Ronald Reagan Draws His Hometown and Birthplace

Ronald Reagan was a transformational president, and that transformation began on January 20, 1981, the day he was inaugurated as President of the United States.  In foreign affairs, his leadership led to the successful resolution of the decades-old Cold War. As the Soviet Union disappeared into the mists of history, Reagan noted that democracy had prevailed in its long “battle of values” with collectivism. British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher wrote that Reagan had “achieved the most difficult of all political tasks: changing attitudes and perceptions about what is possible. From the strong fortress of his convictions, he set out to enlarge freedom the world over at a time when freedom was in retreat—and he succeeded.”

In domestic affairs, his presidency brought an end to the New Deal policies of government programs to fix social ills. His “small government” philosophy triumphed, reducing the role of government in all spheres. He reduced taxes, making the top income tax rate, which was 70% when he took office, 28% when he left. He got skyrocketing interest rates in check and kept them there, which led to a record period of peacetime economic growth.

Reagan also left a monumental political legacy. After he was reelected in a 49-state landslide in 1984, it became clear that Democrats would be unlikely to return to the White House under a traditional liberal banner. This paved the way for “centrist” capture of the Democratic Party, which remains in place today. He had an even greater impact within his own party. He made the Republican Party a conservative one, and set its course for half a century and more. The United States would be a different place had Ronald Reagan not been President.

And it all started in a small town in Illinois.

The Birthplace of Ronald Reagan, also known as the Graham Building, is located in an apartment on the second floor of a late 19th-century commercial building in Tampico, Illinois. The building was built in 1896 and housed a tavern from that time until 1915. On February 6, 1911, the future 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan, was born in the apartment there, the family moving into a house in Tampico a few months later.

The H.C. Pitney Variety Store Building is a commercial building in downtown Tampico, Illinois, United States. The building was constructed in 1900 but is probably most notable for its upstairs tenants from 1919–1920. During this period, H.C. Pitney operated the building as the H.C. Pitney Variety Store, and the second-floor apartment was occupied by the Reagan family. Reagan’s father worked in the store.

Autograph document, diagram in the hand of Reagan, showing where he lived as a child.  In the drawing, he depicts his first home where he was born, his second home, the HC Pitney store that employed Jack Reagan, the park where he played, and the business district, all in Tampico.

This is the only diagram of a president’s hometown in his hand we have ever seen reach the market.  He gave it to his press aide and long-time friend and confidant, who parted with it this year.