Description:

Ronald Reagan
[Washington, DC], n.d. but possibly May 1981
(2) Ronald Reagan ALSs, One With Great Gipper Content Sent to Football Legend & Movie Stunt Double! 170 Words Total
ALSs

Two autograph letters signed by sitting 40th U.S. President Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) on a single sheet of paper, the first one signed as "Ron" and the second one signed as "RR". N.d. but possibly May 1981. [Washington, D.C.] Inscribed in black ink on a single sheet of yellow blue-lined red-ruled paper, with a perforated top edge. The combined approximate word count for the two letters is 170 words inscribed in Reagan's hand, with one cross-out found in the second letter. Two diagonal strike-out or cancellation marks run through the main paragraphs; these letter drafts were later typed, signed, and sent to the respective recipients. Expected light wear such as gentle wrinkles. Isolated toning/darkening along the right edge verso. Else near fine. 8.5" x 11". Impeccable provenance as this item come from the files of Helene von Damm (b. 1938), Reagan's longtime personal secretary and later Ambassador to Austria, and gifted to our consignor, her White House assistant.

Ronald Reagan wrote the first letter to Nick M. "The Trojan" Pappas (1916-2015), a former college football player at the University of Southern California, and a professional football player in the 1930s. Pappas had served as Pat O'Brien's stunt double in the 1940 Warner Brothers movie "Knute Rockne, All American", in which Reagan had played George Gipp, a star player of the University of Notre Dame's "Fighting Irish" football team, tragically felled by illness during his senior season. In the letter, Reagan jokes that Pappas caught the first pass ever thrown in football - at least in the movie. The Notre Dame-Army game mentioned in the letter referred to a 35-15 upset on November 1, 1913.

Reagan also refers to a recent visit to Notre Dame. This could suggest a date of ca. May 1981, when Reagan delivered the Commencement speech at graduation ceremonies at the University of Notre Dame on May 17, 1981, just six weeks after he survived an assassination attempt. Reagan - as well as former co-star Pat O'Brien - had also received honorary degrees from Notre Dame.

Excerpt from the first letter (with original usage):

"Dear Nick

Thanks very much for your letter. It was good to hear from you after this long time. Yes you did catch (in the movie) the 1st pass ever thrown in F.B. It was against Army & in real life delayed the game over an hour while the officials argued about it.

I don't know whether TV captured the warmth of our Notre Dame visit but believe me it was a most heartwarming day…"

Reagan wrote the second letter to a college-aged student from Oakley, Idaho named Mark Wadsworth. Apparently, Wadsworth had written Reagan about government spending cuts. Reagan refers to his own financial hardships during college, before concluding that the cuts would not affect those who truly had a real need. Reagan graduated from Eureka College (Eureka, Illinois) in 1932. He benefited from a partial football scholarship but also paid for tuition by working as a swimming coach, life guard, and dish-washer at his college fraternity.

Excerpt from the second letter (with original usage):

"Dear Mark

I haven't the words to properly express my appreciation and my admiration to you. Having had to work (and yes borrow) my way through school I know something of what you are up against.

There is only one thing wrong and that is you are the kind of individual the programs were designed to help. Our cut back is aimed at some who dont truly have a real need.

Good luck, God Bless you and thank you…"

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 8.5" x 11"
  • Medium: ALSs

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