Rare ALS as president signed “George,” three pages, 5.25 x 8.5, White House letterhead, April 18, 1990. Letter to Robert Mosbacher, his secretary of commerce. In full: “Damn! Damn! Damn! Some stupid ruling has it that you can’t give me a present! Never mind that we have been friends, real friends, for many years! We’ve gone too far in all this, but as for now, I have to give you back these ties! It’s nuts—the whole crazy system is nuts! Anyway, I’m grateful and besides I’ve enjoyed the ties. Technically the rule says if I’ve appointed you—no gifts allowed—weird, dumb!” In fine condition, with a staple hole to top left of each page. Mosbacher and Bush had been friends decades before his presidential appointment, working as chief fundraiser for three Bush campaigns, as well as serving on his cabinet. In this particular instance, Secretary Mosbacher, a major player within the Bush administration, had been attending a White House meeting with the president when he received this handwritten letter. This ALS was kept within his folder, along with the meeting’s agenda, however, when the meeting ended, he forgot to take the letter with him. Later, it was retrieved by a White House staffer, who had a place within President Bush’s inner circle, and presented it directly to Raleigh DeGeer Amyx. Bush handwritten letters from his single term as president are quite scarce and rarely offered for auction.
