Richard Nixon actually said...
But after searching the whole country for somebody, perhaps outside the program, we found, as is often the case, that the best man in the country was in the program, and that is why I am announcing today that Dr. Paine, who is now the Acting Director of NASA, will be appointed the Director of NASA.
Context
Remarks on Presenting the Robert H. Goddard Memorial Trophy to the Apollo 8 Astronauts.
03/04/1969