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ALS as president, one page, 5 x 8, White House stationery, December 25, 1981. Handwritten letter to "Suzy," in full: "Thank you very much for the pretty picture. I decided to draw some pictures for you but they aren't as pretty as yours." Reagan then draws a set of three portrait sketches: himself as a cowboy, an older gentleman with a monocle, and a caricature of a Chinese man that resembles the Sax Rohmer supervillain Fu Manchu. Below, in a different pen, Reagan adds his initials and dates the sheet to his first Christmas in the White House, “RR, Dec. 25th 1981.” In very good to fine condition, with light overall wrinkling, faint toning, and some fading from prior display.
Ronald Reagan was one of the more natural doodlers to occupy the presidency, following a line that included Herbert Hoover, Dwight Eisenhower, and John F. Kennedy. But what sets him apart from these White House predecessors is how often he made these drawings for other people. Reagan would send them to friends and admirers, include them in letters to Nancy, and even share them with figures like British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
Reagan’s doodles are simple, playful, and instantly recognizable, often depicting himself as a cowboy – he appeared as one in several Western films during the 1940s and 1950s – as well as other light and humorous caricatures. As The Atlantic observed, ‘Like his folksy stories, Reagan’s kitschy doodles – most of them cartoon renderings of himself as a bandana-wearing cowboy… – trigger warm associations with an idyllic American past. Many reveal a distinct aesthetic of cuteness.’ Research shows that Reagan sketches – especially in signed letters or on White House stationery – draw exceptionally strong interest.
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