jimmy carter address to the nation on energy

Conservation helps us solve both problems at once. But our energy problem is worse tonight than it was in 1973 or a few weeks ago in the dead of winter. In his speech, President Carter called the crisis "the moral equivalent o We must not be selfish or timid if we hope to have a decent world for our children and our grandchildren. How Jimmy Carter Integrated His Evangelical Faith Into His Political Demand will overtake production. But sometime in the 1980's, it can't go up any more. Our children who will be born this year will come of age in the 21st century. Moreover, I will soon submit legislation to Congress calling for the creation of this Nation's first solar bank, which will help us achieve the crucial goal of 20 percent of our energy coming from solar power by the year 2000. You often see a balanced and a fair approach that demands sacrifice, a little sacrifice from everyone, abandoned like an orphan without support and without friends. We have the most skilled work force, with innovative genius, and I firmly believe that we have the national will to win this war. Our decision about energy will test the character of the American people and the ability of the President and the Congress to govern this Nation. 4 min read. To some degree, the sacrifices will be painful--but so is any meaningful sacrifice. Energy will be the immediate test of our ability to unite this Nation, and it can also be the standard around which we rally. Above all, they will be fair. What are his proposed solutions? These are the purposes of the new energy legislation. Tonight I want to have an unpleasant talk with you about a problem that is unprecedented in our history. They will say that sacrifice is fine as long as other people do it, but that their sacrifice is unreasonable or unfair or harmful to the country. World consumption of oil is still going up. He proposed a plan to solve the crisis that focused on expanding the government's responsibility, promoting conservation, and expanding the search for oil to previously untapped areas. We can regain our unity. I can't tell you that these measures will be easy, nor will they be popular. They made possible the age of automobile and airplane travel. Posted by RockyTCB 3/1/2023 6:11:41 AM. For the first time in the history of our country a majority of our people believe that the next 5 years will be worse than the past 5 years. ", "You don't see the people enough any more. American wisdom and courage right now can set a path to follow in the future. During the 1960's, we used twice as much as during the 1950's. A President is elected for just 4 years, a Senator for 6, and our Representatives in Congress for only 2 years. This difficult effort will be the 'moral equivalent of war' except that we will be uniting our efforts to build and not destroy. ", And the last that I'll read: "When we enter the moral equivalent of war, Mr. President, don't issue us BB guns.". . Point two: To ensure that we meet these targets, I will use my Presidential authority to set import quotas. You see every extreme position defended to the last vote, almost to the last breath by one unyielding group or another. Copyright 2023. We could endanger our freedom as a sovereign nation to act in foreign affairs. 12874 Into Law," November 4, 1978. April 18, 1977: Address to the Nation on Energy. I will continue to travel this country, to hear the people of America. I believe that this country can meet any challenge, but this is an exceptionally difficult one because the threat is not easy to see and the solution is neither simple nor politically popular. Our energy problems have the same cause as our environmental problemswasteful use of resources. World oil production can probably keep going up for another 6 or 8 years. Play Video. Talk to us about blood and sweat and tears. This is an effort which requires vision and cooperation from all Americans. The second principle is that healthy economic growth must continue. This has already started. Whenever you have a chance, say something good about our country. In his speech, President Carter called the crisis "the moral equivalent of war" and called on Americans to conserve energy. I have faith that meeting this challenge will make our own lives even richer. We can't substantially increase our domestic production, so we would need to import twice as much oil as we do now. There should be only one test for this program--whether it will help our country. The Congress has recognized the urgency of this problem and has come to grips with some of the most complex and difficult decisions that a legislative body has ever been asked to make. The second change took. Ours is the most wasteful nation on Earth. Now we need efficiency and ingenuity more than ever. I want to talk to you right now about a fundamental threat to American democracy. But we can succeed only if we tap our greatest resources--America's people, America's values, and America's confidence. I ask Congress to give me authority for mandatory conservation and for standby gasoline rationing. This effort will permit you to build conservation into your homes and your lives at a cost you can afford. We respected the Presidency as a place of honor until the shock of Watergate. In this speech, Carter recognizes that Americans have lost faith in government, in part because of the energy crisis. Address to the Nation on Energy and National Goals: "The Malaise Speech Americans saw the federal government as a bloated bureaucracy that had become stagnant and was failing to serve the people. If they succeed with this approach, then the burden on the ordinary citizen, who is not organized into an interest group, would be crushing. We can protect ourselves from uncertain supplies by reducing our demand for oil, by making the most of our abundant resources such as coal, and by developing a strategic petroleum reserve. We can be sure that all the special interest groups in the country will attack the part of this plan that affects them directly. We have the natural resources. We've always been proud, through our history, of being efficient people. And I do not refer to the outward strength of America, a nation that is at peace tonight everywhere in the world, with unmatched economic power and military might. Let us commit ourselves together to a rebirth of the American spirit. Jimmy Carter's Energy Speech of April 1977 (Is - Master Resource In closing, let me say this: I will do my best, but I will not do it alone. Unlike the billions of dollars that we ship to foreign countries to pay for foreign oil, these funds will be paid by Americans to Americans. Imports have doubled in the last 5 years. Confidence has defined our course and has served as a link between generations. It's always been easier to wait until the next year or the next term of office, to avoid political risk. Jimmy Carter 39th President of the United States: 1977 1981 Address to the Nation on Energy and National Goals: "The Malaise Speech" July 15, 1979 Good evening. They want lower taxes on their profits. Along with that money that we transport overseas, we will continue losing American jobs and become increasingly vulnerable to supply interruptions. It will demand that we make sacrifices and changes in every life. No one will gain an unfair advantage through this plan. The threat is nearly invisible in ordinary ways. We must look back into history to understand our energy problem. Our consumption of oil would keep going up every year. We will act together. For the fifth time I would have described the urgency of the problem and laid out a series of legislative recommendations to the Congress. The Congress has recognized the urgency of this problem and has come to grips . Jimmy Carter speaks about a national "crisis in confidence" to insulate 90 percent of American homes and all new buildings; Those citizens who insist on driving large, unnecessarily powerful cars must expect to pay more for that luxury. