PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN - AUTOGRAPHED SIGNED PHOTOGRAPH CIRCA 1983 - HFSID 274020

RONALD REAGAN
Color publicity photograph of Ronald Reagan as the 40th U. S. President.
Photograph signed: "Ronald Reagan" as 40th U.S. President. Color, 8x10 overall, image 7½x7½ (one surface). Inscribed in calligraphy in another hand: "To Martha Scott/With best wishes," Official White House photograph. Stamped on verso with date: "November 14, 1983". In 1983, the nation's economy had recovered robustly, and Reagan would win re-election in 1984 in a 49-state landslide victory. In March 1983, Reagan had been the first world leader to declare that Communism would soon collapse, but the latter part of 1983 was marred by the October 23 bombing of a barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, resulting in the deaths of 241 Marines, and the U.S. invasion of Grenada two days later. This photograph was taken just 20 days after the invasion and about a month before U.S. troops withdrew from the island nation. Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) had two careers: actor and politician. His first movie was Love is on the Air (1937) and his 53rd and last film was The Killers (1964). In 1965, he wrote his autobiography, Where's the Rest of Me?, a line from his role as Drake McHugh in King's Row (1942). Reagan left his job hosting television's Death Valley Days during the 1965-1966 season, when he entered politics. Elected Governor of California in 1966, he was reelected in 1970. Reagan began his campaign for the presidency and narrowly lost the 1976 Republican nomination to Gerald Ford. He was elected President in 1980 and was reelected in 1984. After leaving office in 1989, he wrote his second autobiography, An American Life. On February 6, 2001, Reagan became just the third U.S. President to reach the age of 90 and the nation's longest living President until Gerald Ford (d. 2006) lived 45 days longer. Slightly creased at blank margins. Minor surface creases (not evident head on). Fine condition.