The Time I Wrote President Ronald Reagan About Nazis in America

1981 was a great year. My school days were spent talking about Star Wars and D&D, trying to work up the nerve to ask out the girl I liked, and hanging out in the Computer Squad room (Yes, we had a computer room – Subject of a future article). Saturdays were filled with Looney Tunes, MTV, and spending day and night with friends. I lived a stereotypical John Hughes 80’s white, middle class life. Everything was grand, aside from worrying about nuclear war with the Soviet Union.

Watching World War II movies with dad taught me Nazis were evil, and deserved to be put down hard. I was familiar with the Ku Klux Klan, through history class or secretly watching Blazing Saddles on cable in my friend’s basement. I didn’t give either much thought. They were shadows of the past and not a concern in modern day America. One fateful morning taught me how wrong I was.

A Rude Awakening

What I remember from so long ago, was a program coming on after the Saturday morning cartoons. The announcer may have said something about Nazis. I don’t recall but whatever it was peaked my interest enough to watch. I was horrified.

The program covered the existence of Nazi groups in America. There were scenes of white hooded individuals carrying Confederate flags and tossing out Sieg Heil Salutes. I could not believe what I saw. Nazis? The Klan? Everyone knew these were the ultimate bad guys.

The program stayed with me all these years because of one scene of a proud mother in sheet and hood, holding her little girl, dressed the same, teaching her to Sieg Heil Salute. How can a mother warp a child’s soul like into a vessel of such hatred and intolerance? Who were these people? Why was this allowed?

The government had to know there were Nazis in America, and I wanted to know what they were doing about it. My impulsive teenage brain decided the best person to address these questions was none other than the President of the United States, Ronald Reagan.

Dear Mr. President

In the letter I typed to the President that very day, I explained about the program and my shock. We fought a war against everything Nazis stood for. I explained allowing them to exist in America hurt our international standing as the land of democracy and freedom. I asked to know what his government was doing about them.

My parents were proud of my concern, but flipped out when I showed them the letter. They figured the FBI would show up at our front door for writing the President. I suppose they were of the belief you did not want to draw attention to yourself from the Fed. My mother allowed me to mail the letter after I added my age. I suppose this way the Fed didn’t think I was some crazed anarchist looking for trouble.

I kept many things from my youth but not the response I received months later. The letter came from the Department of Justice. They thanked me for reaching out and explained President Reagan received too much mail to respond personally. The White House forwarded my letter to the Department of Justice. Maybe if the letter referred to my points, I would remember their response in more detail. I believe it was a form letter of how they’re keeping America safe, blah blah blah; nothing of substance.

So here we are in 2025. Nazis and racist don’t feel the need to hide anymore and they have actually have a President to worship who considers them “some very fine people.” Maybe some day, we will rid the world of this pestilence once and for all. I sincerely hope I do not have to wait another 40 years to see it.