Exxon submitted a seven-point plan to clean the river, but the EPA rejected the draft as being insufficient.

FORBES: Exxon Avoids Major Fallout From Yellowstone River Spill So Far

The senator, of course, had a distinguished military record, served as secretary of the navy under Nixon and helped to draft some important pieces of legislation, including the Clean Air Act of 1990 (he was a strong environmentalist).

ECONOMIST: Endangered species