Correspondence between Andy Smith (7th grade student) to President Ronald Reagan re: request for federal funds to clean his “disaster area” bedroom, 04/18/1984.

Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Digital Library Collections This is a PDF of a folder from our textual collections. WHORM Subject File Code: PR014-01 (Public Relations: Presidential Favors, requests for: Children, Requests to the President from) Case file Number(s): 226267 To see more digitized collections visit: https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/digitized-textual-material To see all Ronald Reagan Presidential Library inventories visit: https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/white-house-inventories Contact a reference archivist at: reagan.library@nara.gov Citation Guidelines: https://reaganlibrary.gov/archives/research- support/citation-guide National Archives Catalogue: https://catalog.archives.gov/ 226267 JV 4612 PR014-01 May 11, 1984 LD TR098-03 Dear Andy: we I'm sorry to be so late in answering your letter but, as you know, I've been in China and found your letter PR005-02 here upon my return. Your application for disaster relief has been duly noted but I must point out one technical problem: the authority declaring the disaster is supposed to make the request. In this case, your mother. However, setting that aside, I'll have to point out the larger problem of available funds. This has been a year of disasters: 539 hurricanes as of May 4th and several more since, numerous floods, forest fires, drought in Texas and a number of earthquakes. What I'm getting at is that funds are dangerously low. May I make a suggestion? This Administration, be- lieving that government has done many things that could better be done by volunteers at the local level, has sponsored a Private Sector Initiatives Program, calling upon people to practice voluntarism in the solving of a number of local problems. Your situation appears to be a natural. I'm sure your mother was fully justified in proclaiming your room a disaster.- Therefore, you are in an excellent position to launch another volunteer program to go along with the more than 3000 already underway in our nation. Congratulations. Give my best regards to your mother. Sincerely, RONALD REAGAN Andy Smith 400 London Pride Road Irmo, South Carolina 29063 RR:plr 5pmna 840511 HANDWRITING THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON TO: Anne FROM: KATHY OSBORNE Personal Secretary to the President DATE: 5-10-84 Please edit and return. Thanks. Re SS 1984 MAY -9 AM 10: 36 Andy Smith 400 London Pride Road Irmo, South Carolina 29063 April 18, 1984 Dear Mr. President, My name is Andy Smith. I am a seventh grade student at Irmo Middle School, in Irmo, South Carolina. Today my mother declared my bedroom a disaster area. I would like to request federal funds to hire a crew to clean up my room. I am prepared to provide the initial funds if you will privide matching funds for this project. I know you will be fair when you consider my request. I will be awaiting your reply. Sincerely yours, andy smith Andy Smith 12 Copy n Outgon lt to Gimelle R18851 6-26-84 So any Smith 400 fruden Pride Rd. la. Caroline 29063 Den any I'm 1 sorry to be son late in answering your letter but as you -Parm I've been in Chrina and found your letter have inform my return. y one application frr. dianster whip has been durly nated but d must juint out one technical problem; the authority declaring the diracter is supposed to make the request. testhis case your mother. If owner setting that acide I'm have to provint out the larger fact problem of available funds. This has been a year of disasters, 539 hurricanes as of may 4 1 and several more since, numerous floods, forest fines, drught in Texas and a number of earthquakes. What I'm getting at is that funds are dangerously low. may I make a suggestion ? This administration, believing that govt. has done many things that could better be done by wheters of the local level, has sponsored a Private Sector Initiative Program, calling refrom people to ferective voluntarism in the solving of a number of local problems. your situation appears to be a natural. I'm sure your Mother was fully finationed in purchasing your rerom a disaster. Therefore you are in an excellemt position to launed another wohnteen pergram to go along with the more than 3000 already indersary in our nations - congratulations. June any best regards G year mather himing or