The political aspects of the Texas tidelands controversy

Abstract

Texans were shocked when the federal government questioned the state's title to its offshore lands. Only gradually did they realize the magnitude of the threat to their offshore lands. Texans wanted to believe that President Truman recognized the Texas claim and supported the President, even after California was sued. Only Texas had an agreement with the federal government recognizing state ownership of her public lands, which to Texans included tidelands. President Truman reinforced this sentiment during the 1948 campaign and carried Texas with little difficulty. The filing of the Texas suit in December, 1948 changed this sentiment. Many Texans felt betrayed by the Democratic administration. The threat to the tidelands was indeed real. Texas Attorney General Price Daniel believed he could successfully defend the state's claim before the Supreme Court. Lieutenant Governor Allan Shivers and Land Commissioner Bascom Giles disagreed. They had little faith that the Court would respect the joint resolution of annexation and, therefore, advocated either a compromise with the federal government or another effort to enact a quitclaim bill. ...