Beschreibung:

Reagan, RonaldAutograph draft manuscript, written as Governor of California, of his speech before the Economic Club of New York, 17 January 1968 20 pages (various sizes) on 18 leaves of a variety of papers, including letterhead from the 59th Annual Governors' Conference | United States Virgin Islands | October 16–24,1967 and ruled yellow legal tablet paper. [New York,] 16 January 1968, being Reagan’s handwritten draft of his speech on this date to the Economic Club of New York; the first two leaves written on both sides, with Reagan’s preliminary version of pages 1 and 2 neatly crossed out, pages 3 and 5 photocopied typescripts with heavy emendations by Reagan and by another party; the remaining pages handwritten on the rectos only. Reagan’s "Creative Society"—a coming-out address. Frugally using stationery left over from the October 1967 Annual Governors' Conference for almost half of this draft, Reagan describes his "creative society" for an influential Eastern audience. This speech, indeed, was Reagan’s first formal public appearance in New York after his retirement from the film industry. The meeting at the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf-Astoria was part of Gov. Reagan’s nationwide tour as a professed “noncandidate” in the Presidential race, a tour undertaken to raise funds and enthusiasm for the Republican party in that election year. This was Reagan’s chance to introduce himself to the financiers and businessmen who formed the Economic Club, and he shrewdly opens his address by alluding to the doubts many in the audience may have about his qualifications for public office: "Gentlemen you honor me with the invitation to break bread and the honor is multiplied ten fold by your graciousness in listening to me when in truth I could profit so much from listening to you. My suspicion that your invitation was prompted, at least in part, by curiosity doesn’t detract from your kindness or lessen the warmth of your hospitality. After all, someone who has been riding off into the sunset, with the words ‘the end’ superimposed on his back isn’t supposed to turn up on the state house steps with a briefcase full of something he calls the creative society." Still anticipating and disarming possible suspicions, he continues: "I am sure some of you have jumped to the conclusion that that title ‘creative society’ is intended to be a play on words, a counter to the 'Great Society.' And you are absolutely right. Since this is a nonpartisan gathering let me hasten to say I have no quarrel with the announced noble aims of the Great Society. None of us regardless of party questions the desirability of reducing human misery and poverty or making opportunity, health, housing, and education available to all. But just so you won't forget which side I’m on I have serious doubts the 'Great Society' can accomplish this and remain a free society and that makes the price too high." Reagan recalls his longtime concern as a private citizen over "what has seemed to be a relentless inch by inch encroachment on or usurpation of rights traditionally held to be the proper possession of the people. Now I am a part of govt. a formally elected member of the establishment—a funny thing happened to me on the way to Death Valley. From the inside looking out the view hasn’t changed. If anything my concern about Govt.’s increased growth and power is even greater. Some who have been in govt. seem to develop an arrogance that leads them to claim jump and inherent right of the citizen to freedom of choice. And I’ve learned at first hand how savage can be their angry resistance to any attempt to reduce the size and power of govt. I’ve also learned, that size and power can be reduced and it’s reduction will be hailed by the people of whatever party. At the moment there is a panic fear afloat in the air, partly due to a feeling of helplessness, a feeling that govt. is now a separate force beyond their control, that their voices echo unheeded in vast and multitudinous halls o