"Two years after winning the divisive 1968 election, President Richard Nixon, a Republican, declared that "the environment," "the great question of the '70s," was a "cause beyond party and beyond factions." The Clean Air Act of that year, which set up U.S. emissions regulations, was one of the world's first general air-quality laws, more stringent and comprehensive than any of its predecessors. Congress passed it overwhelmingly: 73-0 in the Senate, 374-1 in the House of Representatives. Business generally endorsed the legislation; the smog blanketing U.S. cities was obviously harmful and obviously in need of control." --