Description:

Reagan ALS as Prez to "Deep Throat" Following Presidential Pardon! Superb Content!!

An autographed endorsement initialed as "RR" by President Ronald Reagan, written on the bottom half of a letter from former FBI Associate Director W. Mark Felt, who was later revealed to be the notorious Watergate informant known as "Deep Throat". 1p, measuring 8.5" x 11", dated April 22, 1981, Alexandria, VA. Flattened letter folds and minor edge toning. Very fine.

Impeccable provenance as 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.

Within, Felt hopes to extend his thanks to the President following the pardon of himself and a colleague a week prior. Reagan offers a boldly penned endorsement in response, referencing a promise he made during his campaign. 

Felt's letter in full:
"Dear Helen [likely Helene von Damm],
On April 20th I addressed a letter to President Reagan to express my appreciation for his action in granting pardons to Edward S. Miller and me. This morning I was talking to Mr. McCarthy in Roy Cohn's office and he said I should have sent the letter to your attention to be sure it was not lost. He suggested that I let you know.
I would like for President Reagan to see the letter, not because I expect a response but be-cause I want him to know how profoundly grateful my family and I are. I think Mr. Miller also wrote a similar letter. Thank you for any help you can give me with this matter.
What a great President we have!!!"

The President's handwritten response along the bottom edge reads:
“Thank you very much for your message but you owe me no thanks. As I told Mr. Miller I was keeping a campaign promise I made to myself. I’m sorry it took so long but I was happy to be able to do something that so obviously was deserved. / Best Regards / RR.”

On April 15, 1981, President Reagan pardoned FBI agents W. Mark Felt (1913-2008) and Edward S. Miller (1923-2013), who had been convicted of authorizing unconstitutional searches of the homes of U.S. citizens in 1972 and 1973. Former President Richard Nixon and five former Attorneys General testified on behalf of Felt and Miller. In 2005, Felt revealed that he had been the confidential informant “Deep Throat,” who had provided information to The Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein in the Watergate scandal.

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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February 21, 2024 10:30 AM EST
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