NEWTON D. BAKER - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 04/24/1916 - HFSID 291667

NEWTON D. BAKER
The Secretary of War greets a church minister who has moved to Washington, D.C.
Typed Letter signed: "Newton D. Baker" as Secretary of War", 1 page, 5½x9. Washington, D.C., 1916 April 24. To Rev. Paul R. Hickok, Metropolitan Presbyterian Church, Washington, D.C. In full: "I am very happy indeed to learn from your letter of April 22nd that you are in Washington and remember the old Goodrich House days so pleasantly. I thank you for your congratulations and good wishes and shall look forward to meeting you here. Cordially yours". Newton Diehl Baker (1871-1937) was Mayor of Cleveland, Ohio (1912-1915) before serving as President Woodrow Wilson's Secretary of War from 1916 to1921. It was Baker who, on June 27, 1918, pulled numbers out of a fishbowl, drafting men ages 21 to 31 into the military for World War I. Baker electrified the 1924 Democratic National Convention with a fiery speech advocating US membership in the League of Nations and a return to Wilsonian principles in foreign policy. He was considered a possible Democratic Presidential candidate as late as 1932. Goodrich House was a Cleveland settlement house affiliated with the Presbyterian Church which taught English, business skills and American customs to recent immigrants. Multiple mailing folds. Lightly worn. Paper clip imprint at top edge. Otherwise, fine condition.