Outside the Beltway

Ronald Reagan Stamp

James Joyner · Thursday, November 11, 2004 · 4 comments

Reagan stamp unveiled (CNN)

A twinkly-eyed Ronald Reagan is going on a U.S. postage stamp. Nancy Reagan unveiled a giant replica of the stamp Tuesday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. “He considered it an honor of a lifetime to be president,” Mrs. Reagan said. “And I know he would say, ‘Now, don’t make such a fuss.”‘

It is Postal Service tradition to honor prominent Americans with a stamp no sooner than 10 years after death — except for U.S. presidents, who may be honored as early as the first birthday following their death. Reagan, who died June 5, was born on February 6, 1911. The first-day-of-issue stamp dedication ceremony will take place at the Reagan library February 9.

The selection of an image for the stamp came down to two portraits, one serious, the other smiling, said Reagan Foundation chairman Frederick J. Ryan Jr. “We thought this one was the warmest, happy, positive Ronald Reagan with an optimistic look to it,” Ryan said.

A fitting portrait.

Update (1103): Steve Bainbridge has a much better photograph.