In this excerpt from the "Checkers" speech by President Richard Nixon, which sentence can best be considered the thesis statement?

1. But all of these people and all of these allowances are for strictly official business; business, for example, when a constituent writes in and wants you to go down to the Veteran's Administration and get some information about his GI policy—items of that type, for example. But there are other expenses which are not covered by the Government. And I think I can best discuss those expenses by asking you some questions.

Do you think that when I or any other Senator makes a political speech, has it printed, should charge the printing of that speech and the mailing of that speech to the taxpayers? Do you think, for example, when I or any other Senator makes a trip to his home State to make a purely political speech that the cost of that trip should be charged to the taxpayers? Do you think when a Senator makes political broadcasts or political television broadcasts, radio or television, that the expense of those broadcasts should be charged to the taxpayers?

2. Well I know what your answer is. It's the same answer that audiences give me whenever I discuss this particular problem: The answer is no.

3.The taxpayers shouldn't be required to finance items which are not official business but which are primarily political business.