By Neil H. Simon
Media General News Service
Media General News Service
One of several pictures of former Sen. John Warner with former President Ronald Reagan up for auction March 21.
By The Potomack Company
By The Potomack Company
Email to a Friend
Stumble It!
Most Popular Stories
WASHINGTON—This isn’t your typical garage sale.
There’s the antique roll top desk John Warner used for 30 years in the Senate. And the signed photos from former President Ronald Reagan.
The Warner memorabilia is all going on the auction block -- everything from U.S. flags and Navy cufflinks to oil paintings and a model train.
The reason? Warner says he just doesn’t have room for it at home.
“It’s hard for me to part with these things,” Warner said in an interview, but “my wife gave me a quota. I met the quota of 15.”
The items paint a picture of Warner’s career - the leather chair from which he hosted countless meetings and many an interview and a flag flown above the Capitol to honor his perfect Senate attendance record in 1985.
The 49 sets of Warner souvenirs up for bid – some just one item, others including ten things or more – are valued at least $8,000.
The Potomack Company, an Alexandria-based auction house, is hosting the auction March 21. Proceeds will go to the University of Virginia, where Warner attended law school. The university is also the permanent home of Warner’s Senate records.
“It’s unusual to have a collection that is so specific and it’s so clear who it belongs to,” said Susanna Brockman, the auction house’s director of gallery relations.
Many of the items are glass awards or wooden plaques recognizing the Republican lawmaker’s work on issues ranging from transportation to wildlife preservation.
“I’m grateful to all the people who have given me things through the years. They’ve served their purpose,” Warner said.
One of Warner’s favorite items up for bid is a pair of pictures of himself with Reagan, with captions and autographs from the Gipper. The pictures are from the Oval Office after Reagan won a close Senate vote to approve selling to Saudi Arabia U.S. radar technology known as AWACS, short for Airborne Warning and Control System.
“He called me at 9 or 10 [p.m.] and [said], ‘We’re going to have a drink and celebrate,’” Warner recalled. In both pictures the two men appear jovial with Reagan pointing at Warner. The president wrote a caption on photo of them: “He actually believed (and predicted) we would get 52 votes on AWAC's. Thanks John and Warm Regards, Ron.”
The items are all on display for the week leading up to the auction.
“These are just a few odds and ends,” Warner said, “but I don’t want to destroy them. If somebody wants to spend five dollars on it, it’s theirs.”
(Contact Neil H. Simon at nsimon@mediageneral.com)
There’s the antique roll top desk John Warner used for 30 years in the Senate. And the signed photos from former President Ronald Reagan.
The Warner memorabilia is all going on the auction block -- everything from U.S. flags and Navy cufflinks to oil paintings and a model train.
The reason? Warner says he just doesn’t have room for it at home.
“It’s hard for me to part with these things,” Warner said in an interview, but “my wife gave me a quota. I met the quota of 15.”
The items paint a picture of Warner’s career - the leather chair from which he hosted countless meetings and many an interview and a flag flown above the Capitol to honor his perfect Senate attendance record in 1985.
The 49 sets of Warner souvenirs up for bid – some just one item, others including ten things or more – are valued at least $8,000.
The Potomack Company, an Alexandria-based auction house, is hosting the auction March 21. Proceeds will go to the University of Virginia, where Warner attended law school. The university is also the permanent home of Warner’s Senate records.
“It’s unusual to have a collection that is so specific and it’s so clear who it belongs to,” said Susanna Brockman, the auction house’s director of gallery relations.
Many of the items are glass awards or wooden plaques recognizing the Republican lawmaker’s work on issues ranging from transportation to wildlife preservation.
“I’m grateful to all the people who have given me things through the years. They’ve served their purpose,” Warner said.
One of Warner’s favorite items up for bid is a pair of pictures of himself with Reagan, with captions and autographs from the Gipper. The pictures are from the Oval Office after Reagan won a close Senate vote to approve selling to Saudi Arabia U.S. radar technology known as AWACS, short for Airborne Warning and Control System.
“He called me at 9 or 10 [p.m.] and [said], ‘We’re going to have a drink and celebrate,’” Warner recalled. In both pictures the two men appear jovial with Reagan pointing at Warner. The president wrote a caption on photo of them: “He actually believed (and predicted) we would get 52 votes on AWAC's. Thanks John and Warm Regards, Ron.”
The items are all on display for the week leading up to the auction.
“These are just a few odds and ends,” Warner said, “but I don’t want to destroy them. If somebody wants to spend five dollars on it, it’s theirs.”
(Contact Neil H. Simon at nsimon@mediageneral.com)