I have a definite recollection of hearing a news report (many years ago) that U.S. President Richard M. Nixon (at least, I'm about 95% sure it was Nixon, the other 5% thinks it might have been Reagan) was once giving a speech somewhere in Canada. According to the report, he prefaced his speech by attempting to give some sort of greeting in French, but didn't do it very well. When he was done with his attempt at speaking French, he is reported to have said something like "I guess I speak French like a Canadian."

On the one hand, this sounds so outrageous that it is hard to believe that it actually happened. I could believe "I guess I speak French like an American", but not what was reported. On the other hand, I have a very definite recollection of hearing this report.

Can anyone confirm or deny that this actually happened?