This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 12/10/2001.
During a trip to West Germany in the mid-1980s, President Ronald Reagan made a stirring statement addressed to Russian president Mikhael Gorbachev that went, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall." Soon after, the wall indeed came tumbling down, the result of Reagan's friendship with the Russian leader and the unrelenting commitment of both presidents to finally end the tensions and perils of the Cold War. Gorbachev's efforts to democratize his country's political system and decentralize its economy led to the downfall of Communism, the fall of the wall in 1989, a united Germany and ultimately the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. The spirit of cooperation that brought about these titanic events in world history is symbolized by this 8 " x 9 1/2" color photo of Reagan, his vice president George Bush, and Gorbachev. All of them signed their names in an area under the riveting photo, with Reagan writing "To Kevin & Susi. Very best regards, Ronald Reagan," in blue marker, his signature rating a near ten. Under this are the signatures of Bush (eight) and Gorbachev (nine) in black marker. The photo is double matted in black suede and mounted in a silver frame.