Editing 78-13-A7 (section)

=== Transcript ===
We continue to be treated to the spectacle of anti-nuclear power
zealots demonstrating at sites where nuclear power plants are being
built or planned or even where they have been in operation. The
scene is always the same: a mass rally with speakers warning of a
nuclear threat to the human race, then trespass and disruption followed
by mass arrests. The arrests are for misdemeanors and are not taken
seriously by the demonstrators, many of whom enjoy clogging the
criminal justice system and refusing to leave the jails where they are
held.

I'm sure many of these demonstrators are true believers in their
cause, sincere in their belief that nuclear power constitutes a great
danger to the world. I'm also sure they are unaware that their movement
is run by strategists who are cynical and not sincere and who
have a motive not announced to the ground troops who go out and get
arrested. Indeed some time ago the press carried stories of a coalition
being put together to promote unilateral disarmament by the U.S. and
opposition to further development of nuclear power in the U.S.

Those two causes aren't as far apart as it might seem at first
glance. A study by the Heritage Foundation finds that unless we go
forward and fast with the building of more nuclear generating plants
we may face the early 198O's with unemployment soaring above the seven
million mark and around $90 billion a year in lost wages. Our industrial
might would be severely crippled by brownouts and power shortages.
Where does this tie into disarmament? Well, obviously our industrial
capacity is the greatest thing we have going for u s in the contest
with the Soviet Union, which is not only go in g forward with its military
build up, but is plunging full speed ahead in the development of
nuclear power. I wonder how many of our demonstrators would like to
protest in Red Square.

The people of California voted two years ago--by a majority of
more than two to one--to go forward with nuclear power. So far Governor
Brown has blocked virtually any such development. The opponents of
nuclear energy claim they only want it made safer. In truth they just
don't want it. Period.

A Congressman from California, Bob Badham, has called attention
to something that has gone unnoticed in all the recent demonstrations
in New Hampshire and California. The San Onofre nuclear power plant
in Southern California just passed its 10th anniversary. In these 10
years it has produced 26 billion kilowatt hours of electricity. Every
day it operates it saves 16,000 barrels of oil. And when the two n ew
units the demonstrators are protesting about go into operation, the
savings will be 30 million barrels of oil a year. But most important
to those who have built up the false threat of danger is the San
Onofre plant's 10 year record of perfect industrial safety. Not one
employee in all these 10 years has ever experienced a lost time
industrial accident. 

This is Ronald Reagan.

Thanks for listening.
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