PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 03/24/1980 - HFSID 36820

THE DAY BEFORE HE WINS THE GOP PRIMARY IN NEW YORK, FUTURE 40TH PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN THANKS NEW YORK CONGRESSMAN HAMILTON FISH III FOR A SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN STRATEGY




RONALD REAGAN. Typed Letter Signed: "Ron", 1p, 7x10¼. Los Angeles, California, 1980 March 24. On his personal imprinted stationery to Mr. Hamilton Fish, New York, N.Y. Begins: "Dear Ham". In full: "It was nice to hear from you, and I appreciate the information about the situation in New York. Since we were able to follow the format you proposed (winning in the South and Illinois), I hope your prediction will come true. In any case, I'm grateful for what you're doing. Warmest personal regards. Sincerely". On November 4, 1980, RONALD WILSON REAGAN (1911-2004) was overwhelming elected 40th U.S. President (1981-1989). Reagan won his victory by taking the campaign strategy proposed by New York Congressman Hamilton Fish III seriously. By the time of this letter, Reagan had already won in four Southern states by at least 24 percent margin and was on his way to capturing all ten GOP contests in the South - an incredible feat for a Republican. His closest competitor in Illinois was vanquished by an 11 percent margin. On the day following this letter, Reagan won the New York GOP primary. Despite previous presidential bids in 1968 and 1976, Reagan was strongly favored to win the 1980 Republican nomination. By the end of May, his closest rival, George Bush, had abandoned the campaign trail and requested that his delegates throw their votes to the former California governor. Reagan received the coveted nomination on July 16, and Bush agreed to be his Vice-presidential running mate on the following day. During his first term in office, Reagan, the champion of conservative government, reduced federal regulation of business and implemented the largest tax cut in American history. He scored a foreign policy victory during his second term with the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty (December 1987), a landmark agreement providing for the elimination of all American and Soviet medium-range nuclear missiles. HAMILTON FISH III (1888-1991) was a 13-term New York Congressman (1969-1995) whose grandfather had negotiated the Virginius claims with Spain in 1873. Prior to beginning his Congressional career, Fish had earned the Croix de Guerre and the American Silver Star for his heroic service in WWI. In 1984, Fish was a delegate from New York to the Republican National Convention, where incumbent President Reagan once again was nominated as his Party's (successful) presidential candidate. Lightly creased with folds, not at signature. Fine condition. Frame slightly chipped.  Framed to an overall size of 30x21½.