May 23, 2013 - Sale 2316

Sale 2316 - Lot 148

Price Realized: $ 7,800
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 6,000 - $ 9,000
"I WILL DEFEND TO THE DEATH THE RIGHT OF COMMUNISTS . . . TO BELONG TO AVC" REAGAN, RONALD. Autograph Letter Signed, "Ronnie," to fellow member of the AVC [American Veterans Committee] "Dear Chuck," explaining that he cannot yet commit to attending the convention because he is acting in a film that may not finish in time, expressing alarm that a few Communists manipulated the delegation at the California State Convention, stating that the AVC should publically affirm its members' belief in the present form of government, worrying that leaving the Hollywood chapter would give too much to those chapter members that are also [Communist] party members, and remarking that the press is calling Reagan "Red." 3 pages, 4to, "Jane Wyman" stationery, written on three separate sheets; minor staining to right edge of first page, even toning, faint paperclip stains at upper left, staple holes at upper right, horizontal folds, typed note at top of first page: "Charles: When you reply will you tell him to keep in touch with Bill [William R.] Burke?", "Jane Wyman" struck out at top of each page. Burbank, 11 May 1946
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". . . Unfortunately, the picture I am in is slated to finish just about convention time but at present is running a few days behind schedule. . . .
"I think you know me well enough to know my views on so called 'Native Fascism' & the plot to egg on World War III so you wont accuse me of 'Red baiting' if now I mention the extreme left. I was alarmed at the Calif. State Convention at the ease with which three or at most four Communists or fellow travelers manipulated the entire delegation in regard to several points of the 'Platform.' They even succeeded in having the words 'Private Enterprise' struck from the paragraph re-affirming our support of the Statement of Principles.
"Now I know very well our organization is not 'Pink' and yet we must expect to be called so by the reactionary press but do we have to give that press more ammunition? . . . I will defend to the death the right of Communists or anyone else to belong to AVC but I do not believe we will be red baiting or witch hunting if at our forthcoming convention we take a firm stand in support of our statement of principles. I think we will add strength to our cause & to the entire liberal cause if we publically re-affirm our belief in our present form of govt & our belief that our present ills can be cured within the framework of democracy . . . .
"[D]ont get the idea Rankin is right and Hollywood is Red with a capital R. The Beverly Hills chapter is really a well balanced & powerful group . . . .
". . . [L]et me assure you I am still being called a Red in certain Hollywood circles. For further proof check Warners Publicity Dept., The Los Angeles Times & the Hearst Papers informed the dept. that any items concerning me & AVC would be squelched because we came under the 'Red blanket'. . . ."
"Chuck" is probably Charles G. Bolte (1920-1994), founder of the American Veterans Committee.