PRESIDENT HERBERT HOOVER - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 01/06/1927 - HFSID 27306

HERBERT HOOVER
The Secretary of Commerce regrets that he is unable to attend the inauguration of Hamilton Holt as President of Rollins College.
Typed Letter Signed: "Herbert Hoover" as Coolidge's Secretary of Commerce, 1p, 8x10½. Washington, D.C., 1927 January 6. On letterhead of Department of Commerce, Office of the Secretary, to Mr. Hamilton Holt, President, Rollins College, Winter Park, Florida. In full: "I have your letter of January 3rd renewing the invitation extended me to be present at the time of your inauguration as President of Rollins College on February 21st. I have given your kind letter and the invitation therein contained some considerable thought and in spite of my great desire to be with you at this time I cannot see my way clear to leave Washington so close to the end of the present short session. Official duties of many kinds have increased largely during the present period and their accumulation just prior to March 4th have made it necessary for me to decline all speaking commitments until well along in the spring or early summer. It is with a special regret that I am compelled to do this as I should greatly like to take advantage of the opportunity you have given me to visit the south at this particular time. I am, however, compelled under the circumstances to forego what I conceive to be a real opportunity to be of service and I trust that a future date when the pressure is somewhat relieved I will be able to be of more use. Yours faithfully". HAMILTON HOLT (1872-1951) served as the eighth President of Rollins College from 1925-1949. The author of numerous books, book reviews and articles, Holt dedicated the Rollins Walk of Fame on October 18, 1929. HERBERT CLARK HOOVER (1874-1964) served as the 31st U.S. President from 1929-1933. Blamed by many voters for the Great Depression, he was defeated in his bid for re-election by Franklin D. Roosevelt. Hoover, a capable administrator, had headed the Food Administration to provide relief to Europe and Russia during and after WWI, and he served as Secretary of Commerce under Presidents Warren G. Harding and Calvin Coolidge (1921-1928). The second President to attain the age of 90 years (John Adams was the first), Hoover lived a record 31 years after leaving the presidency. During his "retirement", he was appointed to commissions to oversee government agencies by Presidents Harry S Truman (1947) and Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953). Hoover also wrote a number of books and articles. Encapsulated. Lightly creased with folds, not at signature. Light paper clip impression and stain at upper left blank margin. Fine condition.