President Carter : Gas Rationing Plan
President Carter : Gas Rationing Plan
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President Carter : Gas Rationing Plan
Adult Caucasian males and females seated in front of an empty podium; adult Caucasian male standing in front of television camera, pointing it at a portion of the seated audience. Text superimposed on screen announcing Presidential News Conference and date; adult female, off camera, announces herself and speaks about U.S. President Jimmy Carter's upcoming schedule of events and agenda. President Carter opens door and walks up to the podium; audience stands up when he enters the room, then take their seats before he begins his speech.
President Carter : Gas Rationing Plan
U.S. President Jimmy Carter begins press conference on Gas Rationing Plan: "I have a brief opening statement concerning one of our most important domestic issues, and that is energy. Last month, I sent to the Congress, as requested by the Congress, a standby gasoline rationing plan. This plan would give us the opportunity to anticipate and to plan for possible gasoline shortages in the future. Without the plan, it would take us six or seven months to prepare such a plan if we were faced with a severe shortage of gasoline brought about by an interruption in supplies. Tomorrow, the House Commerce Committee will have another very important vote to determine whether or not we will even have a standby plan to deal with such an emergency. It's imperative for our nation's energy preparedness that the committee approve this standby gasoline rationing plan."
President Carter : Gas Rationing Plan
U.S. President Jimmy Carter continues explaining his Gas Rationing Plan: "If, after the plan is evolved, it needs to be implemented, both the Congress and the President would have to approve before it goes into effect. It's a simple matter of common sense for us to do everything we possibly can to reduce our vulnerability to another oil embargo, or a Middle East crisis, or an interruption in our own domestic supplies. We do not face any of these contingencies now, but we must be prepared for the worst. We must make certain that gasoline can be distributed promptly and fairly in case of an emergency. No one likes gasoline rationing, and we will avoid it if it is possible. But, I will not hide from my responsibility to the nation, and Congress likewise needs to shoulder its share of the responsibility."
President Carter : Gas Rationing Plan
U.S. President Jimmy Carter speaks on Gas Rationing Plan: "It's not easy to vote for a rationing plan. I understand this. But, the tough votes are never easy. The nation's attention will properly be focused on the House Commerce Committee tomorrow, and I urge the members of that committee to place responsibility for the nation's well-being above all other concerns, and to vote to approve the standby rationing plan. I also urge the Congress to pass the three other standby energy conservation plans that I submitted last month. I'm particularly concerned about the possibility that the standby plan for gasoline conservation might be killed. This plan would be implemented only in the States that fail to develop their own plans for conserving gasoline, and then only in case there are severe shortages. But, we face the possibility of gasoline shortages even as early as this summer, and common sense tells us both that my administration and the Congress must do our part if we are to be ready."
President Carter : Gas Rationing Plan
U.S. President Jimmy Carter takes the first question from journalist Wes Pippert of United Press International. Pippert: "...First, gasoline already is nearing a dollar a gallon at the pumps. And this will not keep the wealthy from driving, because they can and probably would pay $2 or $3 a gallon. But, these prices put a tremendous burden on the ordinary person. Is this fair? And secondly, you've used strong language in talking about oil companies and the excess profits that they stand to gain from decontrol. Yet, an analysis by the Treasury Department shows that when its application on all categories of domestic oil are considered and an adjustment is made for using some of this tax to offset Federal income taxes, the net effect is that the new tax would recapture only about ten percent of the windfall profits. Is this fair?" Adult Caucasian male and female press corps seated in BG.
President Carter : Gas Rationing Plan
U.S. President Jimmy Carter answers the previous question by stating that his gas decontrol proposals are fair. Carter: "The allocation of scarce supplies of energy must be done in the light of intense public scrutiny and after close consultation between myself and the public, and myself and the Congress." When it comes to the windfall profits tax, his administration is trying to keep a balance. Carter: "Whenever a dollar is realized in increased revenue, resulting from decontrol of oil prices, under our proposal, the windfall profits tax proposal, the oil companies would retain 29 cents. That 29 cents out of each dollar is designed to be invested back into increased production of domestic oil and gas. The other part of the dollar would go for Federal taxes, local taxes, and the payment of royalties." President Carter admits the proposal isn't perfect and is willing to listen to more stringent, but fair proposals. He would not favor anything that gives more profits to oil companies.