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency . During the 1950's, people used twice as much oil as during the 1940's. The oil and natural gas that we rely on for 75 percent of our energy are simply running out. State of the Union Address 1979 - Jimmy Carter In it, Carter singled out a pervasive "crisis of confidence" preventing the American people from moving the country forward. In the days to come, let us renew that strength in the struggle for an energy secure nation. that it be. You see a Congress twisted and pulled in every direction by hundreds of well-financed and powerful special interests. Our decision about energy will test the character of the American people and the ability of the President and the Congress to govern this Nation. The selection of this time span made perfect sense from a Hollywood read more, On July 15, 1988, Die Hard, an action film starring Bruce Willis as wisecracking New York City cop John McClane, opens in theaters across the United States. We've always wanted to give our children and our grandchildren a world richer in possibilities than we have had ourselves. So, the solution of our energy crisis can also help us to conquer the crisis of the spirit in our country. The energy. If we fail to act soon, we will face an economic, social, and political crisis that will threaten our free institutions. We've always been proud, through our history, of being efficient people. I believe that this can be a positive challenge. He puts forth several initiatives to push the nation towards greater. We are strong. President Jimmy Carter delivered this speech on July 15, 1979, exactly three years after accepting the nomination of the Democratic Party to run for president. ", And this from a young Chicano: "Some of us have suffered from recession all our lives. Embed. Thank you very much. Obviously, this cannot continue. Details for: The Library of Congress presents historic presidential But as I was preparing to speak, I began to ask myself the same question that I now know has been troubling many of you. They want greatly increased prices for "old" oil and gasenergy supplies which have already been discovered and which are being produced now. This is where another major controversy arises. Unfortunately, that prediction has turned out to be right. And it will get worse every day until we act. We simply must have faith in each other, faith in our ability to govern ourselves, and faith in the future of this Nation. Ten years ago, when foreign oil was cheap, we imported just 2 1/2 million barrels of oil a day, about 20 percent of what we used. Carter was unable to solve most of the problems plaguing the country during his administration, including an ailing economy and a continuing energy crisis. All the traditions of our past, all the lessons of our heritage, all the promises of our future point to another path, the path of common purpose and the restoration of American values. So, I decided to reach out and listen to the voices of America. Many groups have risen to the challenge. Point five: To make absolutely certain that nothing stands in the way of achieving these goals, I will urge Congress to create an energy mobilization board which, like the War Production Board in World War II, will have the responsibility and authority to cut through the red tape, the delays, and the endless roadblocks to completing key energy projects. Jimmy Carter, "Address to the Nation on Energy," April 18, 1977 It can rekindle our sense of unity, our confidence in the future, and give our Nation and all of us individually a new sense of purpose. Two days from now, I will present to the Congress my energy proposals.. Its Members will be my partners, and they have already given me a great deal of valuable advice. We will feel mounting pressure to plunder the environment. After a 2015 cancer diagnosis . They made possible the age of automobile and airplane travel. These are the goals that we set for 1985: Obviously, this cannot continue. Our solutions must ask equal sacrifices from every region, every class of people, and every interest group. The nation is shocked when the President tells them to "put on a sweater" instead of turn up the heat (using energy and fuel). This is the direct cause of the long lines which have made millions of you spend aggravating hours waiting for gasoline. We know the strength of America. This summer we used more oil and gasoline than ever before in our history. Exactly 3 years ago, on July 15, 1976, I accepted the nomination of my party to run for President of the United States. By acting now we can control our future instead of letting the future control us. Good evening. current level; --to cut in half the portion of U.S. oil which is imported--from a potential level of 16 million barrels to 6 million barrels a day; --to establish a strategic petroleum reserve of one billion barrels, more than a 6-months supply; --to increase our coal production by about two-thirds to more than one billion tons a year; ", "We've got to use what we have. We must face an unpleasant fact about energy prices. place in this century, with the growing use of oil and natural gas. We must not be selfish or timid if we hope to have a decent world for our children and our grandchildren. When President Jimmy Carter addressed the nation on April 18, 1977, the U.S. was in a crisis. We can begin to prepare right now. Jimmy Carter, Address to the Nation on Energy Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/243395, The American Presidency ProjectJohn Woolley and Gerhard PetersContact, Copyright The American Presidency ProjectTerms of Service | Privacy | Accessibility, Saturday Weekly Addresses (Radio and Webcast) (1639), State of the Union Written Messages (140). If this trend continues, the excessive reliance on foreign oil could make the very security of our Nation increasingly dependent on uncertain energy supplies. The confidence that we have always had as a people is not simply some romantic dream or a proverb in a dusty book that we read just on the Fourth of July. Carter's "Malaise Speech" of 1979 (remembering the crisis of Thank you very much, and good night. Remember, you can't sell anything on Wall Street unless someone digs it up somewhere else first.