830 



HISTORY OF III: COMMITTE1 ON SCIENC1 AND TECHNOLOGY 



Both sides began to line up group support. Favoring the bill, in 

 addition to the Ford administration, were the AFL-CIO, the U.S. 

 Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, the 

 American Gas Association and the oil shale industry. Opposing the 

 bill were a number of economists and conservationists, the United 

 Auto Workers, the Wall Street Journal, and a liberal-conservative 

 coalition. At many different public forums throughout the summer, 

 these groups stated their case, frequently joined by committee members 

 on both sides. McCormack and Moshcr were the most outspoken 

 advocates of using loan guarantees as the cheapest solution to the prob- 

 lem of starting a U.S. synfuels industry. Ottinger mobilized an im- 

 pressive list of House Members of all political persuasions to denounce 

 the bill on the grounds it would " result in misplaced energv priorities, 

 distortion of capital markets, increased concentration in the already 

 powerful energy industry, promotion of obsolete technology, devasta- 

 tion of local communities and great environmental change." 



When Teague and the committee went to the White House on 

 May 11, 1976 for the signing of the legislation to replace the science 

 machinery in the White House, he used the occasion to discuss per- 

 sonally with President Ford the need for some strong White House and 

 administration backing for the pending loan guarantee bill. Teague 

 followed up with a letter to the President on June 8, stating in part: 



During the signing ceremony for the National Science Policy and Priorities Act, 

 we discussed the Synthetic Fuel Loan Guarantee bill (H.R. 12112). * * * Pursuant 

 to our conversation, I assume that this measure will receive the full support of the 

 administration. 



As indicated during our conversation, I am reluctant to bring the measure before 

 the House without some reasonable degree of assurance that the bill will be supported . 



The President responded that he would help, and he did so with a very 

 strong letter of support as well as turning his lobbying force loose to 

 assist. 



Teague also attempted to counter an antiloan guarantee quotation 

 from Democratic Presidential Nominee Jimmy Carter, being used by 

 Ottinger and the opposition forces as one of their talking points. 

 During a visit which Carter paid to the Capitol on August 9, Teague 

 protested to Carter the use of an old quotation being employed as an 

 argument against pending legislation. Following up with an appealing 

 and persuasive letter to Carter on August 11, Teague cited the many 

 virtues of his loan guarantee legislation and added : 



I am bringing this matter to your attention because of an effort being made by a 

 few to circulate a statement of yours, made during the campaign, as a basis for alleging 



