey is a famous character. all right. he sure liked the orange as i brought it. but i do that for any forest fire preventing pal.

i hate forest fire. worse than all that time. and black rattlesnakes in the world. that's why i've tried to do my little best toward preventing them. i guess that's why the forestry boys were on hand to why they gave me a special certificate, making me an honorary forest ranger that really made me proud because it put me right on smokey's theme. of course, smokey 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 smokey has done in preventing man caused forest fires, mostly as a model for those car parks and to use the most every word. smokey in his important message. sure, get around on mail trucks

along the city streets. in the busses and trolley cars in the wood. why even in the comic. and now there's a song about smokey the schoolteacher, children all over this great country of ours can sing and take to heart the. right you can have about somebody. you are the man in the forest. always this man has to be equal. that paying attention when you stand the everybody knows that peace. quiet. then there. we have a. system and they need to find a

buyer. something to do that with that we can make everything right. i mean, what you are looking man is i am a man and you no one will be down the line. you think you me think. yeah. well, they said you can do. well. they. have the ground now and they have made this that i heard from them. you. might. smokey the bear a living reminder to all of us today of the need to protect our forests

and wildlife for the good of all those who follow us in the future. well, that's the story of smokey bear, your friend and mine. but smokey needs our help, so that's all. be careful of fires in the forest. always. and remember, only we, you and i, can prevent forest fire. we. long for our partners.