Richard Nixon

With regard to the decision you made sometime in your life to come into public service, I firmly am convinced of the fact that all of you are playing a great part in a cause that is much bigger than any of us.

I wish you well in what you do in the future.

I realize that the success of our efforts at the highest post in Government depends upon how every person in Government does his job.

I have been trying to think of something that I could pick out as a mistake, you know, so that we could do better next time.

We look forward to seeing him there again, and I am delighted that he was able to work this visit into his schedule.

I didn’t come here as a Vice President, and now I come as a President.

I want to express, on behalf of all of the members of our party, our deep gratitude again for the great hospitality you have extended to us and that we have received from the French people.

He will visit Washington sometime in January or February at a time that is mutually convenient for our two schedules.

I first came to Paris, I remember, 22 years ago in this same building, and then as a Congressman.

I suppose you could say this is one of the few colleges I could go to without having a demonstration against me.

I appreciate the opportunity that you have provided for me to greet the Embassy personnel and also some of the members of their families.

I spoke facetiously about it a moment ago.

It has been so truly written that man does not live by bread alone.

But all that I am really trying to say is this: We are both going down different roads toward the same destination, and that is to give to the country that we love a sense of mission, a sense of purpose, a sense of idealism, that will…

But as we finish this trip and have this opportunity to meet you, one very serious thought comes to mind.

These are some of the goals that I see for our Nation on the temporal side.

I want to express my regret that we were unable to be able to get everybody in the same room.

But what we find is that at this period when, from a material standpoint, young people never had a better outlook, that they still have, many of them, a sense of frustration, a sense that something is missing.

I did not expect then that I would come back now in the capacity I presently hold.

Before I came to this country I had been reading accounts in our press to the effect that there was an anti-American sentiment among the French people.

Mr. President, we are deeply grateful for the hospitality that you have extended to all of our party, to the Secretary of State and to me and to the rest of us on this occasion.

But most of all, we are in your debt for a gift which is the most precious, the gift of your time.

I ask you to rise and raise your glasses to French-American friendship and to President and Madame de Gaulle.

I look forward, Mr. President, with great anticipation to working with you and with your country and with your Government for the cause to which you have dedicated your life, the cause of freedom and dignity for nations and for men and for…

On a continuing and regular basis we will discuss the major issues and be sure that we move together toward our common objectives