President Reagan Recommends a Friend to Fly Aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger But Expresses No Interest in Space Himself ("Why would anyone want to get any higher off the earth than you can get by sitting on the back of a horse?")

Never before offered for sale; acquired by Raab from the Morrow descendantsThe space shuttle Challenger became the second shuttle to reach space, when it was launched in April 1983. It successfully completed nine milestone missions during its nearly three years of service. In total, the spacecraft spent 62 days, 7 hours, 56 minutes and 22 seconds in space. Challenger hosted the first spacewalk of the space shuttle program on April 7, 1983, and carried the first American female and first black astronauts. Before it was launched again, NASA created an initiative to give people from all walks of life a chance to experience spaceflight firsthand. The first such civilian would be a teacher, one in the new Teacher in Space program, who would be selected from 11,000 teacher applicants for the historic chance.Douglas Morrow was a Hollywood screenwriter and film producer. He earned an Academy Award for his script for 1949?s The Stratton Story, a biography of Baseball player Monty Stratton, who was disabled in a hunting accident. Reagan, who catapulted to fame as an actor, became friends with Morrow when Morrow sought to cast him in that part, remained friends throughout the Hollywood days and kept in contact through most of his presidency. Morrow was a part of the civilians in space program, and hoped to go into space himself. He wrote his friend President Reagan about it.Morrow lobbied heavily to get a chance to go to space, and Reagan put in a good word.Typed letter signed, White House, March 4, 1985, to Morrow. "Dear Doug: I have your letter of February 11 -- of course it's absolutely incomprehensible to me. Why would anyone want to get any higher off the earth than you can get by sitting on the back of a horse?"Seriously, you have made a very impressive case and I intend to put it in the hands of the Director of NASA myself with my own additions about one -- Doug Morrow. I'm sure you understand I can't dictate in a matter of this kind but I can be enthusiastic and, in this case, that will be easy."I sought a little information about NASA's requirements for their "Space Flight Participant Program" and that is in the enclosed memo. I wish you well and, as I said, I'll see that the Director personally gets your request and suggestions. Best to Margot."Morrow was not chosen. A spot went to Terry McAuliffe, which saved Morrow's life and ended hers.…