January 2014 Auction Ends Thursday, January 30th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/30/2014
Very intriguing Herbert Hoover typed letter signed his first year out of executive office. He writes on 10 December 1934 to journalist George A. Benson in the Albee Building in Washington, DC. That building housed the National Press Club at the time. On his personal stationery, Hoover's letter reads in full: ''My dear Mr. Benson: I deeply appreciate your most kind expressions. I would of course be greatly interested in the investigations you are carrying on. The persons who know most about it are such men as James, Miller, Warburg, Tugwell, Rand, Morganthau, Ballantine, Moley, Baruch, Ben Smith, Kennedy, Professors Rogers and Warren, Vanderlip, Le Blance and others in the Committee of [for] the Nation, Senators Glass, Robinson, Thomas, and Wheeler. Their knowledge of late 1932 and early 1933 would be most valuable, if they will disclose it. Yours faithfully, [signed] Herbert Hoover''. Hoover includes an additional typed ''Memorandum'' page, continuing, ''You might look up'' and lists 11 sources for Benson's reference, including speeches made in Congress and financial editorials in the New York Times. The sources that Hoover lists concern the rush on gold by the American public, which caused a run on the banks in early March. This, in turn, led to Executive Order 6102 which prohibited the hoarding of gold and the demand for individuals to turn over their gold to the government - a policy, one might imagine, that generated quite a bit of controversy. 7.25'' x 10.5'' letter and 8.5'' x 11'' enclosure are in near fine condition. Accompanying envelope, postmarked Palo Alto, Calif., on 10 December 1934, is in good condition.
Herbert Hoover 1934 Letter Signed Regarding FDR's Controversial Gold Policy -- ''...I would of course be greatly interested in the investigations...knowledge of late 1932 and early 1933...''
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