PRESIDENT HERBERT HOOVER - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 06/15/1920 - HFSID 43952
Sale Price $795.00
Reg. $950.00
HERBERT HOOVER
Immediately after the Republican Convention of 1920, he signs a typed letter
to a female supporter of his Presidential bid.
Typed Letter signed: "Herbert Hoover", 1 page, 8x10½. New York
City, 1920 June 15. On letterhead of the American Relief Association to Mr.
William McCormick Blair, Chicago, Illinois. In full: "This is just a
personal note to express in part my gratitude for the generous support which you
have given to me. It has indeed been a great honor to have you feel that I am
fitted for the great office of President. The question as to who wins in these
contests is to me of no less importance than that we keep faith in the great
issues before us. We shall have years of great trial in the solution of most
difficult questions and, although we have not had our own way as to the tools of
their solution, we have no less obligation to stand vigorously for the right
handling of these issues. With my deepest appreciation of your friendship, I am,
Faithfully yours". Herbert Hoover (1874-1964), a mining engineer and
self-made millionaire, gained worldwide acclaim by administering American food
aid to Europe during and after World War I. In 1920, the Democratic Party
courted him as a potential Presidential nominee. (President Woodrow Wilson
was said to favor him, although the incumbent was so unpopular by 1920 that his
support might not have been much of an asset.) In any case, Hoover instead
sought the Republican nomination, making a strong showing in the California
primary and garnering a few votes on each of the ten ballots at the Republican
National Convention in Chicago. When that brokered convention finally
nominated Ohio Senator Warren Harding, Hoover endorsed him and made two speeches
on his behalf. He became Secretary of Commerce in the Harding and Coolidge
administrations (1921-1932), and in the latter year won the Presidency,
the last American to move directly from a Cabinet post to the White House.
Blamed for the ensuing Depression, Hoover lost his bid for re-election to
Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936. The greatest of his post-Presidential
accomplishments was his chairmanship of two "Hoover commissions" on
government reorganization under Presidents Truman and Eisenhower. Mrs.
William McCormick Blair (nee Helen Bowen) was the wife of a prominent Chicago
investment banker, related by marriage to several prominent Illinois
politicians, including Republican US Senator Joseph Medill McCormick. The US
Senate had passed the 19th Amendment - women's suffrage - three days
before the Convention, and the measure would be approved by 3/4s of the
states in time for women to vote in the Presidential election that fall.
Anticipating this result, the Republican Party seated female delegates for
the first time (27 delegates and 129 alternates). Without a complete list of
state delegates, it's impossible to know whether Mrs. Blair was a voting
delegate for Hoover, or just a well-connected spectator.Lightly browned
at edges with light paper loss at right edge. Lightly foxed. Fold creases, nor
near signature. Otherwise, fine condition.
Following offer submission users will be contacted at their account email address within 48 hours. Our response will be to accept your offer, decline your offer or send you a final counteroffer. All offers can be viewed from within the "Offer Review" area of your HistoryForSale account. Please review the Make Offer Terms prior to making an offer.
If you have not received an offer acceptance or counter-offer email within 24-hours please check your spam/junk email folder.