DWIGHT F. DAVIS - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 10/15/1925 - HFSID 291680

DWIGHT F. DAVIS
Coolidge's Secretary of War responds to a man in New York thanking him for sending good wishes on future work at the War Department.
Typed Letter signed: "Dwight F. Davis" as Secretary of War, 1 page, 7½x10½. Washington, 1925 October 15. On War Department letterhead addressed to Mr. H.J. Davenport, President, Midwood Trust Company, Brooklyn, New York. In full: "Dear Mr. Davenport: Thank you for your letter of congratulations. It was good of you to write me and I am very glad to have your good wishes for the successful carrying on of the work of the Department. Again, many thanks. Sincerely yours," Dwight Filley Davis (1879-1945), who is best remembered as the founder of the Davis Cup international tennis competition, was a member of the U.S. team that won the first two competitions in 1900 and 1902, serving as Captain of the 1900 team. Davis had been the runner-up at the U.S. Championships in 1898, and he then won the men's doubles title (with Holcombe Ward) in 1899, 1900 and 1901 and was a men's doubles runner-up at Wimbledon in 1901. Although trained as an attorney, Davis never practiced law after becoming involved in politics. He was the Public Parks Commissioner of St. Louis, Missouri from 1911-1915 (during which time he created the first municipal tennis courts in the U.S.) before serving as Assistant Secretary of War (1923-1925) and Secretary of War (1925-1929) under President Calvin Coolidge. Davis, who then served as Governor General of the Philippines (1929-1932), was hosting Republican Speaker of the House Nicholas Longworth when Longworth died unexpectedly of pneumonia on April 9, 1931. Multiple mailing folds. Minor notch at left edge. Unknown residue at lower edge. Otherwise, fine condition.