Richard Nixon actually said...
Notwithstanding the rates of basic pay or salaries established by sections 1, 2, and 3 of this order, under section 5308 of title 5 of the United States Code no rate of basic pay or salary may be paid which is in excess of the rate now or hereafter provided for level V of the Executive Schedule.
Context
Executive Order 11691—Adjusting Rates of Pay for Certain Statutory Pay Systems
12/14/1972