DWIGHT F. DAVIS - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 11/15/1926 - HFSID 26475

DWIGHT F. DAVIS. TLS: "Dwight F Davis" as Coolidge's Secretary of War, 1p, 8x10½. Washington, D.C., 1926 November 15. On letterhead of the War Department to Mrs. Hedley V. Cooke, President, League of Women Voters, Orange, New Jersey. In full: "I note with pleasure your reference in your letter of October 30th to your past acquaintance with me. Referring to your request for a speaker on compulsory training in schools and colleges, I am pleased to state that the War Department has no objection to any officer discussing this subject of his own volition. It is, however, contrary to War Department policy to require officers to participate in debates on compulsory military training. It is suggested that you communicate with the Commanding General, Second Corps Area, Governors Island, New York, who may be able to suggest the name of an officer of the Army of the United States who is capable of fulfilling the requirements of your request. 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. Lightly creased with folds, lower horizontal fold underlines signature. Lightly soiled at blank areas. Overall, fine condition.