The U.S. Already Tried Permanent Daylight Time. It Didn’t Go Well.

A 1974 energy-saving experiment quickly turned unpopular. Turn any article into a podcast. Upgrade now to start listening. Members can share articles with friends & family to bypass the paywall. When Congress voted to place the United States on year-round daylight saving time in late 1973, the idea hardly seemed controversial. The country was in the midst of the Arab oil embargo. Gas stations across the country faced shortages, motorists waited in hours-long lines to fill their tanks, and President Richard Nixon urged Americans to conserve energy wherever possible. Wesley Liu is an intern at The Dispatch and a student at the University of Pennsylvania studying philosophy and political science. When he's not writing, he enjoys admiring nature, checking out bookstores, and spending time with