Unsigned handwritten letter draft, one page both sides, 5.5 x 8.5, personal “From the Desk of Ronald Reagan” letterhead, no date, but transcribed copy dated June 20, 1966. Draft of a letter sent to a woman in Los Angeles. In part: “I’ve been aware for some time of the Governor’s campaign to portray me as opposed to Social Security. It is of course completely dishonest. My only criticisms of Social Security have been that it isn’t good enough and that those in charge have been careless with the people’s money to the extent the program could eventually find itself in real trouble. Strange isn’t it that Governor Brown is the man who walked angrily out of his office a few months ago and refused to meet with the Senior Citizens who had come all the way to Sacramento to tell him their problems. Best Regards.” Accompanied by an unsigned carbon of the typed text of the letter. In fine condition, with staple hole and vertical bend to top left corner, and a small ink notation to top right.
Throughout Reagan’s political career, his controversial views on Social Security made him vulnerable to Democratic attacks. He claimed that he had no objection to the program in theory, but questioned the government’s fiscal oversight and doggedly pursued the idea of privatization. He vigorously defends his views in this letter thanking an unidentified woman for her support during his successful 1966 campaign for Governor of California against incumbent Edmund G. “Pat” Brown.
Reagan described his Social Security vision in his eloquent 1964 “A Time For Choosing” speech in support of Barry Goldwater’s losing presidential bid, a vision which Brown obviously forced him to defend in this letter. The controversy pursued him throughout his own presidential campaigns. A fascinating letter that shows us Reagan positioning himself for national office. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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