Description:

Ronald Reagan ALS and AL on White House Stationery as President - Fascinating!

An ALS initialed as "RR" by President Ronald Reagan, written on the bottom half of a typed letter signed by consultant Peter D. Hannaford. 1p, measuring 7.25" x 10.5", dated April 20, 1981, Los Angeles, CA. The letter and ALS are accompanied by an additional handwritten statement in the President's hand, which talks of Hannaford's character and achievements from when the two worked together during Reagan's Presidential campaign. 1p on White House stationery, measuring 6.75" x 9", no date, Washington, D.C. Minor creasing and isolated impressions from paper clip use, else very good. Impeccable provenance as this item comes from the files of President Reagan’s Director for Presidential Personnel Helene von Damm (b. 1938), his longtime personal secretary and later Ambassador to Austria, and was gifted to another Reagan staffer, our consignor, as her White House assistant.

Hannaford's original typed letter reads:
“No sooner had I opened the ‘Calendar’ section of yesterday’s Los Angeles TIMES than I burst out laughing over these Joe Frisco jokes. They didn’t include the John-the-Baptist story that I first heard from you, but there are some good ones. Chances are you’re familiar with all these, but in case there’s a new one here, happy reading.”

Reagan responds at lower right:
“Thanks for your letter & for the Joe Frisco article. There were some new ones there so I’ve enlarged my routine. And happily, it doesn’t hurt to laugh anymore so your timing was right. Nancy sends her love and please give our best to the family. Again thanks sincerely, RR”

The President's autographed statement subsequently reads in part:
“Pete is a man of many facets and capable of a fantastic amount of work...
During those years after I left the Governors office I became the first client of Deaver & Hannaford. It was a happy relationship and very successful from my standpoint. They arranged speaking tours, a five day a week radio commentary and a twice a week newspaper column.
I found out what journalists mean by ‘a monkey on your back.’ Pete was invaluable in coming up with ideas for commentaries & columns when my own well went dry and by this time I was only one of a number of clients.”

Peter D. Hannaford (1932-2015) was an American business consultant who also served as a political consultant to Reagan both as California governor and President. As Reagan's senior communications advisor, his expertise was invaluable in creating a winning 1980 Presidential campaign. Hannaford also notably authored five books about his years by Reagan's side, which were widely well received. 

Joe Frisco (1889-1958) was a vaudeville performer, jazz dancer, and comedian. Ben Irwin published “Joe Frisco: He Stuttered to the Top” in the April 19, 1981 edition of the Los Angeles Times. Irwin described the stuttering Frisco as a “comedian’s comedian,” deemed his humor “legendary,” and named Reagan as one of his “unlikely fans.” Given the recent assassination attempt, perhaps the most poignant paragraph to Reagan was the following: “One tale is theater history: The comedian spent much time with friends in the lobby of New York’s Astor Hotel where Raymond Massey, starring then in ‘Abe Lincoln in Illinois,’ lived. The role of Lincoln affected the actor strongly. Indeed, each day as the bearded actor walked to the theater his head would be bowed, his hands clasped behind his back in the classic Lincoln pose. As Frisco observed the actor leaving the hotel and making his dramatic entry onto Broadway, Frisco muttered to a companion, ‘M-M-Massey isn’t going to be s-s-satisfied until he’s a-a-assassinated.’”

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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