Lot 149
Ronald Reagan, Autograph Manuscript in the hand of Ronald Reagan, a draft of speech delivered January 4,1966 during California gubernatorial campaign, n.p., [January 1966], 17 pages on lined folio paper 13" x 8½", some revised segments taped on, with 10 descriptive marginal notes in red pencil possibly by another hand, Fine, ex-Forbes.Estimate $10,000 - 15,000.
THE FORMATIVE MIND OF RONALD REAGAN. AN INCREDIBLE LENGTHY HANDWRITTEN SPEECH QUOTING LINCOLN IN REGARDS TO HIS DISAPPROVAL OF BIG GOVERNMENT AND EXPLAINING HIS SWITCH TO REPUBLICAN: "I WAS A DEM[OCRAT] MOST OF MY LIFE UNTIL I FOUND I COULD NO LONGER FOLLOW THE LEADERSHIP OF THAT PARTY AS IT TURNED FROM THE TRADITIONAL PRECEPTS OF JEFFERSON, JACKSON & CLEVELAND…".
Partial Transcript: "Someone has said - Calif. isn't a place - it's a way of life. Well that's true and it's a good way….'A man may be loyal to his govt. & still be opposed to the peculiar prin[ciples] & practices of the admin. in power.' A Big brother or paternalistic govt. can solve many problems for the people but I don't think we'll like the price it charges - ever increasing power over us and ever decreasing individual fr[ee]d[o]m. A great society must be a free society and to be truly great & really free it must be a creative society calling on the genius and power of it's [sic] people….Certainly we have a rightful claim on Fed. funds it's our money in the first place. Calif, is one of those so-called rich states which not only pays into the kitty everything it takes out but puts in a share for other states. It's time we made a greater protest about the strings attached to our money before we are allowed to use it…The time has come for us to strengthen both representative govt. and self govt. - the two are not the same but they go hand in hand….There must be no lack of equal opportunity….I was a Dem[crat] most of my life until I found I could no longer follow the leadership of that party as it turned from the traditional precepts of Jefferson, Jackson & Cleveland. I believed then & still believe that anything whether it be management, labor or govt. which imposes unfairly on the freedom of the individual is tyranny & must be opposed…Now I have come to a decision that even a short time ago I would have thought impossible to make and yet I make it with no lingering doubts or hesitations. As of now I am a candidate seeking the Rep[ublican] nomination for Gov[ernor]….I have no commitments to anyone but you and to my belief that the safety of our state and our nation shall be entrusted to the care of the people." Reagan's speech is wide-ranging and broad, covering some of the state's most critical issues: large increases in population and the resulting budgetary concerns; loss of manufacturing to other states and Mexico; crime; education; the California water project; a lengthy review of property tax and the unique place of California in America.
Historical Background: Reagan, originally a New Deal Democrat, supported the presidential candidacies of Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952 and 1956, as well of that of Richard Nixon in 1960, and formally switched parties after the election of John F. Kennedy. The former Screen Actors Guild president and staunch anti-Communist would later famously remark that he "didn't leave the Democratic Party; it left [him]." Campaigning hard for Barry Goldwater in 1964, Reagan impressed California Republicans eager to find a challenger to Democratic two-term incumbent Governor Edmund G. "Pat" Brown. His victory in 1966 cemented his status as a rising star within the Republican Party, and set him on course for the presidency fourteen years later.
Realized: $11,500
Lot 150
Ronald Reagan, Autograph Oath Signed with "Ronald Reagan" as President Jan. 20, 1981 on official White House stationery, one-page 6¾" x 9", The White House, Washington D.C., handwritten transcript of the Oath of Office; with copy 2002 Koschal COA describing how he arranged for this and Reagan's oaths to be written out.Estimate $10,000 - 15,000.
Very shortly after Reagan became President and Bush Vice President, Stephen Koschal arranged for the two to write out their Oaths on their finest official stationery. He had typed out the oaths so both men could copy them. Koschal has noted on the reverse that Reagan lost his place a few times remarking "Now Where Am I". In the course of writing this piece, he also remarked "I've gotten so I don't like to write anymore." After this piece was finished an aid in the Oval Office took this piece and had it photostated. He said everything written by the President must be photostated for the records.
Realized: $9,000
Lot 151
Ronald Reagan, Photograph Signed and inscribed "Win one for the Gipper - Ronald Reagan", superb 8" x 10" black and white photograph of a youthful Ronald Reagan, wearing a football uniform, crouched down, one arm on his knee and the other on the ground, perfect for framing, Very Fine.Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.
A REMARKABLE SIGNED PHOTO OF REAGAN IN HIS SIGNATURE ROLE AS GEORGE GIPP THAT EARNED HIM THE NICKNAME OF "THE GIPPER". SOLD BY KEN RENDELL GALLERIES FOR $17,500.
