Russell Athletic Dallas Cowboys football jersey, with an embroidered "25" star sewn on left chest, and screened with the numbers "84" and "Bush" on the upper back, size 44, signed on the back in black felt tip, "G. Bush, 1-16-98" and "G. W. Bush." This was one of the two jerseys that the Dallas Cowboys football team—represented by Coach Tom Landry and quarterbacks Roger Staubach and Danny White—gave to President Ronald Reagan and Vice President George Bush at the Republican National Convention held at the Loews Anatole on August 22, 1984; the "25" star signifying the silver anniversary of the Cowboys franchise. Also included is a color semi-glossy 9.75 x 7.75 photo of Reagan and Bush holding up their respective jerseys, signed and inscribed in the lower border in black felt tip, "To Ron Wade, my friend, Good luck, George Bush," and a color glossy 10 x 8 photo of Bush standing next to Wade just moments after signing the jersey, signed and inscribed in black felt tip, "To Ron Wade—Good Luck—George Bush." Reverse of both photos bear collector's notations indicating that the photo and jersey signatures were obtained in the former president's Houston office on January 16, 1998. In overall fine condition.
Accompanied by a full letter of authenticity from Beckett, an unsigned photo of Bush and Reagan holding the jerseys at the 1984 RNC, a postcard showing three generations of the Bush family, and a hardcover book written by Wade entitled "The Dallas Cowboys Football Jersey Belonging to Two United States Presidents," which reads, in part: "Years passed by and in 1988 George H. W. Bush was running himself for President and his son, George W. Bush, was managing partner to the Texas Rangers baseball team. I had maintained a close friendship with both Bush Sr. and George W. Bush…Through the years George W. Bush had helped me add to my Presidential memorabilia collection, sending me little boxes of his father's campaign items…I also served as an informal advisor to George W. on happenings in East Texas that might affect the campaign. I would pick up the phone, call his number and within a short time he would return my call for an update. On one of these talks he asked if I would like to have a Cowboys football jersey his dad had given to him and I said 'absolutely.' Some days later a brown envelope arrived from him with THE football jersey I had seen presented in 1984 at the Loews Anatole in Dallas." The recipient, Ron Wade, was a floor leader at the 1988 Republican National Convention and was later appointed by Bush to his Presidential Inaugural Committee. He served as the regional director for Bush's campaign races in 1980, 1988, and 1992.
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