President Carter : Gas Rationing Plan
Middle-aged adult Caucasian male journalist asks U.S. President Jimmy Carter: "Mr. President, what are the prospects right now for an early extension of most-favored-nation trading status to the Soviet Union and China?" Carter: "I personally favor the extension of the most-favored-nations treatment to both the Soviet Union and China, if it can be done in compliance with existing law. I think it's good for us, for our country, to be able to export more goods, to provide more jobs for our own people, and to improve the relationships between ourselves and foreign countries, including the Soviet Union and China, brought about by increased economic interchange or trade. So, when the time comes that I think these requirements can be met, I would personally favor the extension of most-favored-nations to these two countries." President Carter hopes that times comes soon.
President Carter : Gas Rationing Plan
Middle-aged adult Caucasian male reporter asks U.S. President Jimmy Carter: "Mr. President, can you provide any more enlightenment on our ability to verify SALT; and are those within the administration who say this ability is, say, from 1 to 4 years away, are they wrong?" President Carter references a statement made by the Secretary of Defense " that as soon as the SALT treaty is effective, when it's signed and ratified, we would be able to verify the treaty adequately." Carter goes on to say he would not sign or present any such treaty to Congress or the American people that could not be verified from the first day it comes into effect. He does acknowledge certain limitations, such as the inability to guarantee "every time a test missile is launched by the Soviet Union, that every aspect of that flight can be completely comprehended by us." However, for the Soviets to develop a new missile, 20-50 test launches are needed, increasing the likelihood that SALT treaty violations would be detected.
President Carter : Gas Rationing Plan
U.S. President Jimmy Carter continues answering a question regarding SALT Treaty. Carter: "There's another factor that must be considered. If the only purpose of the Soviet Union in the long, tedious negotiations of a SALT treaty is to have a document that they can violate and that's their only purpose in existence, is to violate the SALT treaty, it would make our problem much worse. But there is an element of rationality and stability, because the Soviets know that if we ever detect any violation of the SALT agreement, that that would be a basis on which to reject the treaty in its entirety; there would be a possible termination of the good relationships between our country and the Soviet Union on which détente is based; and it might very well escalate into a nuclear confrontation..." Adult Caucasian male and female press corps listening to President Carter speak.
President Carter : Gas Rationing Plan
Adult Caucasian male and female journalists raising hands to be called on by U.S. President Jimmy Carter during press conference. Adult Caucasian male asks: "Mr. President, you've been quoted by historian James MacGregor Burns as saying that even if the SALT treaty is rejected by the Senate, that you would abide by its terms. I would like to know how far you would go in this. Would you, for instance, abide by the limitations on the range of land and sea-based cruise missiles? And more generally, don't you think abiding by a treaty that's been rejected by the Senate would amount to thwarting the will of the public?" President Carter has no intention to minimize the importance of the constitutional process of treaty ratification, and believes it will be ratified. If the treaty is not ratified, he would do everything in his power to monitor Soviet activities, but he wouldn't launch the country into a massive nuclear arms race.
President Carter : Gas Rationing Plan
Adult Caucasian male reporter asks U.S. President Jimmy Carter: "Mr. President, can you tell us sir, how the list was arrived at concerning which Soviet dissidents would be released in exchange for the two Soviet spies? And in view of this exchange, you're now hopeful of gaining the release of other Soviet religious and political dissidents such as Mr. Shcharanskiy? President Carter states that the U.S. has not forgotten any human rights activist who is being punished or imprisoned in the Soviet Union. The recent exchange was a result of long and tedious negotiations. Carter adds that there have been other human rights activists who have been subject of detailed negotiation, "where the Soviets would put forward names and we would assess those names and repeatedly reject them because we did not think they were adequate. In my final judgment...I felt that the list of names was a fair exchange and approved them. And I cannot tell you any more detail than that about the negotiations."
