Richard Nixon: “It was not authorized.”

A strong America is essential to maintaining world peace.

This legislation exceeds my budgetary recommendations by such a large amount--some $540 million--that it presents a clear and distinct threat to our fight against inflation and cannot be accepted.

I take this occasion once again to urge prompt and final action on the Trade Reform Act.

A number of provisions authorize spending for unneeded equipment and could thus inflate defense spending unnecessarily at a time when we all should recognize the need to avoid waste.