Memories of Dutch

Jordan Winery - Through a friend, I knew that Jordan Cabernet was not only served at the White House in the mid eighties, it was also the wine Reagan chose to feature at a dinner honoring Queen Elizabeth in San Francisco in 1983. After inquiring with the Jordan Winery, they sent me a number of their earliest labels. I chose the 1980 to signify the year R.R. was elected. An anonymous gift of one of the framed prints was given to John Jordan and the my painting has hung in the winery's tasting room ever since.

 The Conscience of a Conservative - In 1964, Reagan was asked to give a speech on behalf of Goldwater. It became known as "The Speech - A Time For Choosing". It was this speech that began Reagan's political career as shortly after, he was asked to run for Governor of California. The book in the painting is in fact a 1964 edition of "Conscience of a Conservative" 

Reagan Family Bible - This is the very well used family bible belonging to his mother and used by Reagan for his inauguration on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 1981. The Bible was opened to, II Chronicles 7:14:

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

The Bible is kept at the Reagan Presidential Library

On Nancy's desk, she fondly kept the note from Ronnie that simply said, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you and besides that, I love you.

The Parker 75 pen was a favorite of the president with a custom made version used for the INF treaty signing.

Many notes of appreciation were sent by Reagan, this one during his run for California Governor.

Reagan loved his Jelly Belly jelly beans. Three and a half tons of red, white, and blue Jelly Belly® jelly beans were shipped to Washington, DC for the 1981 Inaugural festivities. Blueberry, one of Jelly Belly® brand's most popular flavors, was developed in 1980 to compliment the red and white that the company already produced.

The late edition of the L.A. Times  from November 10, 1989, the day after the Berlin Wall began coming down, thanks to pressure provided throughout his two terms and culminating with the famous line, "Mr. Gorbachov, tear down this wall" on June 12, 1987. For more than 25 years after the Berlin Wall divided the city’s East and West. Ronald Reagan gave the famous speech in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, challenging his Soviet counterpart Mikhail Gorbachev.

On his desk in the Oval Office, President Reagan kept a small plaque that read, “There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he does not mind who gets the credit.” Next to this was a sign with the words “It CAN Be Done.” This was a reminder to the President and his visitors that in America, anything was possible.