Richard Nixon actually said...

On behalf of all of you who have had the opportunity to hear this splendid program, I wish to express our appreciation and the appreciation ...

As far as the way you write it, I would like for you to write it as: 'In an informal meeting with members of the White House press corps in ...

What I was interested in was his background, his general legal philosophy, which, as I said, to me is close to mine.

Third person, right.