REAGAN, RONALD. (1911-2004). Hollywood actor, governor of California and 40th president of the United States. SP. (“Ronald Reagan”). 1p. Oblong 4to. White House, (June 13, 1986). Inscribed to ALFRED H. KINGON (b. 1931), Reagan’s cabinet secretary from 1985-1987 and ambassador to the EU from 1987-1989. A candid color photograph taken in the Oval Office, showing a jovial Reagan, wearing a tan suit, joking with a laughing Kingon and Donald Regan (1918-2003; Former White House Chief of Staff from 1985-1987 and Secretary of the Treasury from 1981-1985).

“Dear Al – So there we were with Max & Max. Every good wish & warm regard…”

After a successful career in Hollywood, during which he made more than 50 films, Reagan entered politics campaigning for Senator Barry Goldwater (known as “Mr. Conservative”) during his 1964 presidential bid. Reagan, who had only switched his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican several years earlier, began to gain prominence within the party and, in 1966, was nominated as the Republican candidate for Governor of California. He held that office for two terms before becoming a popular two-term U.S. president. The mixture of liberal and conservative traits embodied by Reagan led to a reshaping of the Republican Party and a phenomenon known as the “Reagan Democrat,” Democrats who vote Republican because of their conservative views on certain issues. During his eight years as president, Reagan became an icon of Cold War politics and the subject of inquiry in the Iran-Contra scandal. Although the scandal caused a decline in popularity, his approval ratings rebounded, earning him the nickname “the Teflon president.”

Kingon was a Wall Street investment adviser and publisher of Financial World and Saturday Review who served as Assistant Secretary of Commerce from 1983-1984 and Reagan’s cabinet secretary from 1985-1987, playing “a central role in domestic, agricultural, economic and trade policy,” and the U.S. ambassador to the European Union from 1987-1989, (“Working Profile: Alfred H. Kingon; Being a Fly on White House Wall and Loving It,” The New York Times, Weinraub).

“Max and Max” might be an allusion to the similarities between Reagan and Regan’s names.

Inscribed in the lower margin of the photograph and in excellent condition.