Nick Mott

One time he bought an Army surplus ambulance in Alaska, used it to fish his way across the state.

One time he bought an Army surplus ambulance in Alaska, used it to fish his way across the state.

One time he bought an Army surplus ambulance in Alaska, used it to fish his way across the state.

Then, in the late 1960s, he joined the Department of the Interior. It's a government agency that manages most public land, wildlife refuges, national parks, that kind of stuff. And Buff had one of the highest positions in the agency, assistant to the secretary, who's the top dog. One day, he got a knock on his door.

Then, in the late 1960s, he joined the Department of the Interior. It's a government agency that manages most public land, wildlife refuges, national parks, that kind of stuff. And Buff had one of the highest positions in the agency, assistant to the secretary, who's the top dog. One day, he got a knock on his door.

Then, in the late 1960s, he joined the Department of the Interior. It's a government agency that manages most public land, wildlife refuges, national parks, that kind of stuff. And Buff had one of the highest positions in the agency, assistant to the secretary, who's the top dog. One day, he got a knock on his door.

To be clear, this wasn't Buff's student, just a curious and passionate college kid who believed government could get something done. So he talked to Buff about the plight of whales. Even though the U.S. hadn't been a major whaling nation for decades, the country still imported about 30% of global whale products.

To be clear, this wasn't Buff's student, just a curious and passionate college kid who believed government could get something done. So he talked to Buff about the plight of whales. Even though the U.S. hadn't been a major whaling nation for decades, the country still imported about 30% of global whale products.

To be clear, this wasn't Buff's student, just a curious and passionate college kid who believed government could get something done. So he talked to Buff about the plight of whales. Even though the U.S. hadn't been a major whaling nation for decades, the country still imported about 30% of global whale products.

Whale oil greased machinery, went into livestock feed, even powered government submarines. Buff listened to this student.

Whale oil greased machinery, went into livestock feed, even powered government submarines. Buff listened to this student.

Whale oil greased machinery, went into livestock feed, even powered government submarines. Buff listened to this student.

He talked with scientists, organized a conference, and eventually he began to act. Like a bureaucratic James Dean character, Buff became a rebel with a cause. He learned how to pull the right levers and work the system behind the scenes. The country had passed a handful of laws addressing wildlife declines, and there was a precursor to the ESA on the books.

He talked with scientists, organized a conference, and eventually he began to act. Like a bureaucratic James Dean character, Buff became a rebel with a cause. He learned how to pull the right levers and work the system behind the scenes. The country had passed a handful of laws addressing wildlife declines, and there was a precursor to the ESA on the books.

He talked with scientists, organized a conference, and eventually he began to act. Like a bureaucratic James Dean character, Buff became a rebel with a cause. He learned how to pull the right levers and work the system behind the scenes. The country had passed a handful of laws addressing wildlife declines, and there was a precursor to the ESA on the books.

There was an endangered species list, much like we have today, albeit a much shorter list, and it was really about raising awareness more than any kind of regulation. Buff submitted a rule to publish in the Federal Register that would add several species of whales to that endangered list. But then politics intervened.

There was an endangered species list, much like we have today, albeit a much shorter list, and it was really about raising awareness more than any kind of regulation. Buff submitted a rule to publish in the Federal Register that would add several species of whales to that endangered list. But then politics intervened.

There was an endangered species list, much like we have today, albeit a much shorter list, and it was really about raising awareness more than any kind of regulation. Buff submitted a rule to publish in the Federal Register that would add several species of whales to that endangered list. But then politics intervened.

Buff's boss, the Secretary of the Interior, got fired over criticizing the war in Vietnam. When that happened, Buff says, all hell started breaking loose in the department.

Buff's boss, the Secretary of the Interior, got fired over criticizing the war in Vietnam. When that happened, Buff says, all hell started breaking loose in the department.