Description:

Ronald Reagan
n.p., August 4, n.y.
Reagan states "the increased fervor of the liberals is taking on a note of hysteria" Fantastic ALS
ALS
Fine content and surprisingly acerbic autograph letter signed "Ronnie" on his personal letterhead, to Robert "Bud" McFarlane, Reagan's National Security Advisor from 1983-1985. [Washington?], August 4, [n.y.]. Staple holes at top left corner, otherwise very good. 1p. 8.25" x 10.25". 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 was gifted to our consignor, her White House assistant.

In part:

"…Just a line to say that even with a continent between us we keep up with your fine work thanks to Edith & Loyal. I share your optimism - somehow the increased fervor of the 'liberals' is taking on a note of hysteria which leads me to believe us old shell back conservatives are touching a few nerves. Certainly the "Boy Orator" in Wash. hasn't turned out to be St. George as a matter of fact he isn't even nasty enough to be the dragon. He's just a cocktail party philosopher with low back pains which in W.W.II we figured were symptoms of being nervous in the service…".

This fascinating letter was clearly written before Reagan's fall-out with McFarlane in late 1985. Prior to his resignation due to his involvement and guilty verdict in the Iran-Contra Affair, Robert C. "Bud" McFarlane (1937-2022) was the leading architect of the missile defense system, the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI). After Iran-Contra, he was wracked with guilt over his role in the scheme and felt betrayed by Reagan, who, McFarlane later wrote, "approved every single action I ever took" but "lacked the moral conviction and intellectual courage to stand up in our defense and in defense of his policy." McFarlane attempted suicide in 1987, but lived to be pardoned for his involvement by George H. Bush.

The "Boy Orator" of whom Reagan so disparagingly speaks is Senator Frank Church of Idaho. Church (1924-1984) was known for his vocal opposition to the Vietnam War and his investigation into the methods of United States intelligence agencies. In 1976, he campaigned for the Democratic presidential nomination and won several early primaries, but later withdrew in favor of Jimmy Carter. In 1979, Church became chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, but lost his seat in the Senate in the Republican landslide of 1980.

Church was a thorn in Reagan's side even though he left the Senate before Reagan took office. In 1981, Church wrote an article for The New York Times Magazine titled "American's New Foreign Policy" (August 23, 1981). In it, he criticized the Reagan administration for the "…single-minded anti-Soviet ideology of the President and his principal advisors…", a mindset which "…puts the United States at odds with a diverse collection of stubbornly independent nations, including our principal European allies…". Church concluded his critical article by stating "…Let us hope -- and pray -- that the Administration's rigidly anti-Soviet ideology, including its futile quest for an unobtainable nuclear 'superiority' gives way to the urgent need for mutual strategic-arms reductions."

As an aside, the "low back pains" ridiculed by Reagan in our letter, led Church to transfer from Harvard Law School to Stanford, where he thought the climate might ease his back. They turned out to be a symptom of testicular cancer, which was successfully treated. Several years later, however, Church would succumb to pancreatic cancer. Despite the contentious relationship and unfriendly terms expressed in our letter, Reagan took the high ground on Church's death, stating: '…His abiding interest in foreign policy made an important intellectual contribution to our country. We send our sympathy to his family and friends.'

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: 7.25" x 10.25"
  • Medium: ALS

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