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A hat presented as a possible Brazilian gift to Ronald Reagan in 1982 sparked curiosity on the Las Vegas show, gathering documents, old photos, and reports that raised new questions about the true origin of the object
The show Pawn Stars presented a story involving Brazil, Ronald Reagan, and a hat.
An unidentified man brought to the location a cowboy hat that he claimed belonged to the former President of the United States. He reported having received the item after purchasing it from a “former President of Brazil“.
The all-black hat has the name “Otávio” engraved in white letters on one side.
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According to the seller, the accessory was originally used by Reagan during his term. The man stated he had never seen anything like it and placed the selling price at US$ 5,000.
The Origin Told by the Seller to the Show
In a conversation with Rick Harrison, the seller explained that he acquired the hat from the daughter of David C. Fischer, Reagan’s assistant during the first term from 1981 to 1989.
He commented that he believed in the historical value of the object because Reagan had a ranch and participated in Western films when he was an actor.
To support his version, the hat owner brought two materials. The first was a letter signed by Fischer.
The second was a clipping from the cover of Correio dated December 3, 1982. In the published image, Reagan is seen holding a hat similar to the one presented in the shop, during his exit from the American Embassy after an official visit to Brasília.
The Letter Presented as Proof of Authenticity
In the letter handed to the shop owner, Fischer wrote that he accompanied the president on all trips and was present at the moment recorded by the newspaper. He reported that he traveled with Reagan through Latin America and confirmed he was by his side when the hat was given. The assistant also stated that the president gave him the object, which became part of his personal collection.
Fischer declared that he left the collection to his daughters, who decided to sell items they did not wish to keep. He added that the newspaper accompanying the hat would serve as additional documentation to confirm the validity of the story, reinforcing the connection between the object and the moment recorded on the cover.
The Dedication and the Divergence in Dates
In addition to the documents, the seller showed a dedication written in blue ink on the inner brim of the hat. The text read: “Mr. Regan, it is with pleasure that we offer you this hat that symbolizes the opening of democracy.” The content was presented as further evidence of the origin of the object.
However, Harrison noticed a problem. The dedication had the date of December 2, 1983, while Reagan’s visit to Brasília, shown on the newspaper cover, took place on December 3, 1982. The seller replied that the person responsible for the writing might have confused the year.
The Buyer’s Decision in Light of the Inconsistency
Even claiming to believe that the hat could be Reagan’s, Harrison pondered the difficulty of resale. He argued that potential buyers would question the difference in dates and that it would be challenging to justify the mistake. Because of this, he stated that he could not complete the purchase.
He explained to the seller that, despite appreciating the story, he could not acquire the item while the documentation did not match. The hat owner listened to the justification and left the location without concluding the deal.
The Investigation by Correio Braziliense After the Show
After the repercussion, Correio Braziliense decided to investigate the story. The newspaper checked its own archive and consulted the company’s Documentation Center.
The investigation showed that the hat was not delivered by a former Brazilian president, contradicting what the seller had reported to the show.
The clipping presented to the shop owner only contained the isolated photo used on the show. However, in the complete edition of the newspaper, there were additional details just below the image.
The headline read: “At the embassy, Otávio Lage’s hat,” indicating that the accessory was placed on Reagan’s head during a relaxed moment.
The True Moment of the Hat Delivery
The period report explained that the reception took place at the American Embassy. According to the text, the meeting ended in a relaxed manner, with a light and good-humored atmosphere. Through conversations with embassy workers and students, the newspaper recorded that Reagan put on the hat belonging to Otávio Lage.
The gift was reportedly given by two children studying at the American School. The newspaper classified the gesture as unexpected but did not develop the relationship between the children and the politician who governed Goiás from 1966 to 1971. However, it made it clear that the accessory was delivered in the school environment.
What the Letter Presented on the Show Said
The letter from Fischer mentioned on the show stated that the hat “was given” to the president. However, there was no reference to a former Brazilian president as responsible for the gift. During Reagan’s official visit, Brazil was governed by João Figueiredo, still during the military regime.
The divergence between what was in the Correio’s archive and the seller’s account revealed gaps in the story presented on the show. Nevertheless, the documents and the photo remained as records of the moment when Reagan wore the hat during his visit to Brasília.
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