Description:

Ronald Reagan
[Washington, DC], n.d. but probably mid or late 1981
Ronald Reagan Post-Assassination Attempt ALS: "I believe in prayer… because God certainly was watching out for me"
ALS

A 1p autograph letter signed by sitting 40th U.S. President Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) as "RR" near upper center. N.d. but probably mid or late 1981. [Washington, DC] Inscribed in black ink on a leaf of yellow red-ruled and blue-lined paper with a perforated top edge. The approximate word count is 73 words inscribed in Reagan's hand. The letter draft was later typed, signed, and sent to the recipient. Expected wear including isolated wrinkles, uneven edge darkening, and a few edge chips in particular affecting the top and right edge. Else very good to near fine. 8.5" x 10.875." Impeccable provenance as these item come 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 the teachers and students of New Life Christian Academy, who had sent him warm wishes for a speedy recovery.

Reagan wrote in full (with original usage):

"To Mrs. Robbins, Mrs. Keene & Mrs. Boeckman and all your students at New Life Christian Academy please accept my heartfelt thanks for your beautiful card. I cannot express my gratitude for your good wishes and your prayers. I believe in prayer and I'm sure your prayers in my behalf were heeded because God certainly was watching out for me.

Again my thanks to all of you & God Bless you.

Sincerely

RR."

The letter almost certainly dates from the immediate aftermath of Reagan's March 1981 assassination attempt. Reagan was shot by 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. He was rushed to the emergency room at George Washington Hospital and immediate surgery saved his life. Reagan very nearly died. His recovery for a 70-year-old man was surprisingly rapid. He was released from the hospital two weeks later on April 11, 1981.

A White House official later reported that Reagan had received over 74,000 pieces of mail from Americans of all ages during Reagan's hospitalization up through his release on April 11, 1981.

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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