President Richard Nixon at Kennedy Space Center. After Apollo 13 was aborted due to an oxygen tank failure, Nixon greets astronauts Fred Haise, Jim Lovell, and Jack Swigert.
At a press conference the president said:
"The three astronauts didn't reach the moon but they reached the hearts of millions of Americans and people around the world."
Later that evening, President Nixon presents the three astronauts with the Medal Of Freedom.
Frank Reynolds and Jules Bergman report for ABC news.