Vampires have been hot sellers for the entertainment industry for years, and now it appears another kind of blood sale is about to generate some big bucks. Only this time, the blood is real and it came from former President Reagan.
It is in the form of residue in a vial originally used to transport a sample of Reagan’s blood to a Columbia, MD., lab for analysis in 1981 following John Hinckley’s nearly successful attempt to murder the chief executive.
Recommended Stories
A British auction house is offering the vial to the highest bidder this week on behalf of the son of the lab technician who obtained it after tests were completed. According to the man, who has remained anonymous, the woman asked her boss at the lab if she could keep the vial and accompanying paperwork and was told she could.
The highest bid this morning, according to ABC, is just under $10,000. Bidding will close Thursday.
The man – whose parents are now deceased – claims to have contacted the Reagan Library foundation to inquire about its interest in buying the vial. A library official allegedly conferred with the National Archives, Secret Service and other federal agencies regarding their interest in the vial.
The library offical then said none of the government agencies were interested, but the family would like for the vial to be donated to the Reagan foundation. The son said no, he preferred to sell the vial. The Reagan library is now understandly angry and considering its options.
Items of historical interest regularly show up in high-dollar auctions, of course, but this appears to be the first time for a vial of a former president’s blood to do so. Regardless of such considerations, though, it’s hard not to view this proposed sale without dismay.
The rightful owner of the blood residue is the president’s widow. The man who now possesses the vial containing the blood ought to do the decent thing and give it to Nancy Reagan. If he declines to do so, then, whether the vial sells for 10 cents or $10,000, it will literally be blood money.
Mark Tapscott is executive editor of The Washington Examiner. Prior to becoming a journalist, he was a political appointee during President Reagan’s years in the White House.