"The Gipper" was one of the President's most famous and enduring roles as a movie actor. In the 1940s classic, "Knute Rockne All American", Reagan plays the role of George Gipp, the legendary Notre Dame football player who dies of pneumonia after two remarkable seasons. The film is best known for its famous line dialogue, spoken the Gipper, as he lays dying, to his coach: "Some day, when things are tough, maybe you can ask the boys to go in there and win just one for the Gipper." This signature role earned Reagan the nickname of "the Gipper", both on the campaign trail and in the White House.
Lot 152
Ronald Reagan, Autograph Letter Signed "Ronald Reagan", two pages on 6¼" x 4¼" card with gold gilt Presidential seal and Ronald Reagan imprint to Raymond Doig, reading "Thank you for your letter and kind words about my speech. But I must take exception to your concern about our party. We must stay together and prevent a takeover by the Demos. They have had a majority in the Congress for almost all of the last half century. In my 8 years as governor and 8 years as president, I was serving with a Democratic Congress and had to do battle with that Congress. For example, I submitted a budget to the Congress every year as I'm supposed to do. In every one of those 8 years the Congress put budget on the shelf and submitted a "Continuing Resolution" to me as a substitute. In every instance their substitute called for more spending except in the military, where they reduced the services to a ridiculous level. When I became President, I discovered more than half our military aircraft on any given day could not fly for lack of spare parts. Contrary to the media, Bush as vice-president participated in all the things we did, such as the tax reductions, created 19 million new jobs in the economy…eliminated many useless Federal regulations, etc. He was major participant in the things we did. We were opposed by the Democrats in everything we accomplished. Again thanks for your kind words.", Very Fine.Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
A GREAT HISTORICAL LETTER WITH REAGAN LISTING HIS ADMINISTRATION'S GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT.
This letter was a response to heart felt August 20th 1992 letter from Raymond Doig, a film executive at 20th Century Fox and a life long republican. Many Vice Presidents have had not authority and little in the way of accomplishments (Eisenhower, when asked by a reporter if he could think of something Nixon had done as Vice President, said he could if given a week to think about it). This letter testifies that Bush was an active participant in Reagan's work, and shows that Reagan was sincerely working for Bush's reelection. Perhaps most valuable is Reagan's list of his accomplishments, as in such the most important things are the ones that would come first to mind. There were three: tax cuts, job creation and reduction in Federal government controls.
Lot 153
Ronald Reagan, Autograph Letter Signed "Love, Dutch", two pages on 6¼" x 4¼" card with gold gilt Presidential seal and Ronald Reagan imprint to Hup, no date but accompanied by extremely rare 7½" x 5" envelope with address and return address in Reagan's hand and "Ronald Reagan" free frank signature, no postal markings, penned date "9-94" at lower left in another hand, letter written in thick blue pen and reads, "Dear Hup - Just a line to thank for your letter of July 29. Nancy & I were so happy to hear from you. I'm getting along but not quite a 101. I'm pushing in the 80's and wish I were not quite so many. Nancy & I are happy to have your letter. Thanks and our love. We are happy to hear from you. Love - Dutch"; envelope with some top right toning, Fine.Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
ONE OF REAGAN'S LAST AUTOGRAPH SIGNED LETTERS, BEFORE HIS FAMOUS ALZHEIMER'S LETTER, BEFORE THE RAVAGES OF THE DISEASE TOOK HOLD - AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE FREE FRANK.
Two months after this letter, on November 5, 1994, the 83-year old former President announced to the nation in a handwritten letter, "My Fellow Americans, I have recently been told that I am one of the millions of Americans who will be afflicted with Alzheimer's disease…".
Lot 154
Ronald Reagan, Autograph Letter Signed "Ronald Reagan", written on Ronald Reagan stationery with gold embossed presidential seal, one page 6½" x 8½", reads "Dear Marshall, I have just finished reading the account of all that you and your fine staff did to provide food and shelter for our Soviet visitors during the recent summit meeting. You all truly served above and beyond the call of duty. You also made a major contribution to the success of the summit. I wasn't aware at the time of the magnificent effort you put forward, but now I want to tell you how very grateful I am to you and your people. I am lost in admiration of the many crisis you faced and your skill in handling them…", file folds, Very Fine.Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
JUST WEEKS AFTER LEAVING THE WHITE HOUSE, RONALD REAGAN PENS A ONE PAGE ALS REFLECTING ON THE MOST IMPORTANT ACHIEVEMENT OF HIS CAREER, THE SOVIET SUMMIT.
Realized: $1,150
Lot 155
Ronald Reagan, Autograph Letter Signed "Love Dutch & Nancy" on his 6¼" x 4¼" card with a gilt presidential seal at top center above "Ronald Reagan" engraved in black, letter reads "Dear Hup, Thank you for your picture, I am delighted to have it. Now with regard to your 97th birthday? Have you thought about an old Jack Benny custom? I've been using it myself. You no longer have birthdays. You have anniversaries of your 39th birthday. For you that would be your 58th anniversary on that Sept. day. I'm having one of those anniversaries on Feb. 6. You are in our prayers.", Very Fine.Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
RONALD REAGAN "DUTCH" HANDWRITTEN BIRTHDAY THANK YOU TO LONGTIME FRIEND LYDIA "HUP" MACARTHUR.
