Description:

Ronald Reagan ALS on WH Stationery to Irene Dunne: "I do think Mr. Sullivan took advantage of me…"

A letter written on White House stationery from President Ronald Reagan to actress and friend Irene Dunne. 1p, measuring 5" x 8", dated March 1981, Washington, D.C. Affectionately signed "Ron" at conclusion, this letter comes in response to a phone conversation between Reagan and Los Angeles drama critic Dan Sullivan, whose subsequent article on the interaction stirred criticism toward the President's budget plan. Reagan was well known to doodle and here we see an example of this surrounding the letterhead "The White House Washington". Exhibits minor surface creasing throughout, else near fine.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:
"Thank you very much for writing as you did to Dan Sullivan and for sending us the copy of your letter. You brightened my day.
I do think Mr. Sullivan took advantage of me in my effort to lend a hand to a show that was deliberately intended to be clean in this day of pornographic entertainment. Incidentally in recounting the phone conversation he gave himself the best of it & left out much of what I said to him.
Anyway you were sweet & kind as always and I'm most grateful. Nancy sends her love as do I. We miss you."

On March 16, 1981, President Reagan called drama critic Dan Sullivan (1934-2022) of the Los Angeles Times, who had recently published a nice review of the new Buddy Ebsen musical entitled Turn to the Right. During their conversation, the President enquired: “I just wonder if there isn't some way you could let people know that I sure hope it’s still playing next time I get home so that I can see it.” In the article that followed, Sullivan described how the phone call turned tense after he defended the National Endowment for the Arts and criticized Reagan’s plans to cut its budget, but gave the President credit for remaining on the line to hear his criticisms.

Irene Dunne (1898-1990) was an American actress who appeared in films during the Golden Age of Hollywood. She was nominated five times for an Oscar for best actress, although she never won. She is best known for her comedic roles, though she performed in films of other genres. Dunne was a lifelong supporter of Reagan in the 1966 and 1970 gubernatorial election.

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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