ALS signed “RR,” one page, 5.5 x 8.5, no date [circa 1969]. A handwritten draft of a letter to N. Joe Prince in Napa, California. In full: “I can’t tell you how much your letter meant to me. Thanks for writing as you did but even more, thanks for the sacrifice you’ve made in the line of duty and for the example you are to all of us. You’ve made us all very proud. You have endured much, yet your trial of pain and healing is not over. The prayers of all of us are with you that recovery will soon be complete, and you’ll be relieved of the pain you’ve known these many months. For what ever good it will do, please know that we are determined to stand firm against those who resort to this kind of violence. There will be no compromise or weakening regardless of what it takes. Your letter strengthened my resolve....” A secretarial notation indicates that Prince was a “People’s Park policeman casualty,” referring to the notorious “Bloody Thursday” confrontation during Reagan’s tenure as Governor of California. The People’s Park came into being when a 2.8-acre parcel of land owned by UC Berkeley, slated for athletic fields and a parking lot, was “developed” by a group from the local community. In April 1969, hundreds converged onto the muddy site to clear it of demolition debris, and over the next several weeks, scores of participants planted trees and grass, erected playground equipment, and provided entertainment and food. Though the University resolved to continue with its development plans, the student body itself voted in an overwhelming majority to preserve the park. Reagan, whose political reputation had been built largely upon his hard-line stance against leftists and other “subversive” elements, took a dim view of this expropriation of university property and vowed to put an end to the park, famously declaring, “If there has to be a bloodbath, then let’s get it over with.” On May 15, police officers occupied the park, destroyed much of the plantings, and erected a fence around the perimeter. As the crowd at a “We want the park!” rally eventually swelled to 6,000, and protestors attempted to tear down the fence and threw bottles and rocks, a police force of nearly 800, given virtual carte blanche by Reagan to quell the protest by any means necessary, responded with night sticks, tear gas, and buckshot. The overzealous response seriously injured hundreds; in some cases the police fired buckshot into the backs of retreating protestors, and two men—one of whom, not a participant, was shot as he watched from a nearby roof—were killed. Reagan declared a state of emergency and sent in 2,700 National Guard troops over the objection of the Berkeley City Council. The episode emerged as a signal event in the social unrest of the 1960s and 1970s and proved to be among the most controversial actions during Reagan’s tenure as governor. Secretarial ink stroke to text, small tear to top edge, and light show-through from notations on reverse, otherwise fine condition. Auction LOA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and R&R COA.
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