PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN - CONTRACT SIGNED 10/26/1949 - HFSID 13081

RONALD REAGAN
As an actor Ronald Reagan signs a contract with Universal to complete five-year, five-pictures with them and having the option to complete one film a year with a competing company.
Carbon Typed Contract signed in ink: "Ronald Reagan", 5p, separate sheets, 8½x11. Universal City, California, 1949 October 26. In letter form to Reagan who has "approved and accepted", signed by two officers of Universal Pictures. In part: "In connection with that certain 'multiple picture' contract of employment between you and us...in the event you desire to render your services in connection with more than one (1) 'outside engagement'...during any 'year of the term' of said contract...prior to the expiration of the 'WB contract'...we shall inform you as to whether or not we contemplate requiring your services for us in connection with another photoplay...Further, it is expressly understood and agreed that between April 28, 1949 and January 14, 1950 or between April 28, 1949 and our decision as to your physical condition, whichever shall earlier occur, you will not enter into any commitment whatsoever with any person, firm or corporation in connection with the rendition of your services for such person, firm or corporation without our written consent first had and obtained...." After Ronald Reagan filmed The Hasty Heart costarring Patricia Neal and Richard Todd for Warner Bros. in England earlier in 1949, his agent made a deal with Warners. Even though Reagan's WB contract ran three years longer, Reagan would be allowed to make one film each year for Warners at half his annual salary with the freedom to work for other studios as well. Reagan then signed a five-year, five-picture deal with Universal, referred to above as "that certain 'multi-picture' contract". Reagan's first Universal role was to be in a thriller costarring Ida Lupino but, while playing in a fundraising baseball game, the 38-year-old actor was knocked off his feet, resulting in multiple fractures to his right thigh. See mention of Reagan's "physical condition" above. It was six months before Reagan made his first Universal feature, Louisa, a comedy costarring Ruth Hussey. 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. Lightly creased. Staple holes at upper left corner. Paper clip impression at blank right margin on first page. 2 file holes at upper blank margin. Overall, fine condition.