PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN - CORPORATE MINUTES SIGNED CIRCA 1952 - HFSID 202468

RONALD REAGAN
During the McCarthy era, he represents the Screen Actors Guild at a meeting on Communism in Hollywood.
Typed Document Signed: "Ronald Reagan", 8p, 8½x11, separate sheets. (Los Angeles), 1952 February 20. Just 13 days before he married actress Nancy Davis, the President of the Screen Actors Guild signs, as Secretary, the "Minutes of the Meeting of the Motion Picture Industry Council, held in the Board Room of the Association of Motion Picture Producers on February 20, 1952." Also signed: "Art Arthur" as Executive Secretary. In part: "The Executive Secretary read a letter from the Screen Directors Guild Board of Directors dated January 30th 1952...giving notice 'that the SDGA [Screen Directors Guild of America] intends to withdraw from MPIC and asks that its withdrawal be made effective as of this date.'...No reasons for the withdrawal were stated. After discussion, it was clear that the membership felt that every reasonable effort should be made to induce the SDG to re-consider its withdrawal decision...The Council reviewed matters related to Defense Cooperation activities. Miss McCall reported on a conference called by the Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon on January 23rd in connection with the unified recruiting drive for women, at which she represented the MPIC...In connection with aspects of the problems caused by charges of Communism, Arthur Freed reported on a meeting held on February 19th of the Special Information Committee created to lend support in the Stanley Kramer libel suit against the Wage Earners Committee. The report noted that Mr. Freed had been chosen chairman of the committee; that Mr. Kramer had deemed unsatisfactory the wording of an apology offered by the Wage Earners Committee and other background information...Mr. Freed also presented two recommendations by the committee: That a pledge of support, similar to that given Mr. Kramer, be extended to Dore Schary who had also filed a libel suit against the Wage Earners Committee, and that the Studio Publicity Directors be asked to cooperate in public relations phases of the committee's activities...Unanimous approval was then given to a motion by Mr. McCalman, seconded by Edwin Knopf, that the MPIC go on record as giving to Mr. Schary's suit the same endorsement accorded to Mr. Kramer's suit...Attention was turned to the 1951 report of the House Committee on Un-American Activities which criticized the industry for lack of action against Communists...Various suggestions were examined, including one made by Paul MacNamara that the industry's newsreels be used more frequently to convey accurate facts to the public. He particularly urged that the newsreels carry the industry's reply to the House Committee report. Unanimous approval was given to a motion by Ronald Reagan, seconded by Robert Haas, that the Executive Secretary be directed to communicate with COMPO by telephone to urge newsreel dissemination of an industry statement in reply to the House Report. This was followed by approval of a motion by Mr. Knopf, seconded by Miss Lenard, that the Public Relations Committee be asked to act upon the suggestion that constructive facts about the industry be disseminated on film more frequently than in the past...." The 36 people present at the meeting are listed on the last two pages. They include William Holden, Paul Harvey and RONALD REAGAN representing the Screen Actors Guild, as well as representatives of the Screen Producers Guild, Screen Writers Guild, Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers, Hollywood A.F.L. Film Council and six other groups. Actress NANCY DAVIS had received Communist Party propaganda. She could not understand how she got on their mailing list so she consulted with director Mervyn LeRoy, who promised to talk to Screen Actors Guild President Ronald Reagan on her behalf. She had earlier met Reagan at a 1949 dinner at the home of producer DORE SCHARY. Reagan found that there were five actresses named Nancy Davis; no doubt she was getting the mailings that should have gone to another Nancy Davis. Reagan told LeRoy that the Screen Actors Guild would stand behind her in the event there were Communist charges against her. She wanted to hear it from Reagan himself and they arranged to meet for dinner, a dinner which Nancy Reagan still remembers today. On March 4, 1952, 13 days after this document was signed, Ronald Reagan and Nancy Davis were married at the Little Brown Church in North Hollywood. William Holden was best man. Their daughter Patricia was born seven and a half months later. Reagan served as President of the Screen Actors Guild from 1947-1960. His union activity and political beliefs led actress Jane Wyman to file for divorce from him in May 1948. Ironically, it was these same qualities that brought Nancy Davis and Ronald Reagan together. File holes at left margin of each sheet. Fine condition.