James R. Schlesinger probably had seen nearly every kind of US energy policy tried by the time he died of complications from pneumonia on Mar. 27. He was 85.
Tapped by President Jimmy Carter to head the newly formed US Department of Energy in 1977, Schlesinger already had been Defense secretary and Central Intelligence Agency director. His strong interest in national security and international affairs fit well with his new assignment.
"Dr. Schlesinger took the helm of the new DOE when US and global energy markets were undergoing a radical change," recalled Ernest G. Moniz, the current US energy secretary.
"He navigated the nation's energy policy in the difficult, post-Arab oil embargo world," Moniz continued. "He was here for the passage and evolution of some of our most fundamental environmental laws, many of which affected how we produce and consume energy. He established the nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve, [and] he supported programs that helped enable the growth of the US solar industry and oil and gas boom we are seeing today."
Schlesinger pushed to end to interstate natural gas price controls and reduce crude oil imports. He left the administration when Carter reshuffled his cabinet in July 1979.
He quickly became one of Washington's leading energy experts, providing fresh and thoughtful insights. During the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, for example, Schlesinger said to remember that the two countries' energy ministries might quickly work together again once hostilities ceased.
Moniz said he had the privilege of Schlesinger's friendship and wisdom for the past 15 years, starting when Moniz was a US Energy undersecretary, then when he worked on energy and security issues at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and most recently when he became Energy Secretary himself.
New insights, perspective
"Every discussion with Jim Schlesinger led to new insight and perspective on issues of national significance," Moniz said. "His counsel will be missed."
Schlesinger frequently was in the audience at Washington think tanks' energy policy events, and moderators often asked him to comment. His remarks always were direct and to-the-point.
At a US Energy Security Council event in October looking at energy policies since the 1973 Arab oil embargo, Schlesinger graded them "a high D-plus."
He said, "We at least have moved beyond the point where we were begging Middle East producers to keep supplying the West oil. Higher oil prices ultimately led to the reduction of Arab oil producers' control of the market. Today, we're much closer to energy self-sufficiency."
That was in contrast to the rest of the federal government, which was in the midst of its most recent shutdown. Behavior there, Schlesinger said, "borders on idiocy."
