REAGAN, Ronald. Autograph manuscript, [Baltimore, 21 September 1980].

One page, 94 x 281mm, written in green ink with red and blue ink notations in an unidentified hand, gray gaffer tape affixed to left and right margins (glue remnants on verso, dogear to bottom left corner). [With:] 2 official programs from the 21 September 1980 debate in Baltimore (both mounted to sheets, one on recto and the other on verso).

From his 1980 debate against John Anderson: Ronald Reagan's "cheat sheet," being a seating chart identifying the six panelists and the moderator that was given to him by his staff prior to the event. Because the names were written too small, Reagan took the time to write them again in green felt tip pen in large block letters above. Bill Moyers moderated the event, which took place at 10pm Eastern time to accommodate prime time viewership coast-to-cost. Moyers was joined by Soma Golden (The New York Times), Jane Bryant Quinn (Newsweek), Lee May (Los Angeles Times), Charles Coddry (Baltimore Sun), Daniel Greenberg (syndicated columnist) and Carol Loomis (Fortune)—all of whom are noted here above the caption, "Panel Seating." The debate was notable in that one of the invited guests, President Jimmy Carter, was a no show. The Carter campaign was unwilling to participate in a three-way debate and decided against sending the President to the event in Baltimore. Following the September encounter between Reagan and Anderson, the latter's poll numbers began falling to a point where the League of Women Voters, who organized the debates, disqualified him from further appearances. Reagan and Carter finally debated in Cleveland on 28 October 1980.

From the collection of Dr. Myles Martel, Ronald Reagan's personal debate advisor during the 1980 campaign. At the conclusion of the debate, Frank Ursomarso, who served on the Reagan campaign, and would serve as the President's communications director in 1981, gave this piece to Martel as a memento. Provenance: Ronald Reagan – Frank Ursomarso – Myles Martel.