PRESIDENT HERBERT HOOVER - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 03/01/1933 - HFSID 260208

TWO DAYS BEFORE LEAVING OFFICE, HOOVER THANKS THE DIRECTOR OF THE U.S. EMPLOYMENT SERVICE FOR HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS. FROM 1930-1933, U.S. UNEMPLOYMENT ROSE FROM 9% TO 25%.
 
HERBERT HOOVER. Typed Letter Signed: "Herbert Hoover" as President, 1p, 7x8¾. The White House, Washington, 1933 March 1. To Hon. John R. Alpine, U.S. Employment Service, Department of Labor, Washington, D.C. In full: "Before leaving this office I wish to express to you my appreciation for the service you have given to our country and to this Administration. I know of the sacrifice you were called upon to make in order to enter the service in these difficult times and I know that all who know of your work have a high appreciation of your accomplishments. I want you to know of my gratitude for your continuing friendship to me." From 1906-1919, JOHN R. ALPINE was International President of the United States Association of Plumbers and Steamfitters. He later served as Vice President of the American Federation of Labor and was Acting President of the Federation in 1918 during the absence of President Gompers in Europe. On March 12, 1931, President HOOVER issued the following statement, in part: "I have appointed Mr. John R. Alpine of New York as Special Advisor to the Secretary of Labor in charge of the United States Employment Service activities to include the application at once of the emergency appropriation of $500,000 made, at my suggestion, at the end of the last session of Congress over and above the usual $380,000 per annum." By 1930, 9% of the U.S. labor force, 4.2 million people, were unemployed. Unemployment rose to 25%, or 12.6 million, by 1933. Hoover's presidential term ended two days after he wrote this letter. Lightly creased. Shaded at margins from prior framing. Browned at edges. Light ¼-inch stain at lower left blank margin.