A fantastically informal letter from Richard Nixon to President Reagan in August of 1987, almost a year after the Iran-Contra scandal was uncovered. No stranger to scandal himself, Nixon commends Reagan’s most recent speech, offers some advice and proceeds to end the note with a creative reference to the Tower Commission.

Transcript

RICHARD NIXON

August 13, 1987

Dear Ron,

The speech last night was one of your best. What was even more important than what you said was that you sounded and looked strong. You gave the lie to the crap about your being over-the-hill, discouraged, etc.

If I could be permitted one word of advice: Don’t ever comment on the Iran-Contra matter again. Have instructions issued to all the White House staffers and Administration spokesmen that they must never answer any questions on or off the record about that issue in the future. They should reply to all inquiries by stating firmly and categorically thaty the President has addressed the subject and that they have nothing to add.

The committee labored for nine months and produced a stillborn midget. Let it rest in peace!

Sincerely,

(Signed ‘Dick’)

The Honorable

Ronald Reagan