There has been a huge reaction to the President's proposal for establishing a base on the moon and a manned trip to Mars. The surprising part to me is that it has taken more than 30 years since the last trip to begin serious work on a lunar colony. I would very much like to be able to spend my last years of old age in a one sixth gravity environment. The moon will one day turn out to be the greatest ever tourist attraction and any investment in that direction will pay off handsomly.

Scientific and military benefits are too numerous to outline in this venue.

I will have to balk on the manned expedition to Mars at this point. It will receive support from me only within a balanced budget. I can not allow the nation to go deeper into debt for such a massive enterprise.