Ronald Reagan Signs on to Appear in Milton Berle's Popular Texaco Star Theater in 1953: An early contract that predates even his work at General Electric Theater

Reagan had been sent to New York to see Berle by the producers of a film Reagan was starring in

At the time, the future president, though president of the Screen Actors Guild, was little involved in national politics, outside of the issues related to that organization's interests. He was, however, an outspoken opponent of supposed communist influences in the entertainment field.

Reagan would go on to greater prominence among the general and political audiences in late 1953, when he was hired as the host of General Electric Theater, a series of weekly dramas that became very popular. His contract also required him to tour General Electric (GE) plants 16 weeks out of the year, which often demanded that he give 14 talks per day. He earned approximately $125,000 (equivalent to well over a million dollars in 2021) in this role. The show ran for ten seasons from 1953 to 1962, which increased Reagan's national profile.

Texaco Star Theater was an American comedy-variety show, broadcast on radio from 1938 to 1949 and telecast from 1948 to 1956. It was one of the first successful examples of American television broadcasting, remembered as the show that gave Milton Berle the nickname ""Mr. Television"". At that time Reagan was seeking out national appearances and took advantage of an opportunity to appear on Berle's popular show.

Document signed, 3 pages, December 5, 1952, between Reagan and Sagebrush Enterprises, to appear on January 13, 1953, on the Texaco Star Theater for compensation of $3,000.

Berle's guests on that show included not only Reagan but singer/actress Dolores Gray. How did Reagan come to be on Berle’s show? Needing $150,000 to finish a movie that starred Reagan, the film's producers sent Reagan to New York to ask Berle to furnish the necessary funds as an investment. Milton misunderstood, thinking he had been offered a starring role in Reagan's movie. He arrived at the movie studio under that misapprehension, completely disrupting production.