George HW Bush Unpublished ALS as President Encouraging a Gravely Ill Boy, and Wishing Him a Quick Recovery: Taking time from his hectic 1992 campaign schedule, he writes, ""Your dad is my friend. He told me you're fighting hard"".

October 1992 was the home stretch of the re-election campaign of President George HW Bush.  Although he had successfully managed and won the war in Iraq, a flagging economy and strong challenge from Governor of Arkansas Bill Clinton did not bode well.  And on October 1, Ross Perot, who had announced his candidacy in February and then withdrawn in July, re-entered the campaign, meaning there would be a challenge of a third party likely to draw votes away from Bush.

Bush had a close friend and political backer who helped him during campaign season, and whom he appointed to the American Battle Monuments Commission. This backer had a young son with Cystic Fibrosis who had hit a rough patch and needed surgery.

During this trying and busy time, Bush took the time out from his hectic schedule to write this sick boy, who was just 14 at the time.  Autograph letter signed, on White House letterhead, Washington, October 2, 1992. ""Dear Billy, Your dad is my friend. He told me you're fighting hard. Get well quick.  I'm thinking about you.  Good luck, George Bush."" This is a very uncommon Bush ALS as president.

This child would receive a lung transplant which dramatically increased the length of his life. It is a powerful and touching story that involved the personal intervention of the President of the United States.

We have withheld the identity of the boy for his privacy.  This unpublished letter has never before been offered for sale.