<<The freeway system was subsidized and build by Eisenhower as a civil defense measure. The overpasses were to be a minimum height to accommodate truck carrying missiles.

That's the story and they're sticking to it. I have not researched the history of the interstate, but I'd bet a lot that this scenario was used to justify sticking at least part of the tab on the Defense budget. Anyone have more on this?

I don't have a lot more, but I can tell you that at the time travelling by car from one place to the next involved driving through the city center of every little podunk town along the way. Every stop light, every person turning left, every railroad crossing was an impediment.

To get a sense of it, drove to some destination 25 miles out of your city without getting on a freeway. Now imagine driving cross-country that way. Heck, 4 lanes weren't all that common, either.

Railroads were the only feasible land travel for any distance. And helicopters at the time weren't particularly reliable or large.

I don't think they'll subsidize gas directly. May cut taxes, may increase the tax breaks for the oil companies, there are a lot of ways to do it. May give away oil on federally own lands to oil companies.

The part of the gas and energy prices which didn't get much "play" was that until Jeffers left the party, the Republicans and this administration were willing to see the public absolutely gouged. Jeffers left, the Democratically controlled Senate was able to start investigations, and the gas and electricity were miraculously turned on.

Damnedest thing.

Arf