JFK’s Speech on Achieving No-Cost Energy Independence within a Decade

J. Michael Sharman

On May 25, 1961, just a few weeks after his Bay of Pigs debacle, John F. Kennedy gave a speech[1] in which he made the audacious proposal to put a man on the moon – by the end of the decade! His goal was accomplished July 20, 1969 when Neil Armstong took that giant leap for mankind onto the lunar surface.[2]

Perhaps if JFK were a presidential candidate today he might see developing a consumer-controlled source of no-cost, non-polluting energy as being the challenge of the first decade of the 21^st Century.

The technology for every consumer to have the control of no-cost, solar-powered hydrogen fuel cells to power our vehicles, businesses and homes currently exists. We just do not have the national vision or political will to put that technology into practical operation.

The capitalized words are mine to reflect the change of mission, but, because I realize I am no Jack Kennedy, all the rest are the edited words he used to launch a great national achievement:

These are extraordinary times. And we face an extraordinary challenge.

THE OPEC NATIONS AND ISLAMIC MILITANTS send arms, agitators, aid, technicians and propaganda to every troubled area. Where fighting is required, it is usually done by terrorists striking at the vunerable, and BY warlords, who in some cases control whole areas inside of independent nations.

They possess a well-trained underground in nearly every country, a closed society without dissent or free information, and long experience in the techniques of violence and subversion. They make the most of their VAST PETROLEUM WEALTH and prey on unstable or unpopular governments, unsealed, or unknown boundaries, unfilled hopes, convulsive change, massive poverty, illiteracy, unrest and frustration.

If we are to win the battle that is now going on around the world between freedom and tyranny, the dramatic INCREASES IN THE PRICE OF OIL which occurred in recent weeks should have made clear to us all where we are strong and where we are not, where we may succeed and where we may not. Now it is time to take longer strides--time for a great new American enterprise--time for this nation to take a clearly leading role FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF CONSUMER-CONTROLLED, NON-POLLUTING, NO-COST ENERGY, which in many ways may hold the key to our future on earth.

I believe we possess all the resources and talents necessary. But the facts of the matter are that we have never made the national decisions or marshalled the national resources required for such leadership. We have never specified long-range goals on an urgent time schedule, or managed our resources and our time so as to insure their fulfillment.

I therefore ask the Congress to provide the funds which are needed to meet the following national goal: that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of CREATING A SOURCE OF NO-COST, NON-POLLUTING ENERGY THAT IS CAPABLE OF BEING PRODUCED AND CONTROLLED BY THE CONSUMER.

WIND POWER WILL WORK FOR SOME, AND SOLAR POWER FOR OTHERS, BUT WE KNOW THAT THE TECHNOLOGY CURRENTLY EXISTS FOR SOLAR-BASED HYDROGEN FUEL CELL POWER TO POWER EVERY HOME, BUSINESS, SCHOOL, CHURCH, GOVERNMENT, AND VEHICLE IN THE NATION.

In a very real sense, it will not be one NATION BECOMING LIBERATED FROM OUR PETROLEUM BONDAGE--if we make this judgment affirmatively, it will be THE entire WORLD.

     AS every scientist, every engineer, every serviceman, every technician, contractor, and civil servant gives his personal pledge that this nation will move forward, with the full speed of freedom, in the exciting ACHIEVEMENT OF NO-COST ENERGY FOR ALL, we will make clear America's enduring concern is for both peace and freedom--that we are anxious to live in harmony with the ISLAMIC people--that we seek no conquests, no satellite NATIONS, no riches--that we seek only the day when “nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” [3]

By J. Michael Sharman Click here for bio and archived articles