Title:
George H.W. Bush Signed TLS as Vice President – May 11, 1981 – Critically Reviewing Carter-Era Environmental Executive Orders – PSA/DNA Certified

Description:
Typed Letter Signed (TLS) from then–Vice President George H.W. Bush, dated May 11, 1981, written on official Vice Presidential personalized stationery and addressed to Congressman Paul Simon (D-IL). The letter acknowledges Simon’s concerns regarding two major environmental regulations—Executive Orders 11988 and 11990—both issued under President Jimmy Carter. In the letter, Bush confirms that his legal counsel, C. Boyden Gray, has been tasked with a careful legal review of the orders. The letter is boldly signed “George Bush” in blue ink and encapsulated in a PSA/DNA archival slab with full authentication (Cert #85119330). The letter remains in excellent condition, with crisp type, clean presentation, and outstanding preservation.

Transcription of Letter:

THE VICE PRESIDENT
WASHINGTON

May 11, 1981

The Honorable Paul Simon
U.S. House of Representatives
227 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Paul:

Thank you very much for your recent letter concerning Executive Orders 11988 and 11990.

I appreciate having your views with regard to these Orders and have asked my able Counsel, Boyden Gray, to carefully scrutinize them. Your input is always welcome.

Sincerely,

(Signed)
George Bush

Historical Context:
Written just four months into the Reagan–Bush administration, this letter reveals the new administration’s early and proactive efforts to reassess and potentially reshape regulatory policy inherited from the Carter years. The Executive Orders referenced—

• Executive Order 11988 (Floodplain Management)

• Executive Order 11990 (Protection of Wetlands)

—were both signed by President Jimmy Carter in 1977 to strengthen environmental oversight across federal agencies. EO 11988 directed agencies to avoid development in flood-prone areas, while EO 11990 aimed to protect wetlands from federal encroachment and degradation.

By May 1981, the Reagan administration was already working to reorient federal regulatory frameworks to align with its more limited-government, pro-growth philosophy. The mention of C. Boyden Gray, then serving as Bush’s legal counsel and later White House Counsel, underscores how seriously the administration took the legal and policy implications of these orders. Gray would later become a key architect of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, and at this time was reviewing Carter-era policies to determine their compatibility with Reagan-era objectives.

This letter provides rare insight into the transitional scrutiny applied by a new administration to the prior one’s environmental mandates, highlighting the often-political nature of regulatory continuity—or rollback—in American governance.

Authentication & Encapsulation:

• Encapsulated by PSA/DNA (Professional Sports Authenticator)

• Certification Number: 85119330

• Label Details: “Letter – George H.W. Bush – Authentic Auto – PSA/DNA Certified”

• Slab Description: Professionally sealed in a PSA archival slab preserving both sides of the letter

• Additional Documentation & Provenance: At buyer’s request, Historical Autographs Gallery will include an additional “Historical Autographs Gallery Certificate” signed by our company founder Luke Pascal at no cost.

Closing Appeal:
This early Reagan-era letter from Vice President George H.W. Bush, personally acknowledging the administration’s scrutiny of Jimmy Carter’s environmental executive orders, is a highly significant artifact of regulatory and ideological transition. It encapsulates the Reagan-Bush administration’s early resolve to recalibrate environmental and administrative policy, making it a compelling piece for collectors of presidential history, legal governance, and environmental regulation. PSA-authenticated and elegantly preserved, this document offers an authoritative window into the policymaking crossroads of 1981.

Shipping Notice:
For insurance purposes, items sold over $600 may require signature confirmation upon delivery. Higher-value items, likely over $1,500, are shipped via FedEx 2-Day with Direct Signature Confirmation. FedEx provides the most flexibility when requiring a signature, allowing you to make special delivery requests directly through their tracking system. This ensures both security and convenience for the buyer.