WITH the final mission of the Apollo lunar exploration series man completes another step in his quest for knowledge of his universe and of himself. Those who come after will stand on the shoulders of the men of Apollo and their dedicated support team.
I wish you good luck and Godspeed.
RICHARD NIXON
Note: The message was made available to the press.
On December 5, 1972, the President had telephoned crew members Capt. Eugene A. Cernan, USN, Comdr. Ronald E. Evans, USN, and Dr. Harrison H. Schmitt at the Kennedy Space Center to extend his best wishes to them on their mission.
Richard Nixon, Message to the Crew of Apollo 17 Following Launch of the Spacecraft. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/255016