Letter Accepting the Resignation
of George H. Allen as Chairman of the President's Council on Physical Fitness
and Sports
Dear
George:
It
is with deep regret that I accept your resignation as a Member and Chairman of
the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, effective
I
have been fortunate to have had someone of your abilities and dedication as
Chairman of the Council for the past six years. Your accomplishments have been
many and you can take great pride in them. Among your outstanding achievements
are initiation of the Governor's Councils on Physical Fitness and Sports;
expanding the Presidential Physical Fitness Award program to include youngsters
from 6 to 9 years of age; establishing the US/USSR Youth Fitness Exchange
Program; establishing National Conferences on Youth Fitness and Fitness and
Aging; airing youth fitness public service television announcements that point
out the benefits of exercise in easing teenage stress; designating the month of
May each year as National Fitness and Sports Month; establishing 23 regional
clinics on physical fitness and sports; airing a continuous radio program of 18
public service announcements distributed to 4,000 stations nationwide;
inaugurating the ``Get Fit'' campaign; and planning the First World Congress on
Physical Fitness for All to be held next year in our Nation's Capital.
I
know your duties have been challenging and time-consuming, but throughout your
unprecedented tenure as Chairman, you have consistently met those challenges
with enthusiasm, energy, and dedication. You have my deepest gratitude for your
service to our Nation.
Sincerely,
Ronald
Reagan
My
Dear Mr. President,
It
is with a heavy heart that I write to you at this time. After much deliberation
with my family, business associates and valued friends, I feel that a decision
must be made pertaining to my various responsibilities.
Mr.
President, early in your administration you gave me the great honor of
appointing me Chairman of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and
Sports. I have enjoyed this tremendous challenge and have much pride over a
number of accomplishments. In fact, during these Reagan years, the Council has
been more productive than it has in its entire history.
Concurrently,
I have worked to establish and to fund the National Fitness Foundation. Similar
to my work with the Council, this has been and still remains to be a quite
demanding assignment. However, I am elated over the substantial progress we
have made.
Mr.
President, I have reached a point at which I am compelled to resign from my
post with the Council. I resign with great reluctance and sorrow, for there is
much yet to be accomplished with the many exciting programs which are well
underway.
I
am grateful to you for this honor, this splendid opportunity. I have worked
with all the vigor within me to serve you to the very best of my ability and I
am proud to have served in this capacity under you, Mr. President.
With
full and enthusiastic support for your administration, I look forward to
continuing my role as Chairman of the National Fitness Foundation.
Please
accept my warmest wishes to you and The First Lady.
Respectfully
yours,
George
H. Allen
Note: The originals were
not available for verification of the content of these letters, which were
released by the Office of the Press Secretary on November 18.