By the time Nixon became president, the environmental movement had gained significant momentum, fueled by media focus on alarmist predictions about overpopulation and resource depletion. Prominent scientists like Paul Ehrlich contributed to this rising concern with his book The Population Bomb, published in 1968, which warned of widespread starvation and crises in the coming decades if population growth was not managed.

"The Population Bomb" depicted a bleak future driven by uncontrolled population increases, emphasizing the urgent need for birth control and environmental conservation. This heightened awareness influenced political and social agendas, shaping policies aimed at addressing environmental and demographic challenges during Nixon's era, as discussed in James T. Patterson’s book Grand Expectations.