PRESIDENT HERBERT HOOVER - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 04/13/1929 - HFSID 13482

HERBERT HOOVER
The new President writes to new Congressman McCormack who would become Speaker of the House 33 years later.
Typed Letter Signed: "Herbert Hoover" as 31st U.S. President, 1p, 7x8¾. The White House, Washington, 1929 April 13. To "The Honorable John W. McCormack, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C." In full: "I have your letter of April 11th and am making inquiry at the Navy Department as to the points you raise." Penciled note in upper left: "file/Navy Yard", possibly in McCormack's hand. HOOVER had been sworn in as President just five and a half weeks earlier. McCORMACK was just starting his illustrious Congressional career. On November 6, 1928, the day Hoover was elected President, 36-year-old McCormack had been elected as a Democrat to represent Massachusetts in the 70th Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of James A. Gallivan. That same day, he was also elected to the 71st Congress and was reelected 20 times, serving until his retirement on January 3, 1971. McCormack was House Majority Leader (1940-1947, 1949-1953, 1955-1961) and House Minority Whip (1947-1949, 1953-1955). He was elected Speaker of the House on January 10, 1962, to succeed Sam Rayburn, who had died on November 16, 1961. McCormack served as Speaker from 1962-1971. After the assassination of President Kennedy, McCormack was next in line to the Presidency from November 22, 1963 to January 20, 1965, when Hubert H. Humphrey was sworn in as Vice President. He was the last Speaker of the House to be put in that position because, in 1967, the 25th amendment to the Constitution was passed which provided for the appointment of a Vice President when there is a vacancy in the office. Soiled. Lightly creased. Overall, fine condition.