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Phil
(202) 521-0397 521-0397
2301 Jeff. Davis Hyw.
Apt. #1405
AH
Arlington, Va. 22202
24 January 1983
Mr. Ronald Reagan
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington, D.C. 20005
Dear Mr. President:
I know you are an extremely busy person running our country, but
I hope you have an opportunity to read this letter. Much has been said
about the so called recession and the scarcity of employment. Please:
allow me to recount my own experience.
I arrived in Washington, D.C. from Philadelphia with ninety-four
dollars and no prospects of employment, in April 1982. After paying for
a one week stay at a roach infested hotel, I had fifteen dollars to eat
with and use for transportation. I walked all over D.C. looking for
employment as a waiter (I had experience in this area). After six days
of searching and eating potatoe chips and water, I found a position at
a downtown hotel. This position was a far cry from the luxurious hotels
I worked at in San Francisco, or the Maitre d'hotel position I had in
Las Vegas, but it was a job and I gladly took it.
The living conditions from the hotel, to the Alexandria YMCA
(walking sometimes four miles a day to save transportation cost to work)
and to my present apartment has been enlightnening. Even then I had to
sleep on the floor for two months, until I saved enough for my forst new
bed. Thru all of this, I continued to go to work on time and give one
hundred percent while I was there.
Sir, I have been led to share this experience with you because
of the many articles on how hard times are and the view held by some,
there isn't any opportunity in our country anymore. Yes; times are
difficult but I beleive as you have stated countless times; the op-
portunity is there if you are willing to work for it. I feel you are
a great President and know it has taken tremendous courage and
conviction to take the stand you have chosen. Oh-I am Black, from a
very poor background, a Vietnam Veteran and thirty-five years old.
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"ocrText": "Phil\n(202) 521-0397 521-0397\n2301 Jeff. Davis Hyw.\nApt. #1405\nAH\nArlington, Va. 22202\n24 January 1983\nMr. Ronald Reagan\nPresident of the United States\nThe White House\n1600 Pennsylvania Ave.\nWashington, D.C. 20005\nDear Mr. President:\nI know you are an extremely busy person running our country, but\nI hope you have an opportunity to read this letter. Much has been said\nabout the so called recession and the scarcity of employment. Please:\nallow me to recount my own experience.\nI arrived in Washington, D.C. from Philadelphia with ninety-four\ndollars and no prospects of employment, in April 1982. After paying for\na one week stay at a roach infested hotel, I had fifteen dollars to eat\nwith and use for transportation. I walked all over D.C. looking for\nemployment as a waiter (I had experience in this area). After six days\nof searching and eating potatoe chips and water, I found a position at\na downtown hotel. This position was a far cry from the luxurious hotels\nI worked at in San Francisco, or the Maitre d'hotel position I had in\nLas Vegas, but it was a job and I gladly took it.\nThe living conditions from the hotel, to the Alexandria YMCA\n(walking sometimes four miles a day to save transportation cost to work)\nand to my present apartment has been enlightnening. Even then I had to\nsleep on the floor for two months, until I saved enough for my forst new\nbed. Thru all of this, I continued to go to work on time and give one\nhundred percent while I was there.\nSir, I have been led to share this experience with you because\nof the many articles on how hard times are and the view held by some,\nthere isn't any opportunity in our country anymore. Yes; times are\ndifficult but I beleive as you have stated countless times; the op-\nportunity is there if you are willing to work for it. I feel you are\na great President and know it has taken tremendous courage and\nconviction to take the stand you have chosen. Oh-I am Black, from a\nvery poor background, a Vietnam Veteran and thirty-five years old."
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