Petrelis Files

It appears as though I was wrong in an earlier post about when Reagan may have first spoken the word AIDS in public.

Several friends and AIDS activists have informed me that Reagan's February 6, 1986, directive to Congress was only a written message. Reagan did not actually speak those words publicly.

So 'm back to saying his first public utterance of the word AIDS was at AmFAR's 1987 benefit in Washington.

My friend James Wentzy, of ACT UP New York, has footage of Reagan saying AIDS at the 1987 event. You can email him at actupny@panix.com.