Samuel P. Goddard Papers

Central Arizona Project

Reg Manning (1905-1986) Collection, 1936-1981 MSS-55, Arizona Collection, Department of Archives and Special Collections, Arizona State University Libraries

Legislative Battles

During his term as governor of Arizona, Sam Goddard was involved in an important and vital issue in the state -- water. Goddard recognized the needs for a sustainable source of water for a rapidly growing state. Goddard worked with other leading Arizona politicans, including Senator Carl Hayden, Congressman Mo Udall, Congressman and Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall, and Congressman John Rhodes, toward legislation that would provide Arizona with rights to water from the Lower Colorado River Basin. The U.S. Supreme Court handed down its decision on Arizona v. California in favor of Arizona in 1964. With court litigation ended, Arizona politicians began working toward Congressional authorization of the Central Arizona Project (CAP).