A RARE RONALD REAGAN HANDWRITTEN LETTER AS PRESIDENT ATTEMPTING TO DATE AN EARLY PHOTOGRAPH: “I’M AFRAID I CAN’T PIN DOWN THE LOCALE OF THE HORSEBACK PHOTO. I DO KNOW IT WAS IN IOWA & POSSIBLY A FARM NOT A RIDING STABLE”

RONALD REAGAN (1911-2004). Reagan was the Fortieth President.

ALS. 1pg. 4” x 6”. No date [July 18, 1988]. No place. A rare autograph letter signed “Ronald Reagan” as President on a “Ronald Reagan” card. He answered a letter from Dale Hackbart of West Des Moines, Iowa about the date of an early photograph of Reagan. The President penned in brown ink “Dear Dale Hackbart, Thank you for your letter & forgive me for being so late in getting back to you. Some times it takes a while for mail to get through the bureaucracy. I’ve only jut now recd your letter. I’m afraid I can’t pin down the locale of the horseback photo. I do know it was in Iowa & possibly a farm not a riding stable. My haircut alone makes it Iowa. Hollywood changed my part [in my hair]. But we’re talking 50 yrs. ago & while I know I occasionally had private invitations to ride, but I can’t place this one. It’s a nice looking horse. Well I’m sorry. Thanks again. Sincerely Ronald Reagan”. One of young Reagan’s first broadcasting jobs was for the radio station WHO in Des Moines, Iowa; he announced baseball and Big Ten football games between 1933 and 1937. The black and white image of Reagan on horseback is included, as is the original White House envelope addressed in Reagan’s handwriting to Dale Hackbart in West Des Moines, Iowa. There is mounting tape on the back of the three pieces, but they do not affect anything. The Reagan letter, though undated, comes with an e-mail from the Reagan Library confirming that it was written on July 18, 1988. A fine and rare communication from the President.