RONALD REAGAN

RONALD REAGAN
(1911 - 2004) Fortieth President of the United States who served for two terms (1981-1989) and contributed to the fall of European Communism. Superb content T.L.S. as President on White House letterhead with blind embossed seal, 2pp. 4to., Washington, Jan. 6, 1989, asking New York Representative ROBERT GARCIA (1933 - 2017) to support raising the salaries of Federal officials and calling for stricter regulation on special interest groups. In part: '...On January 9, 1989, I will be forwarding to Congress the compensation recommendations of the Commission on Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Salaries...Fair compensation for those who bear the responsibility for effective functioning of our government is critical...The American people expect excellence at the top levels of government...But our Founding Fathers also envisioned a citizen government whose members are drawn from all parts of our society. We must not allow Federal service to become the province only of the wealthy...it would not add to the deficit...I join the commission in urging Congress to abolish the current system used to supplement inadequate Federal salaries through payments from private special interests...The current system undermines public faith in the integrity of senior Federal officials, particularly in the Legislative branch...' Garcia adds a red check-mark at top, showing his receipt of the letter. Reagan signs boldly at the conclusion. Some thinning on the verso of the second page with slight show-through, else very fine condition.