The Energy War

1979 7

In the 1970s, the U.S. faced an energy crisis so severe that President Jimmy Carter declared it “the moral equivalent of war.” Seeking to curb the country’s dependence on foreign oil, Carter kicked off a legislative melee with the divisive Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 at its center. This epic look at the inner workings of government chronicles the arduous efforts of lobbyists, senators, cabinet members, and the president himself to reach a compromise amid a deeply divided Congress. Directed by legendary documentary filmmakers D. A. Pennebaker, Chris Hegedus, and Pat Powell as a three-part PBS special, THE ENERGY WAR is a riveting immersion into the high-stakes world of DC dealmaking as well as a timely account of the messy realities of lawmaking in a fractious political environment.

Documentary

Play

Play Mark Up

1
Mark Up
1979-01-01
Covers the frantic lobbying through the first test vote on the Senate floor.
Play Filibuster

2
Filibuster
1979-01-08
Spans the historic eight-day filibuster and subsequent passage by the Senate of a bill diametrically opposed to the President’s.
Play Final Vote

3
Final Vote
1979-01-15
Depicts the Herculean effort by the President, Secretary Schlesinger, and congressional allies, to wrest a natural gas compromise and steer it through a formidable coalition of Left and Right, and finally into law.