GEORGE D. AIKEN - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 01/31/1978 - HFSID 321249

GEORGE D. AIKEN
The U.S. Senator types this letter to a constituent, thanking him for supporting his view on the Vietnam war
Typed letter signed: "George D. Aiken", in blue ink, 8x10½. March 18, 1968. New York City, New York. In full: "Dear Mr. Lowe: Thank you for your note of March 13. I am glad to know you support the position I have taken on the Viet Nam war and appreciate your interest in writing. Sincerely yours". George David Aiken (1892-1984) was a politician and farmer from Vermont. Developing a strong interest in agriculture at an early age, Aiken became a member of the Putney branch of the Grange in 1906. He published Pioneering With Wildflowers in 1933 and Pioneering With Fruits and Berries in 1936. He also served as president of the Vermont Horticultural Society (1917-1918) and of the Windham County Farm Bureau (1935-1936). A member of the Vermont House of Representatives in1931, he kept that position until 1935. In 1936 he was elected Governor of Vermont, serving from 1937 to 1941. During his administration, Aiken reduced the state's debt, instituted a "pay-as-you-go" road-building program, and convinced the federal government to abandon its plan to control the Connecticut River Valley flood reduction projects. He was elected to the United States Senate on November 5, 1940, and was re-elected in 1944, 1950, 1956, 1962, and 1968. He was a proponent of many spending programs like Food Stamps and public works projects for rural America, such as rural electrification, flood control and crop insurance. He also had a great affection for the natural beauty of his home state, saying "some folks just naturally love the mountains, and like to live up among them where freedom of thought and action is logical and inherent." Normal mailing folds. Stained on bottom margin. Light surface creases. Lightly toned. Otherwise, fine condition.