Beschreibung:

REAGAN, Ronald (1911-2004). Autograph letter signed (“Dad”) to Patricia Davis, [n.p.] 25 November 1990. Three pages, 162 x 215mm, on his personal letterhead. Ronald Reagan offers an impassioned defense of his administration's policies toward the homeless and impoverished while attempting to mend fences with his estranged daughter. A remarkably frank letter from the former President, written in response to Patti Davis' public criticisms of her father's actions during his two terms in the White House. Reagan, while eager to mend fences with his daughter, remained adamant that his policies were not aimed against the poor, but rather, against poor administration of government programs to aid them: "I can understand your criticism of me and my supposed crimes while Pres. But hear my side. The supposed crimes were press distortions and outright lies. In my budget battles with the Congress I wasn't trying or suggesting that we reduce help to the needy. But let me give you an example of what I was trying to correct. I found a program where overhead – the administration costs of the bureaucrats were 2 for every 1 that reached a needy person. Another example – there were programs where people with some income, wages or whatever received a grant from the govt. Some investigating of that program revealed 40% of the recipients had falsified their income in order to be eligible for the grant. They were cheating the needy people who were entitled to help." Reagan also seeks to add perspective to the homeless crisis: "Patti I feel as sorry as you do with the problem of the homeless but yes it's true that a number of them did choose to take to the streets. Some time back some 'do gooders' like the Civil Liberty [ sic ] Union got the law changed so that mental cases, particularly retarded people could not be committed to mental institutions by their familys [ sic ] or anyone else unless they were a threat to other's lives or their own. That change in the law opened the hospital doors to any number of mentally retarded who elected to stay on the street rather than go to their homes." After offering further examples in his defense, Reagan closes offering an olive branch: "If you could see your way clear to restore relations with us many of your questions could be answered. But more than that – we are your family. I remember many occasions when I found your mother in tears because of you. WE both have memories and photos to prove that ours was a loving family. Later photos shows the change that has taken place. Our time is running short. We won't be around forever. Isn't it worth a try? I assure you we won't impose ourselves on you or interfere with your life."