President Jimmy Carter's Prescient Speech of July 15, 1979

[Dom]

On July 15, 1979 President Jimmy Carter made his dramatic speech
dealing with our crisis of confidence and the energy crisis. The
entire speech can be seen at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCOd-qWZB_g

During the previous six months OPEC had raised the price of petroleum
by 60%, which caused a dramatic increase in gasoline prices. President
Carter said that we had two options: the path of fragmentation and
self-interest that would lead to failure; or the path of common
purpose and restoration of American values. The latter would involve
personal sacrifice and conservation. One of Carter's proposals was a
plan that would produce 20% solar power by the year 2000.

In June 1979 solar panels had been installed on the West Wing of the
White House--these panels were later removed by Ronald Reagan.

President Carter discusses this speech on pages 340-344 of his book
http://www.amazon.com/White-House-Diary-Jimmy-Carter/dp/0374280991/ .
On page 344 he writes that the speech was watched by about 100 million
people and was praised. However, political opportunists like Kennedy,
Reagan and some hostile reporters would later label it as a "malaise"
speech.