PRESIDENT HERBERT HOOVER - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 10/03/1957 - HFSID 351

HERBERT HOOVER
The former President writes as honorary member of The American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
Typed Letter Signed: "Herbert Hoover", 1p, 7¼x10½. The Waldorf Astoria Towers, New York, 1957 October 3. On personal letterhead to Frederick S. Blackall, Jr., Taft Peirce Manufacturing Co., Woonsocket, Rhode Island. In full: "I have your letter of October 1 with its invitation. My appreciation of Mr. Coonley is unlimited. But I am only an honorary member of The American Society of Mechanical Engineers and I think you will need to recruit regular members." FREDERICK S. BLACKALL, JR. had served as President of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers from 1953-1954. The Hoover Medal, presented by five national engineering societies including the ASME, is awarded to engineers who have committed themselves outside of their professional work to advancing the well-being of humanity. It is named in honor of its first recipient, HERBERT CLARK HOOVER (1874-1964), who had formed his own mining firm in 1908 and became a millionaire from the venture, 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 served as Secretary of Commerce under Presidents Warren G. Harding and Calvin Coolidge (1921-1928). The second President of four Presidents (with John Adams, Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan) to reach the age of 90, 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. Howard Cooney of The Walworth Company was a Director of The Research Foundation, a foundation for the advancement of science, from 1935 to 1963, when he was elected Director Emeritus. Fine condition.