President Ronald Reagan's Blood … For Sale?!?
May 22 2012, Published 8:00 a.m. ET
What, no jellybeans were available?
An auction peddling what's purported to be a vial of late President Ronald Reagan's blood has generated thousands of dollars in bids -- and a heaping helping of controversy.
The vendor selling the vial claims his mother pulled the actor-turned-politican's blood at the Bio-Science Laboratories in Maryland. The blood, the vendor said, was initially drawn at the George Washington University Hospital following the president's March 1981 shooting at the hands of John Hinckley, an obsessed Jodie Foster fan who was trying to impress the actress with the outrageous crime.
But real or not, many tied to the country's 40th president have spoken out against the sale.
The executive director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, John Heubusch, called the sale "a craven act," pledging the foundation "will use every legal means to stop its sale or purchase.
“Any individual, including a President of the United States, should feel confident that once they enter into the care of a medical system their privacy and rights are held inviolable,” he said.
Dr. Joseph Giordano, who headed the hospital's trauma team when Reagan was shot, said that “people’s specimens or bodily fluids" have no place on the market.
“You have no permission to do that," the doctor said. "It’s unethical.”
The unidentified seller said he rebuffed requests to donate the vial to the late president's family.
"I was a real fan of Reaganomics and felt that President Reagan himself would rather see me sell it rather than donating it," the vendor said in a statement.
The auction is being held at PFCauctions.com, which is based in the United Kingdom.
RELATED STORIES:
Bee Gees’ Robin Gibb Loses Battle With Cancer, Dead At 62
Mary Kennedy’s Body Sparks Family Feud Over Burial Rights
Donna Summer Dead At 63, Didn’t Reveal How Sick She Was
Inside The Tragic Curse Of The Kennedy Family
Never Miss an
Daily updates from the heart of Hollywood, right to your inbox
By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you’re agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
