Jimmy Carter

Christmas is a good time to recall how much unites us as people and also as nations.

Perhaps at last the same fervor and commitment and sense of high purpose with which we once sought victory in war can now be devoted to our search for peace.

The resources of this government must be managed well, free of waste, fraud and inefficiency.

I need your increased help and cooperation.

The American people must also know that government is capable of doing its job.

We are chopping away at these overlapping requirements and have eliminated or consolidated already more than 300 of them just in the last year.

We don't anticipate a recession next year.

Cynicism and distrust eat away at the vitality of a democratic nation.

I expect each of you personally to review and respond to major allegations by the Comptroller General and others of waste, fraud or error.

A free press independent of government control and expressing a variety of viewpoints is crucial to both democracy and individual liberty.

Eliminating waste, fraud, and error should be as important to you as your program objectives.

The real damage of fraud and abuse cannot be measured just in dollars and cents.

I think your own influence at times might be even underestimated by you.

Equally important to me, is our ability to assist our needy citizens in a more responsive and compassionate manner.

I will soon propose legislation that would restrict police intrusion into news media offices.

It would contravene my very concept of the principles of government.

We have made some progress in the last, almost 2 years.

I am assigning the Director of the Office of Management and Budget responsibility for overseeing this program to eliminate fraud and waste for me.

The heart of America is too big for that.

I think this is a major step forward in protecting the integrity of the freedom of the press.

Of all the basic rights that contribute to human development, one of the most important is the first amendment freedom of the press.

I hope that this review will produce recommendations which will lead to more consistent and less burdensome government-wide practices to make the eligibility determination process simple, understandable and efficient.

It inspires and it boosts the morale of government employees who are deeply frustrated when they see their own 'hard work frittered away through waste and fraud.

All citizens are concerned about making a bold attack on inefficient and wasteful government.

Those who rob from government rob from every steelworker, every farmer, every teacher, every store clerk, every truckdriver in America.