Handwritten and typewritten notes on official stationery signed by President George H.W. Bush and sent to Mike Ditka dated December 19, 1988 and January 6, 1993, respectively; the first expresses the President-Elect's gratitude to Coach Ditka for his support during Bush's successful 1988 presidential campaign while the second expresses condolences to Coach Ditka over his recent firing as coach of the Chicago Bears. Making the second note particularly poignant is the fact that President Bush had recently suffered a "firing" of his own, having been defeated by Bill Clinton in the 1992 presidential race; Bush remarks on this himself, writing, "I've been there and it doesn't feel good, so I'm thinking of you."

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