Richard Nixon: “Our first responsibility is to this country.”

Our military forces deter potential aggressors and, together with those of our allies, serve to assure the continued security of the free world.

May God's grace be with you in all the days ahead.

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 invite the Governors of the States and of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and other officials at the local level to issue similar proclamations.