Richard Nixon actually said...
I have sent messages of congratulations to Prime Minister Meir of Israel and also to President Asad of Syria, congratulating them with regard to the statesmanship that they have shown in resolving differences that seemed totally without any prospect of resolution a month or so ago and even, as a matter of fact, several times over the past month.
Context
Remarks About a Syrian-Israeli Agreement Leading to the Disengagement of Forces.
05/28/1974