Description:

Ronald Reagan
[Washington, DC], n.d. but probably mid to late 1981
Ronald Reagan 150+-Word Post-Assassination ALS: "I'm all set to get on a horse again"
ALS

A 1p autograph letter signed by sitting 40th U.S. President Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) as "Ron" near lower center. N.d. but probably mid or late 1981. [Washington, D.C.] Inscribed with approximately 160 words in Reagan's hand, in black ink on a leaf of yellow red-ruled and blue-lined paper, with two original cross-out edits, being a draft for a later typed letter. A perforated top edge, with expected wear including gentle scattered wrinkles. A tiny stray pen mark near the right edge, else near fine. 8.5" x 10.875." 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.

Reagan wrote this letter to Thomas M. O'Brien (1933-2021), a Houston, Texas-born real estate and oil magnate whom Reagan had befriended in southern California through membership in the Rancheros Vistadores ("Visiting Ranchers"). This invitation-only Western riding club, established in 1930, organized annual springtime 60-mile cattle drives through the Santa Ynez Mountains to commemorate old ranching traditions. Tom O'Brien was a close friend of Reagan's, whom one White House office staffer described as a "monthly correspondent with RR… [of whom] the President is very fond…" O'Brien was also an occasional White House visitor.

Reagan wrote in full (with original usage):

"To Thomas M. O'Brien

Dear Tom

I wondered & wondered when I was going to hear from Mrs. Hearst. Now you've cleared up the mystery. But you offered another one. I dont know what the fuss was that you mentioned in connection with vitamins. It's true we use them & get now through the Dr. in residence at the White House.

I spoke to him about it and the only thing he could think of was that when I was in the hospital getting all the intra-venous stuff a question arose regarding security. It had to do with some threat or other about spiking the juice I was getting through those tubes with something unhealthy.

By the time this reaches you I'll have had a few days at the ranch. We leave tomorrow & I cant wait. I'm all set to get on a horse again.

I'm looking forward to the films and heartfelt thanks to you.

Best Regards
Ron."

We strongly suspect that the letter dates from the months following Reagan's March 1981 assassination attempt. Reagan makes a passing reference to "when I was in the hospital getting all the intra-venous stuff" which almost certainly refers to the emergency medical care he received after being shot by deranged gunman John Hinckley, Jr. (born 1955) outside of a Washington, D.C. hotel on March 30, 1981. Hinckley's sixth shot had ricocheted off the presidential limousine, grazing a rib and penetrating Reagan's left lung, causing it to partially collapse, and stopping less than 1" from Reagan's heart. Although initially Reagan was thought to be uninjured, his condition soon worsened and he was rushed to the emergency room. After undergoing exploratory surgery, Reagan's recovery was rapid. He was released from the hospital on April 11, 1981. Reagan states in closing Tom's letter that "I'm all set to get on a horse again" after a hiatus from riding probably explained by his recovery period.

Reagan writes excitedly that he is headed for the ranch: "I cant wait." This was Rancho del Cielo, in Santa Barbara, California, a 688-acre farm that the Reagans had purchased in 1974. Rancho del Cielo was known as the "Western White House." Ronald Reagan visited Rancho del Cielo seven times in 1981, according to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum. Nearly any of the visits in 1981 after March - one in May, one in June, two in August, one in November, or one in December - could have been the trip that Reagan was looking forward to taking.

As an interesting aside, Reagan's letter also refers to "Mrs. Hearst." This was Catherine Wood Campbell Hearst (1917-1999), the wife of Randolph Hearst and mother of Patty Hearst. Catherine Hearst was a longtime Republican and Reagan supporter who served on the University of California Board of Regents.

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 10.875"
  • Medium: ALS

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