Final answer:
The statement is true; President Nixon indeed established the EPA in response to growing environmental concerns and enacted important legislation like the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act in the early 1970s, leading to significant environmental improvements.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that President Richard Nixon created the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) using direct-action protest techniques of the New Left and called for increased government oversight of industrial pollution is true. Influenced by the success of the first Earth Day in 1970 and the heightened environmental awareness among the public, President Nixon took significant steps in the early 1970s to address environmental concerns. This included the establishment of the EPA to consolidate and expand federal anti-pollution programs, the enactment of the Clean Air Act of 1970, and the signing of the Clean Water Act of 1972.
Nixon's administration faced the challenging task of balancing environmental protection with economic interests, as some Americans worried about the cost implications of new regulations on businesses. Despite these concerns, these regulatory measures have been credited for significantly improving America's air and water quality over the years. However, by the 1980s, economic priorities once again shifted, leading to deregulation in various industries and a reduction in the EPA's budget during President Reagan's tenure.