Description:

Ronald Reagan
[Washington, DC], n.d.
Ronald Reagan Re: Pronunciation of Reagan, Plus Irish Troubles!
ALS

A 1p autograph letter signed by sitting 40th U.S. President Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) as "RR" near center right. N.d. [Washington, D.C.] Inscribed with approximately 90 words in Reagan's hand, in black ink on a leaf of watermarked "The White House / Washington / Memorandum" stationery. Expected wear including gentle scattered wrinkles, isolated scuffs towards the bottom, and a paperclip impression along the top edge. Loss to the slightly sheared upper right corner. Else very good. 8.5" x 11". 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 an unidentified correspondent named "Mr. Cooney" who had recently contacted the President about his Irish heritage. The letter also includes a reference to modern political events, notably the Northern Ireland conflict.

Reagan wrote in full (with original usage):

"Dear Mr. Cooney

Helene very kindly showed me your letter. Thank you very much for the information you forwarded with regard to my name. I think now I really know why my name is pronounced the way it is.

Thanks for the enclosed article about Irelands troubles [not included in this lot.] I'm not sure they would ever accept the solution proposed but it sure would make for interesting conversation.

You were kind to send me - by way of Helene - the word and I'm most grateful.

Sincerely
RR."

Ronald Reagan boasted Irish ancestors hailing from County Tipperary, in central Ireland; and from County Antrim, one of six counties in Northern Ireland. The Reagan surname was actually an anglicization of the original "Regan", a concession to relocation made by Reagan's paternal great-grandfather Michael O'Regan (later Reagan) prior to immigrating to the Midwestern United States in the mid-19th C. Michael O'Regan came from Ballyporeen, County Tipperary, where he was a tenant farmer; he later moved to London before making his way to Illinois. On his father, John "Jack" Edward Reagan's side, Reagan also had ancestors named Cusick, Mulcahey, and Murphy. His mother Nelle Reagan née Wilson's ancestry was English and Scottish.

The Irish Troubles was an internal conflict in Northern Ireland lasting several decades, from the late 1960s until 1998. So long did it last that it actually spanned the entirety of Reagan's 8-year-long presidential term and ended well after it. Reagan does not offer any political commentary on his correspondent's topic of the Irish Troubles other than remarking that a peace process would probably not succeed. With typical Reagan humor, though, the President adds that "it sure would make for interesting conversation."

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 11"
  • Medium: ALS

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