Description:

Ronald Reagan
[Washington, D.C.], ca. February 1981
President-Elect Reagan's Coded Talking Points for a Speech, 230+ Words in His Hand
AD

A fascinating autograph document (unsigned), [n.p., n.d.], namely Reagan's crib notes for a speech about the economy written in his personal code, February 10, 1981. Penned on the blank verso of three separate note cards headed "Office of the President Elect, Pacific Palisades, California." Pen note in another hand on recto of one card, staple holes at top left corner, else fine condition. 3pp. Impeccable provenance: this item comes 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. 4.5" x 6.25".

Written in upper case, as was Reagan's custom, the notes read in most part: "GRTUL ALL U CM HR TODAY & HOPE BRFING SO FAR BN PRODUCTU U KNOW HLPFUL US TSK BFOR US ENORMUS…WE'VE JUST PLAYED FST & LOOSE WITH SYST. & IT'S [sic] TM…1ST PRIORITY IS REURN CONCEPT FEDRISM…U KNOW WHT BST ST. & FOR COMMUNTY & THT MN'S WHICH BST P. HV LONG BLVD ST & LOC GOVTS HV BETTR CHNCE BE EFFIC & RESPONSV THN DOES FED BUROC…ALL TO OFTN END UP WITH OWN BUROCRY BENEFICRY WHATEVR PROG ADMINISTR. MY GOAL TRNSFR MNY PROGS ARE APPROP BCK U ALONG WTH TX RESOURCS PAY THM. & CN USE YR HLP US WRKNG TOGETHR TURN THINGS ARND…WKD LK YR GUIDNCE AS COME DOWN TO WIRE ON OUR COMPREHNSV EC PCG WCH WL SUBMITING CONG NXT WK…THN WD LK CONTINU WRKNG WITH U AS WRK PUT INTO OPRATN. KNOW BN SPNDNG LOT TM WTH EC ADVISR THS AFTR NOON DOING JUST THT BUT LK HR FRM U DIRECTLY MSLF…FLOOR OPN…".

Reagan's ease in speaking from notes in code began in the 1930s when he was a sportscaster. Rather than follow a game in person and base his commentary from there, Reagan reported the "…action from nothing but a slip of paper typed by a telegraph operator who was transcribing plays sent by Morse code…" (The Reagan Library). As President, Reagan improvised many of his most famous and important speeches, working only from cards written in his own code on cards such as these, and which he kept at the podium to be referred to as needed.

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.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!

  • Dimensions: 4.5" x 6.25"
  • Medium: AD

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Unless otherwise indicated, we do our own in-house world-wide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses that proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with a signature required option, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice. If any changes to the shipping address need to be made, you must inform us immediately.***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third-Party Shipping Option: If a third-party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third-party. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third-party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third-party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third-party shippers.

After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 10 business days following receipt of full payment for item.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Wilton, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

April 23, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000