PRESIDENT HERBERT HOOVER - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 01/12/1918 - HFSID 140181

HERBERT HOOVER
As Director of the US Food Administration, he signs a typed, war-dated letter to the Director General of the Pan-American Union.
Typed Letter signed: "Herbert Hoover", 1 page, 8x10½. Washington, D.C., 1918 January 12. On letterhead of the United Stated Food Administration to John Barrett, Director General, Pan-American Union, Washington, D.C. In full: "This will introduce you to Major Miles, who will represent the Food Administration at your meeting this morning. Faithfully yours". Herbert Hoover (1874-1964), a mining engineer and self-made millionaire, was to become Secretary of Commerce (1921-1932) and then President of the United States. Soundly defeated for re-election by Franklin Roosevelt in 1936 because too many voters blamed him for the Depression, Hoover remained active in public affairs as the author of many books and as head of two bi-partisan commissions in the Truman and Eisenhower Presidencies- called the Hoover commissions -aimed at reorganizing government and reducing its costs. Hoover's finest moments, however, may have come during and immediately after World War I, where he took on the personal mission of feeding war- and revolution-ravaged Europe. At first, the scope of his efforts were confined to Belgium, suffering under German occupation and British blockade. When the US entered the war in April 1917, President Wilson asked Hoover to head the US Food Administration, an effort to conserve food at home while distributing it abroad. Finally, after the war, he ran the American Relief Agency, which efficiently fed millions of Europeans without regard to politics. The Pan-American Union, forerunner of the Organization of American States, was an instrument for consultation and cooperation among the nations of the Western Hemisphere. As US Food Administrator, Hoover had an obvious interest in coordinating efforts with the other American republics. Lightly stained. Fold creases, not near signature. Pencil notes (unknown hand) on verso. Otherwise, fine condition.