Vice President Ford: "Why I Will Not Run in '76": An Exclusive Interview

There are some other things that ought to be done. We ought to expedite the process by which we plan and bring into operation our nuclear power plants. It takes us about twice as long as it does in Japan and Western Europe to get our nuclear plants into operation.

Obviously, we ought to find better ways to utilize our coal reserves. Research has been slow, but it certainly can be expedited to find the means by which we can use coal in a cleaner and more efficient way.

Q  Should we open up our naval oil reserves, as long as we can't supply our Mediterranean and Pacific fleets out of oil from the Persian Gulf?

A  I think there ought to be some leeway there. I'm told that the Joint Chiefs of Staff have opposed the idea, but I think they're unwise, because a healthy economy is necessary to support an adequate defense program. If you have a depression as a result of a fuel shortage, the defense program is not going to be very well financed.

WHEN VOTERS GROW SHORT OF FUEL

Q  What could be the political consequences of this fuel emergency? You said it will last at least a year. That carries it right up through the 1974 elections. If people are cold, can't get gas to drive their cars, and factories are shut down, forcing people out of work—how are the people going to vote?

A  I think they'll vote against all the incumbents—Democratic or Republican. I don't think any member of Congress can absolve himself from some responsibility. So incumbents of both parties are going to be in trouble.

Now, under the dire circumstances that you suggest, there may be more Republicans hurt than Democrats, because people do tend to blame things on the party in power. But I don't think any incumbent is going to have a pleasant time if the fuel shortage is really severe at the time of the 1974 elections.