|
Richard Nixon on Energy & Oil
President of the U.S., 1968-1974
|
|
|
Protect oil supplies with military force when needed
The strategic position of the entire Western alliance hinges on reliable access to crude oil from the Persian Gulf. We must be ready and willing to take whatever steps, including a strong military presence and even military action, are required to
protect our interests. We must also be able to back up our words.It is essential the US have base facilities so located as to enable us to project our power convincingly into the area, and to respond swiftly to sudden threats. We also need to assure
access to bases in Western Europe that could be used to facilitate airlift and sealift operations between the US, and the Persian Gulf. And then, when we do project power, we must do so resolutely.
Above all, the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Oman,
Kuwait and other key states must be unequivocally reassured that should they be threatened by revolutionary forces, either internally or externally, the US will stand strongly with them so that they will not suffer the same fate as the Shah.
Source: The Real War, by Richard Nixon, p.103-104
, Jan 1, 1981
Oil for now; solar & geothermal for the 21st century
Sometime in the 21st century, nuclear, solar, & geothermal may be sufficiently developed to meet the world's energy needs. But for now we live in an age of oil. In the decades just ahead this gives extraordinary strategic significance to the Persian
Gulf. This means that one of the world's most troubled, unstable, and imperiled areas is also one of its most vital. In the industrial age energy is the lifeblood of the economic system, and economic power is the foundation of military power.
Source: The Real War, by Richard Nixon, p. 72-74
, Apr 1, 1980
Project Independence: replace oil with nuclear & renewables
I was the first president to propose a wide-ranging energy program. I did so nearly a decade ago, in 1971. In my last State of the Union address, in January 1974,
I described energy as our number-one priority.The goal of my energy policy--which I named
Project Independence--was in the long run, to stimulate the production of energy from renewable sources such as nuclear power, and, in the short run, to cut back our dependency on unreliable foreign suppliers of oil.
The United States is uniquely qualified to do these things. Ill-considered government policies, however, have had the opposite effect; they have actually increased our dependence on foreign oil.
Source: The Real War, by Richard Nixon, p.222-223
, Apr 1, 1980
Comprehensive program including coal gas, solar & geothermal
For most of our history, a plentiful supply of energy is something the American people have taken for granted. But that assumption has been brought sharply into question within the last year. To help meet this challenge, my program includes the following
elements:- Complete the successful demonstration of the liquid metal fast breeder reactor by 1980
- An expanded program to convert coal into a clean gaseous fuel
- Make available the energy resources on federal lands
- Acceleration of oil and ga
lease sales on the Outer Continental Shelf, along with stringent controls to protect the environment
- A leasing program to develop our vast oil shale resources.
- Controlled thermonuclear fusion research
- Magnetohydrodynamic Power Cycles to convert
coal and other fossil fuels into electric energy
- Solar Energy: The sun offers an almost unlimited supply of energy if we can learn to use it economically
- Geothermal Energy: There is a vast quantity of heat stored in the earth itself.
Source: Special Message to Congress on Energy Resources (APP #195)
, Jun 4, 1971
- Click here for definitions & background information on Energy & Oil.
- Click here for VoteMatch responses by Richard Nixon.
- Click here for AmericansElect.org quiz by Richard Nixon.
|
|
Other past presidents on Energy & Oil: |
Richard Nixon on other issues: |
Former Presidents:
Barack Obama(D,2009-2017)
George W. Bush(R,2001-2009)
Bill Clinton(D,1993-2001)
George Bush Sr.(R,1989-1993)
Ronald Reagan(R,1981-1989)
Jimmy Carter(D,1977-1981)
Gerald Ford(R,1974-1977)
Richard Nixon(R,1969-1974)
Lyndon Johnson(D,1963-1969)
John F. Kennedy(D,1961-1963)
Dwight Eisenhower(R,1953-1961)
Harry S Truman(D,1945-1953)
Past Vice Presidents:
V.P.Joseph Biden
V.P.Dick Cheney
V.P.Al Gore
V.P.Dan Quayle
Sen.Bob Dole
Political Parties:
Republican Party
Democratic Party
Libertarian Party
Green Party
Reform Party
Natural Law Party
Tea Party
Constitution Party
|
Abortion
Budget/Economy
Civil Rights
Corporations
Crime
Drugs
Education
Energy/Oil
Environment
Families/Children
Foreign Policy
Free Trade
Govt. Reform
Gun Control
Health Care
Homeland Security
Immigration
Infrastructure/Technology
Jobs
Principles/Values
Social Security
Tax Reform
War/Iraq/Mideast
Welfare/Poverty
|
|
|
Page last updated: Feb 22, 2022