When the 1973 oil crisis struck the US, President Richard Nixon implemented radical measures, including year-round daylight saving time, to conserve energy. This forced Americans to adapt to darker winter mornings as clocks advanced an hour even in January. The move aimed to cut electricity use during brighter evenings but sparked widespread inconvenience.
Nixon’s emergency response
Nixon announced the policy in a November 1973 televised address amid an oil supply crisis triggered by an Arab embargo during the Arab-Israeli War. Oil prices surged, and supplies dwindled, challenging the US reliance on cheap Middle Eastern energy.
BBC correspondent John Humphrys reported: “The American way of life is about to change,” highlighting measures like lowered speed limits to 50mph, carpool appeals, reduced airline fuel, and a shift to coal despite pollution concerns.
Nixon urged lowering thermostats by six degrees Fahrenheit in homes and factories, claiming it promoted health. Signing the Emergency Daylight Saving Time Energy Conservation Act, he noted it would save 150,000 barrels of oil daily with minimal disruption.
Challenges of darker mornings
The policy meant schoolchildren waited for buses in pitch darkness and commuters faced rush hour before dawn. Farmers struggled as livestock ignored human time changes, complicating morning routines. While evening daylight extended, the 1973 oil crisis exposed vulnerabilities in US energy dependence.
Fuel prices rose 50% at pumps, fueling public panic despite domestic production covering two-thirds of needs. Historian David Reynolds later described it as a shock, ending assumptions of cheap gas as a birthright.
Pre-crisis warnings and legacy
Shortages predated the embargo; in May 1973, reports noted petrol scarcity in the fuel-hungry nation. Country star Johnny Cash featured in Amoco ads promoting conservation, like slowing down and dialing back home heating; messages echoed by Nixon.
The UK had tested similar changes from 1968-1971, facing backlash in northern areas like Scotland where sunlight arrived late. World War I origins of daylight saving aimed at coal savings, but post-war US repeal showed unpopularity.
Short-lived experiment ends
Introduced January 6, 1974, the measure faced swift opposition. Newspapers called it “the second dark age,” citing accidents like four Connecticut teens hit by cars en route to school. Support dropped from 79% to 42% within months. Gerald Ford repealed it in October, weeks after Nixon’s exit amid Watergate.
The 1973 oil crisis lingered, sparking stagflation with high inflation and unemployment. It pushed the US and Europe toward diverse suppliers, alternative energy, and fuel-efficient vehicles, curbing gas-guzzlers.
Source: BBC
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