The shock was enough to prompt talk of developing new strategies that would reduce or even remove altogether dependence on Middle Eastern oil. On 7 November 1973 President Nixon gave a nationwide prime-time address on TV to announce a series of measures to address the uncomfortable fact that “in recent years, our energy demands have begun to exceed available supplies.” As a result, the President opined solemnly, power plants were to be converted from the use of oil to the use of coal, “our most abundant resource.” Fuel for aircraft was to be restricted with immediate effect; all vehicles owned
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