December 23, 1975
I WAS shocked and horrified by the terrorist murder of Mr. Richard Welch outside his home in Athens, Greece. Mr. Welch has long been a dedicated official of the United States Government and the hearts of all Americans go out to his family in sympathy and in gratitude for a life given in devoted service to his country.
Note: Richard S. Welch was the station chief for the Central Intelligence Agency in Greece.
The statement was released at Vail, Colo.
Gerald R. Ford, Statement on the Death of Richard S. Welch. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/257324