TLS as president signed “Ron,” one page, 6.5 x 8.5, White House letterhead, February 2, 1987. Letter to legendary Chicago broadcaster Ward Quaal. In full: “Your letter and clipping are in hand. I’ve put the idea on the table, but the strongest argument against it was one this ex-Governor couldn’t rebut. It would be the Federal government moving in again to usurp a revenue source the states are counting on. I have to confess, I still have that little ‘blue nose’ feeling that our Nation should be a little above that method of raising revenue. Incidentally, I haven’t checked this out, but one history buff said Jefferson used a lottery to pay for the Louisiana Purchase. Nancy sends her love, and to Dorothy from both of us.” Framed to an overall size of 7.5 x 9.5. In fine condition.
As the US national debt grew from $997 billion to $2.85 trillion during Reagan’s presidency, Chicago broadcaster Ward Quaal suggested the consideration of a national lottery as a means of reducing it. Having served as Governor of California, Reagan could not rebut the argument that the Federal government would be encroaching on states’ business, “usurp[ing] a revenue source the states are counting on.” The Moral Majority’s star president also confesses his feeling “that our Nation should be a little above that method.” While there is little evidence supporting the claim that “Jefferson used a lottery to pay for the Louisiana Purchase,” it is not difficult to trace its use back to America’s founding; from the Virginia Company using lottery money to establish Jamestown to the Continental Congress using it to fund the Colonial Army, the lottery consistently played a key role in financing the growing nation. Published in Letters from the Desk of Ronald Reagan (2003), this is an interesting correspondence addressing both contemporary economics and the founding fathers’ policies, as well as the president’s “blue nose” tendencies. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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