Richard Nixon actually said...
Employees of Federal executive departments, independent establishments, and other agencies, including their field offices, shall be excused from duty for one-half day on Friday, January 19, 1973, the day preceding Presidential Inauguration Day, January 20, 1973.
Context
Executive Order 11696—Excusing Federal Employees in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area From Duty for One-Half Day on...
01/16/1973