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AP
This undated image released by PFCAuctions shows a vial supposedly containing Ronald Reagan's dried blood residue.
An auction house announced Thursday that it plans to donate a vial containing dried blood residue said to be from President Ronald Reagan to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation instead of selling the item.
The vial had been taken from a laboratory that tested Reagan's blood for lead in the days after he was seriously wounded by a would-be assassin in 1981. In a statement, the auction house said "we have negotiated with the consignor to arrange for the item to be withdrawn from the auction and donated to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, a considerable financial gesture from the consignor."
Bidding for the items on the PFC Auctions website was at $30,086 when the item was pulled, according to the company. The bid deadline was set for Thursday evening.
Read the original report at NBCLosAngeles.com
After it was removed from the laboratory by someone who worked at the lab, the vial was obtained during a February auction in the United States. The lot description said the vial holds a "sample of President Ronald Reagan’s blood after an assassination attempt in 1981."
Officials with the Reagan Foundation said they were pleased the vial would be kept "out of public hands." Earlier this week, the foundation's executive director called the auction a "craven act."
Reagan's family and his surgeon also criticized the proposed sale.
First story at NBCWashington.com: Vial of Ronald Reagan's blood up for sale
"We are very pleased with this outcome and wish to thank the consignor and PFC Auctions for their assistance in this matter," said John Heubusch, executive director for the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation.
"While we contend that the removal of the vial from the hospital laboratory and the U.S. auction sale in February 2012 were not legal acts in our opinion, we are grateful to the current custodian of the vial for this generous donation to the Foundation Ensuring President Reagan’s blood remains out of public hands."
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The consignor, a collector of presidential memorabilia who asked to remain anonymous, purchased the vial for $3,550 at the February auction.
"I just don't think people should profit from it," said Joseph Maddalena, of Profile in History Auction House in LA. "I would never do it. It's kind of poor taste. Selling somebody's blood? It's a little creepy."
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Leave a Comment:
Actually the real secret is - Romney has bought it. Now Romney can claim Reagan's mantra. Romney used the blood money earned from the Bain Capital for a purchase of the Reagan blood.
Can't understand why anyone would want this...yuck
Use the Blood to create a clone to save this country from destruction. "Trust but Verify".
the "Boys from Bel Air"
This has to be like the holy grail of the GOP. Im sure the consigner was a super PAC. Many conservatives are probably rethinking their stance on cloning. They talk about Reagan like he was the second coming.
They didn't give the results...
They didn't want the right wingers masturbating with it or injecting it into themselves so they could say that they ACTUALLY had Reagan's blood coursing through their veins!
eww
But it was shed for our sins!
Who would do such a thing and why?
WTH???
Hell Yes sell the damned thing... It's just a true world application of Reaganomics... which is just as tasteless as the auction itself.
I guess people missed this article:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35301574/ns/health-pregnancy/t/newborn-blood-used-research-angers-parents/
i'm trying to figure out why anybody would think selling a vial of an ex very dead president's blood is wrong, immoral, whatever... especially when it is part of history...
if anybody wants to explain why, please only do so with LOGIC... and restrict yourself to the issue, not what you may or may not think of ME for asking this question.... that's irrelevant (but so many people attack the messenger instead of the message nowadays because most people don't know how to have an INTELLIGENT conversation)...
Seems noone wants to have a conversation with you. With that attitude, no wonder.
All along I've wondered why conservatives keep genuflecting to this boob and now I get it. They want to annoint Ronnie as a patron Saint of something or other and the blood thingy fits in perfectly: Blood residue in a vial is a perfect opportunity for one of his reliquaries. Saint Ronald!
This story is creepy.