In a May 23, 1966, letter William Vandersteel, president of the Ampower Corporation, expressed confidence that Reagan could win the presidency in 1968 and enclosed a pamphlet by Ayn Rand titled “Conservatism: An Obituary” written after the 1960 presidential campaign. In the essay Rand argues that many conservatives are opposed to statism but don’t seem to realize the only good alternative is capitalism.
Reagan’s letter:
William Vandersteel
New York, NY
May 23, 1966
Dear Mr. Vandersteel:
Thanks very much for the pamphlet. Am an admirer of Ayn Rand but hadn’t seen this study.
Sincerely,
Ronald Reagan
From Ronald Reagan: A Life in Letters
pp. 281-282
Is THAT where the admirer claim came from?