Richard Nixon

“ Biological weapons have massive, unpredictable and potentially uncontrollable consequences. They may produce global epidemics and impair the health of future generations. I have therefore decided that:
—The United States shall renounce the use of lethal biological agents and weapons, and all other methods of biological warfare. —The United States will confine its biological research to defensive measures such as immunization and safety measures. —The Department of Defense has been asked to make recommendations as to the disposal of existing stocks of bacteriological weapons. ”

“ Neither our association with the Convention nor the limiting of our program to research will leave us vulnerable to surprise by an enemy who does not observe these rational restraints. Our intelligence community will continue to watch carefully the nature and extent of the biological programs of others. ”