Typed narrative, one page, 7.5 x 10.25, on NASA letterhead. A recollection of Pete Conrad’s bet with an Italian journalist regarding astronauts comments as being scripted. In full: “You got back to Apollo 11, a newspaper person who was a friend–that was also foreign–and I thought had reasonably leftist leanings had–and anyhow we were having this discussion, and this person was absolutely convinced that the United States government propaganda office somewhere had written these great words for Neil to say. ‘That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.’ Then I said, ‘Okay,’ if you think that’s the case, we’ll sit down here and will figure out what I’m going to say–so I figured I’d say something to the effect–you know–it may have been a little one for Neil but it was a big one for a little fellow like me–seeing I was the shortest person in the office. I bet this person five-hundred dollars, which was a reasonably large sum of money in those days. I thought that if I could get five-hundred bucks off a communist, that was pretty good. A person doesn’t realize that there wasn’t propagandists, but they reniged [sic] on the bet and I never won the money. I was never paid.” Signed at the conclusion, “Charles Conrad, Jr.,” “Identified as the Italian journalist – ‘Oriana Felaci’ [sic] Richard Gordon, Apollo XII CMP,” and “Great story, Alan Bean, Apollo 12 LMP.” Accompanied by a color 8 x 10 photo of Conrad descending the lander’s ladder to the surface of the moon, signed in black felt tip, “’Man, that may have been a small step for Neil, but that’s a long one for me!’ Charles Conrad, Jr.,” and signed in silver ink, “Alan Bean, Lunar module pilot & personal photographer for Pete Conrad,” and “Richard Gordon, Apollo XII CMP.” Both are suede matted and framed together with a replica mission patch to an overall size of 28.25 x 16.5. In fine condition, with Conrad’s signature and notation on the photo a few shades light, but still legible. Pre-certified Scott Cornish and RR Auction COA.
