Richard Nixon: “Dear Mr. President: My warmest congratulations go out to you and your people on the occasion of the twenty-first…”

I am pleased that in this bill the Congress has expressed support for our objectives by authorizing $22.2 billion for military procurement purposes during fiscal year 1975.

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

I have done my very best in all the days since to be true to that pledge.

I have concluded that because of the Watergate matter, I might not have the support of the Congress that I would consider necessary to back the very difficult decisions and carry out the duties of this office in the way the interests of…