With a large majority of U.S. senators being Democrat at the time, Hathaway's confirmation for Secretary of the Interior was contentious.<ref>Jessie Stearns, "Defending Stan," Star-Tribune Capital Bureau, ''The Casper Star-Tribune,'' June 3, 1975.</ref> During his brief tenure at Interior, he pushed for the federal [[coal]] leasing program. However, declining health resulted in his resignation. President Ford then nominated [[U.S. Representative]] Thomas S. Kleppe of [[North Dakota]] to fill the Cabinet position. | With a large majority of U.S. senators being Democrat at the time, Hathaway's confirmation for Secretary of the Interior was contentious.<ref>Jessie Stearns, "Defending Stan," Star-Tribune Capital Bureau, ''The Casper Star-Tribune,'' June 3, 1975.</ref> During his brief tenure at Interior, he pushed for the federal [[coal]] leasing program. However, declining health resulted in his resignation. President Ford then nominated [[U.S. Representative]] Thomas S. Kleppe of [[North Dakota]] to fill the Cabinet position. |