Description:

HERBERT C. HOOVER
Fine T.L.S. 2pp. 4to, on letterhead engraved "Herbert Hoover Washington", June 23, 1917 to noted financier Oswald Garrison Villard, owner and editor of the New York Evening Post. With the entry of the U.S. into World War I in 1917, Hoover was appointed by Woodrow Wilson as U.S. Food Administrator, an office which Congress did not grant full power to act until August, 1917. Basically acting prematurely in offering a position to his publishing ally, nonetheless Hoover boldly advises: "…Sorry I missed you yesterday, but it was unavoidable as the conference with the flour men…lasted longer than I anticipated. I was looking forward to…a long chat with you in which I could have told you some of the troubles we are encountering and something of our plans for the future. Of course, these plans are still tentative...until the people on the Hill have given us the full power to act...By August 1st…things will be so adjusted here that we will feel justified in calling upon you for your services. I mean by this, not only will our own plans be well matured by that time, but there will no longer be a question of any embarrassment to the Administration by your adhesion to it as a member of our organization. I cannot tell you how much we appreciate the support which your paper is giving to the Food Administration, particularly the articles by Miss King, who has evidently made a very close study of the food situation...". Hoover's very effective administration of the voluntary rationing and conservation of food throughout the nation added the verb "hoovertize" to the American vocabulary of the time. With a carbon copy of Villard's reply to Hoover's letter, in part: "…with genuine regret…it [is] impossible for me to join your staff, as I had hoped to on the passage of the food bill…I console myself with the thought that through the Evening Post…I may still be in the position of working for you and your cause…". Blind paper clip impression at top left, very good. Scarce content.

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January 20, 2010 10:00 AM EST
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