Description:

Ronald Reagan 1981 Presidential ALS to Former Iranian Hostage Joseph Hall

An autograph letter from President Ronald Reagan, initialized as "R.R.", to Warrant Officer Joseph Hall. 1p, measuring 8.5" x 11", dated April 15, 1981, [Washington, D.C.]. This letter, likely the President's personal draft, comes just two weeks after the assassination attempt on his life on March 30, 1981. Features isolated toning at left side, with negligible creasing to perforated top edge. Else, very good with important connections to the Iran Hostage Crisis. 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, gifted to our consignor her White House assistant.

In full:
"I tried to call but you've been on leave- well deserved I might add. Anyway this note is to thank you for your letter. I very much appreciate your kind words, good wishes and your prayers.
Jan. 20 was of course a special day for me but it was made much more so by the freeing of you who had been held in bondage for so long. During my inaugural address I was aware that you were airborne but I was waiting word that you had cleared Iranian airspace. That word came shortly after the ceremony was over here in Wash.
Again my thanks to you and very best regards."

The Iran hostage crisis was a diplomatic standoff between Iran and the United States. Fifty-two American diplomats and citizens were held hostage after a group of militarized Iranian college students belonging to the Muslim Student Followers of the Imam's Line, who supported the Iranian Revolution, took over the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and took them as hostages. The hostages were held for 444 days, from November 4, 1979 to their release on January 20, 1981. The crisis is considered a pivotal episode in the history of Iran-United States relations.

Joseph M. Hall (b. 1950) was a U.S. Army warrant officer who became part of the 51-person group released on January 20th, the day of Ronald Reagan's inauguration.

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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