Lydia Hupfer "Hup" McArthur (1893-1995), widow of the man who had given Reagan his first job after college. Peter MacArthur was the program director at radio station WOC in Davenport, Iowa, which shared its frequency with WHO Des Moines. In 1932, MacArthur gave 21-year-old recent Eureka College grad Ronald "Dutch" Reagan a sports announcer's job at WOC. In 1937, sportscaster Reagan went to the Chicago Cubs spring training camp in southern California to do play-by-play for WHO Des Moines. Impressed by his confidence and good looks, an agent arranged a screen test for the 26-year-old sports announcer at Warner Bros. Reagan signed a seven-year contract and moved to California. But he never forgot Pete and Hup MacArthur whom he affectionately called "Ma" and "Pa" ("Maw & Paw," "Mom & Pop"). He sent Christmas cards and letters to them on a regular basis from 1938 until 1948 when Pete died, continuing to correspond with Hup until she died in 1995 at 101.
Lot 156
Ronald Reagan, Autograph Letter Signed "Ron", two pages on 6¼" x 4¼" card with gold gilt Presidential seal and Ronald Reagan imprint to Mr. and Mrs. Paul Ballachina, December 21, 1990, reading "Dear Delores & Paul - Some place along the line I failed some place with regard to wishing you happy holidays. This will have to substitute and I hope your holidays were everything you wished for. I'm happy to hear of your return to good health and that all goes well with you. We've been in & out of the country of late - visits to Germany, Poland & the Soviet Union & then the trip to London. Luncheon with the Queen Mother & tea with Prince Charles and a meeting with Margaret Thatcher, Margaret is solid as she has always been. While we were there the Queen made Margaret's husband a Baron. Well we're back in Calif. and not unhappy about that. We're having our family with use for Christmas and next month we'll have a week at the ranch…"; accompanied by original Dec. 22nd 1990 mailing envelope with pre-printed free frank signature, Very Fine.Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
Lot 157
Ronald Reagan, Autograph Quote Signed "Ronald Reagan", index card 5" x 3" with quote reading "Mr. Gorbachev - Tear Down This Wall! Ronald Reagan" from his famous speech at Brandenburg Gate, East Germany, accompanied by color photo of Reagan speech at the Berlin wall, well suited for framing, Very Fine.Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
AUTOGRAPH OF THE FAMOUS "TEAR DOWN THIS WALL!" QUOTE SIGNED BY RONALD REAGAN.
"Tear down this wall!" was the challenge issued by United States President Ronald Reagan to Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev to destroy the Berlin Wall, in a speech at the Brandenburg Gate near the Berlin Wall on June 12, 1987, commemorating the 750th anniversary of Berlin. Reagan challenged Gorbachev, who was then the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, to tear it down as an emblem of Gorbachev's desire to increase freedom in the Eastern Bloc through glasnost ("transparency") and perestroika ("restructuring").
Realized: $2,200
Lot 158
Ronald Reagan, Autograph Letter Signed "Love - Dutch" on his 6¼" x 4¼" card with a gilt presidential seal at top center above "Ronald Reagan" engraved in black, letter reads "Dead Hup, Thank you for your card "re" my 43rd anniversary of the "39th" birthday. I still like to think of it that may instead of mentioning how many years have gone by. I'm still riding a horse and enjoying life. The Lord has been good to me for which I'm deeply grateful. God bless you Hup and very best wishes.", Very Fine.Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
RONALD REAGAN "DUTCH" HANDWRITTEN BIRTHDAY THANK YOU TO LONGTIME FRIEND LYDIA "HUP" MACARTHUR.
Lydia Hupfer "Hup" McArthur (1893-1995), widow of the man who had given Reagan his first job after college. Peter MacArthur was the program director at radio station WOC in Davenport, Iowa, which shared its frequency with WHO Des Moines. In 1932, MacArthur gave 21-year-old recent Eureka College grad Ronald "Dutch" Reagan a sports announcer's job at WOC. In 1937, sportscaster Reagan went to the Chicago Cubs spring training camp in southern California to do play-by-play for WHO Des Moines. Impressed by his confidence and good looks, an agent arranged a screen test for the 26-year-old sports announcer at Warner Bros. Reagan signed a seven-year contract and moved to California. But he never forgot Pete and Hup MacArthur whom he affectionately called "Ma" and "Pa" ("Maw & Paw," "Mom & Pop"). He sent Christmas cards and letters to them on a regular basis from 1938 until 1948 when Pete died, continuing to correspond with Hup until she died in 1995 at 101.