President Carter : Gas Rationing Plan
Middle-aged adult Caucasian male journalist asks U.S. President Jimmy Carter: "Have you considered taking your SALT case to the public next year to try to get a Senate that would approve the treaty?" Carter: "No. I have every intention to conclude the SALT negotiations at the earliest possible moment. No one has ever seriously considered, in my administration, to my knowledge, any slightest delay in concluding the SALT treaty for political purposes or for any other purpose. And my understanding is that if the SALT treaty can be concluded fairly early, that it will be considered as a very top priority by the Senate, and the action by the Senate will be concluded this year."
President Carter : Gas Rationing Plan
Journalist Judy Woodruff asks U.S. President Jimmy Carter: "Mr. President, how do you respond to the statements by Jim Fallows, who was your chief speechwriter for more than 2 years on a number of things, but specifically that while you hold specific positions on a number of individual issues, that you have no broad, overall philosophy about where you'd like to see the country go? And on another point, Fallows says that you signed off personally on the use of the White House tennis courts, but you told Bill Moyers that you didn't. What's the truth about that?" Adult Caucasian and African American males and females seated in BG. President Carter states that Fallows is "fine young man". None of these concerns were expressed to him while he was employed, Carter adds that he and Fallows agreed on many things, but apparently not on character or job performance. As for the tennis court issue, President Carter has his Secretary, Susan Clough, sort out requests for time and use.
President Carter : Gas Rationing Plan
Sam Donaldson from ABC News stands and asks U.S. President Jimmy Carter: "Mr. President, you have said frequently in the past that you wouldn't hesitate to point out people, organizations that are not complying with your wage and price voluntary guidelines and that you think are helping to add to inflation. Yet, if I'm not mistaken, I have not heard you do so yet. Can you today tell us any organization, labor union, company that you think is letting the American people down in this regard?" Speaking on price compliance, President Carter states he has weekly meetings with his economic advisors. Recently, he had a report there were 13 companies who were under scrutiny. He allows for those companies to respond or justify their prices. Last week, four companies came under scrutiny. Only Sears was known to be in violation, and they modified their prices. On wage negotiations, a voluntary program, only Wayne Horvitz, a Federal mediator, is authorized by Carter to engage and mediate.
President Carter : Gas Rationing Plan
Middle-aged adult Caucasian male reporter asks U.S. President Jimmy Carter: “Mr. President, Senator Kennedy in his speech this afternoon before the American Society of Newspaper Editors, says that you have been intimidated by the oil lobby into throwing in the towel on price decontrol without a fight, and that your proposed windfall profits tax is but a token that is no more than a transparent fig leaf over vast profits by the oil industry. Do you think that's unfair? President Carter states that he has difficulty believing Sen. (Edward) Kennedy said this because “everyone knows that decontrol is mandated in the present law, controls to be terminated in October of 1981. This is not a decision that I made. I am complying with an existing law.” Carter would gladly work with Congress, including Sen. Kennedy, to “support such more stringent windfall tax proposals. I will not support any move in the Congress to make the windfall tax more lenient on the oil companies.”
President Carter : Gas Rationing Plan
Adult Caucasian male journalist asks U.S. President Jimmy Carter: “Mr. President, on Capitol Hill today, a number of Republican Senators who say that they are uncommitted on SALT II were critical of Admiral Turner, the director of intelligence. They claim that he has been making speeches around the country in support of the treaty, and they feel that he should not get involved in what may become a partisan issue. What is your understanding of Admiral Turner's role? Is he an advocate of SALT II? And if so, is this at your direction?” President Carter: “No. I've never asked him to make any such speech.” Carter goes on to state that officials in the executive branch are called upon to make speeches on matters of great moment and importance to the people. Carter is unaware of what comments Admiral Turner made, but knows that he’s in favor of the SALT treaty.
President Carter : Gas Rationing Plan
U.S. President Jimmy Carter returns to a previous question regarding Congress' attitude toward the windfall profits tax to expound on his answer. Carter: "When the windfall profits tax was first mentioned...there was an almost unanimous opinion expressed on Capitol Hill that no windfall profits tax could be passed, and those of you in the media reported these comments, and now some of those very same people who said that it was not possible for a windfall profits tax to be passed at all are now quarreling about whether we should take from the oil companies 29 cents out of each dollar, or 25 cents or 24 cents or whatever. But I think we've made great progress in the last 2 weeks in selling to the American public, and therefore to the Congress, the need for the windfall profits tax just because I have spoken out strongly and fervently and with deep feeling on the subject. So, we're making good progress. And I'm eager to work with the Congress on how to make my proposals even better."
