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“THE FIGHT AGAINST COMMUNISM IS REALLYVERY SIMPLE”
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REAGAN, RONALD. Autograph Letter Signed, to fan Margaret Donnelly, assert-
ing that Communism can be fought simply by applying the principles of the “founders of
Democracy” and explaining how the Screen Actors Guild have subverted attacks from
Communists by ensuring that every member votes. 2 pages, 4to, “Warner Brothers Studio”
stationery; horizontal folds.With the original envelope.
Burbank, 12 November 1947
[4,000/6,000]
“
The fight against Communism is really very simple if we’ll put ourselves to work.The answer
lies in our own ‘Bill of Rights’ & ‘Constitution.’ Every time we deny some citizen of our coun-
try those privileges guaranteed by the ‘Bill of Rights’ because of difference in Race or Religion
we give the Communist a prospect upon which to try his propaganda.The same is true when
we condemn people to life in slums and substandard living quarters. In short, Democracy must
work all the time for all the people if it is to live.
“
In the Screen Actors Guild we have met the very determined attack of a small group of
Communists and defeated them with one simple rule. . . . [The] Guild passed a rule that noth-
ing could become a matter of Guild policy until it had been submitted by mail to the entire
membership for a vote. . . . Actually all we did was follow the policy of the founders of
Democracy—we guaranteed every one a vote, and if the American people know the truth they
will never make a mistake.”