Richard Nixon actually said...
I, Richard Nixon, President of the United States of America, do hereby urge the people of the United States to honor our American merchant marine on May 22, 1973, by displaying the flag of the United States at their homes and other suitable places, and I request that all ships sailing under the American flag observe 'dress ship' procedures on that day.
Context
Proclamation 4207—National Maritime Day, 1973
04/10/1973