President Carter : Gas Rationing Plan
Adult Caucasian male press member asks U.S. President Jimmy Carter: “Mr. President, among the inflation figures, the most stubborn seems to be those of food, fuel, and housing, and those also seem to be the least susceptible to controls of any kind. Is there no hope for progress in this area until those prices become so high that people can't afford the things they really need?” President Carter states that fuel prices, to a large degree, are set by an international cartel, which the United States has little control over, and why he has been working on reducing foreign dependence on oil and establishing a national energy policy.
President Carter : Gas Rationing Plan
U.S. President Jimmy Carter speaks to the press on inflation prices on the nations food supply. Carter: "I would say one of the major leading items in food price increases has been beef...The main cause for high beef prices is sustained high demand and very low sizes of American beef herds. It takes 5 or 6 years to slowly build up your breed cows, and then to have an increased herd to produce more beef. One of the causes of the present shortage was the price controls imposed upon beef under the Nixon administration. Farmers sold their brood cows and heifers instead of keeping them for future beef production. Pork and poultry, because of shorter gestation periods, can be increased fairly rapidly...Fish is a slower process, because it depends upon the habits and the number of fishing boats and fishermen available in that industry." Additionally, previous periods of severe and adverse weather affected food in the case of perishable vegetables and fruits.
President Carter : Gas Rationing Plan
U.S. President Jimmy Carter speaks on the reason for current prices in housing. Carter: “We have had in the last 2 years a rate of housing construction of over 2 million per year in spite of high interest rates and high prices. And this has provided an increased demand for lumber, for plywood, for insulation materials, and for all other building materials that go into home construction. Recent statistics, unfortunately, show that the rate of construction of housing is dropping off. This will decrease demand if the trend continues to be less than, say 2 million per year. And we are trying within the federal government to increase the rate of production of timber. So, although we don't control these three items that you mentioned, there are elements that we can now detect that indicate some hope for the future after several months go by.”
President Carter : Gas Rationing Plan
Several adult Caucasian male reporters standing to ask next question, U.S. President Jimmy Carter chooses one who asks: "Mr. President, the Israeli Cabinet has recently approved two new settlements on the West Bank. In light of the enormous cost to the United States of implementing the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty, isn't it reasonable to expect the Israelis to cease from settlement policy which violates international law? And secondly, why should the American people pay for policies of the Israelis that undermine the peace process and run counter to American foreign policy?" President Carter states his position and the position of the U.S. government regarding settlements in the West Bank, Gaza area, and on the Golan Heights, and in the Sinai are well known to the Israeli government. Carter sees the settlements of these areas to be a violation of international law and an obstacle to peace, but there is a limit to the influence the U.S. can impose upon Israel.
President Carter : Gas Rationing Plan
Adult Caucasian male journalist asks U.S. President Jimmy Carter: "Mr. President, the administration position on the Rhodesian election has been, until now, that you are assessing the situation. Can you tell us, though, however, whether you personally are inclined to lifting sanctions against Rhodesia, recognizing the new government there, and if you do that, what impact do you think that will have on your Africa policy? Won't it cause you severe troubles for what you've been trying to do on that continent?" President Carter states that he's "constrained by the law to wait until after the new government is established before I make a decision on whether or not the recent elections have been adequate in my judgment to lift the sanctions....I'm not going to comment any further on it than that, but I will say that we have not varied our position that the Government of Rhodesia ought to be established through democratic principles."
President Carter : Gas Rationing Plan
Adult Caucasian male and female media correspondents standing after press conference; U.S. President Jimmy Carter makes his way to the door; adult Caucasian female journalist asks him if he enjoyed the Correspondents dinner, to which Carter says he did, but doesn't promise attending every year in the future. White House Press Corps slowly filing out of the room or chatting with each other. Denise Baker Coleman, off camera, summarizes the main points of the press conference; superimposed text on screen 'Presidential News Conference - April 30, 1979". WETA Washington D.C. logo. Sponsor credits.