Ronald Reagan Jokes About His Age, Reminisces With His Ambassador to England

The presidency of Ronald Reagan was a landmark in foreign and defense policies, and set the course for the next half century. His administration accelerated the massive buildup of the military, and undertook the invasion of Grenada, the first major overseas action by U.S. troops since the end of the Vietnam War. The "Reagan Doctrine" granted aid to paramilitary forces seeking to overthrow communist or leftist governments, particularly in war-torn Nicaragua and Afghanistan, a policy that would have major repercussions. Reagan also promoted his Strategic Defense Initiative, which involved new technologies such as missile defense systems, in order to confront the Soviets and their allies. In diplomacy, Reagan forged a strong alliance with Great Britain and adopted a policy aimed at the collapse of the Soviet Union. Once Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev came to power, he successfully worked with him to end the Cold War. The Reagan administration's biggest scandal was the Iran/Contra affair that engulfed several Reagan aides during his second term.

The post of US Ambassador to Great Britain was, and likely remains, the most prestigious ambassadorship in the gift of the President. For the last six of his eight year term, Reagan's man in London was Charles H. Price II. During his five years as ambassador, Price participated in talks between the British and the Irish Republican Army and helped Mrs. Thatcher defuse protests after the United States used British bases to carry out attacks on Libya in 1986. He also deployed his sense of humor and Midwestern humility to try easing the anti-American sentiment that Reagan’s policies had stoked among some Britons, and he hosted elaborate receptions for members of the British government and press, becoming a familiar face on television there. When a terrorist bomb brought down Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, in December 1988, killing all 259 people aboard, Price and his wife were at the scene within hours and received praise for their efforts.

Autograph letter signed from Reagan to Price, California, February 4, 1992, with its hand-addressed envelope to Price in Kansas City. "Thank you for your warm letter to Nancy & me. We are grateful for your warm words. Now about this birthday greeting. Are you joking about my 59th??? My 59th was 22 years ago. On Feb. 6th, I'm 81 years old. I prefer to call it the 42nd anniversary of my 39th birthday. I'm grateful to a 60 year old like you for your kind words. Nancy sends her love to you & Carol and so do I. Sincerely, Ron."