Mil u >n >! [ AT ( I l\< II RIVER 



859 



The colloquy then went like this: 



Mr. Ottinger. Some philosopher once said that an open mind is the equivalent 

 of an empty head. 



Mr. Flippo. I agree to a point. [Laughter.] * * * 



Mr. McCormack. I too approached this from a completely open mind. 

 [Laughter.] * * * 



Wydler and McCormack delivered strong statements in support of 

 the CRBR, with Downey and Harkin speaking against. Wydler 

 contended that "we can't stop the manufacture of gunpowder because 

 it might be used for war purposes." McCormack pointed out: 



It is much cheaper, cleaner and simpler and the weapons are ten times more 

 efficient if you make them outside the nuclear fuel cycle. 



Downey said the relative dangers of gunpowder and plutonium could 

 hardly be equated. He charged that further hearings to delay the issue 

 were really to stimulate some lobbying. Harkin indicated that voting 

 $150 million would be endorsing Clinch River, and that the com- 

 mittee shouldn't push ahead prior to negotiations with other coun- 

 tries to try and discourage a plutonium-based economy. 



After voting down the Harkin amendment by 26-12, and burying 

 the Ottinger amendment by voice vote, the committee on May 11, 

 1977, voted its refusal to go along with President Carter's recommenda- 

 tion to cancel the CRBR. 



At Flowers' instigation, the full committee put in one sweetener 

 desired by the administration, to allow the Government to charge 

 higher prices to domestic and foreign customers for uranium enrich- 

 ment. It was estimated that this provision would enable the Federal 

 Government to recoup an additional $120 million over the coming 

 year. Because the administration was eager to have this provision 

 incorporated, Flowers and the committee felt that it might help make 

 the administration perhaps a little more willing to sign the bill 

 despite the hardnosed opposition to the CRBR. 



TEAGUE LEANS TOWARD OPPOSITION AT START 



In the early months of 1977, while in the Naval Hospital in 

 Bethesda, Md., from his leg amputation, Teague began to study and 

 receive briefings on the CRBR from a number of experts. Dr. Edward 

 Teller, "father of the hydrogen bomb" and a nuclear enthusiast, 

 made several visits to the hospital and talked about Clinch River. 

 Dr. Teller was skeptical about the CRBR, felt it was an attempt to 

 use outmoded technology, and relayed these thoughts to Teague. 



