When Eisenhower Spoke, 30,000 Listened
President Dwight D. Eisenhower dedicated McNary Dam on the Columbia River on September 23, 1954, addressing a crowd of about 30,000 near Umatilla, Oregon. His speech highlighted the dam as a "natural legacy" for the benefit of all people, focusing on resource development, flood control, and hydroelectric power. The dam was named after Oregon Senator Charles L. McNary, a champion of river navigation and power development.
