Description:

Ronald Reagan
[Washington, DC], n.d.
Reagan PSA MINT 9 ALS as President: "The White House...hasn't looked so nice in 20 years..."
ALS

A autograph letter signed "Ron" from President Ronald Reagan, written very early into his Presidency, and addressed to Athalie Clarke. 1p on White House memorandum stationary, Washington, D.C., undated. Within, he thanks Clarke for her kind words regarding the White house renovations undertaken by First Lady Nancy Reagan. Exhibits isolated tearing to top right corner where the page has been restored. Otherwise, very good. Encapsulated by PSA/DNA to an overall size of 9.75" x 13" and graded MINT 9.

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.

In part:
"…It was good to get your letter and thank you for your kind words. I know you are on the White House Committee and I think you would be pleased with all that Nancy has done. One of the old time staff members - more than 30 yrs. in service said last night, 'it hasn't looked so nice in 20 yrs. or more.'
There was a lot of neglected maintenance but also many beautiful antique pieces had been stored away in a warehouse. They are now back in the White House. Incidentally, we both know of your generosity to the preservation fund and now that we are residents we thank you.
Please give my regards to Howard M…"

Upon entering the White House as First Lady, Nancy Reagan immediately took charge of repairing years of neglect to the infrastructure of the country's most visible home. Using funds raised from private donations, she - alongside designer Ted Graber - also renovated the second and third floors, as well as the Press Rooms and rooms adjacent to the Oval Office. Nancy's incredible style has been described as glamour mixed with homey; but the ever-humble First Lady said that her main directive was to create a house that all Americans could be proud of.

Reagan's correspondent, Athalie Richardson Irvine Clarke (1903-1993), was a Republican activist and major financial contributor for many years. She was a delegate to many national Republican conventions. She served on the Committee for the Preservation of the White House. A well-known philanthropist, she was considered "the grand dame of Orange County" for civic causes such as the establishment of the University of California at Irvine as well as the National Water Research Institute.

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: 9.75" x 13"
  • Medium: ALS

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