Richard Nixon: “The poor and the helpless-- and the taxpayer--need welfare reform now.”

This was a serious act of omission for which I take full responsibility and which I deeply regret.

This, more than anything, is what I hope will be my legacy to you, to our country, as I leave the Presidency.

I firmly believe that our current fiscal situation demands national unanimity on the issues of a larger concern.

It is regrettable that the Congress has seen fit to add to a bill of such importance to our national security a rider adversely affecting the constitutional separation of powers.