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The Energy War

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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.

Cast & crew

Ted Kennedy · Chris Hegedus · Mike Gravel · Russell Long · James R. Schlesinger · Pat Powell · Dennis DeConcini · Jimmy Carter · Pierre Elliott Trudeau · D. A. Pennebaker · Lloyd Bentsen · Gary Hart · James Abourezk

Studios & networks

PBS