HOOVER, HERBERT. (1874-1964). Thirty-first president of the United States. TLSs. (“Herbert Hoover”). 5pp. Small 4to. New York, 1943-1947. Four letters to American academic, journalist and editor of the American Review of Reviews ALBERT SHAW (1857-1947).

TLS. ½p. 4to. New York, November 18, 1943. “It was not only a delight to hear from you again, but also to learn that you are still active. I do wish to thank you for your most kind expressions and I will be keeping my eyes open for the book…”

TLS. ½p. 4to. New York, Feb 1, 1944. “I wish to express my appreciation to you for your extending to me such understanding sympathy upon the passing of Mrs. Hoover…” With retained carbon of Shaw’s letter Jan 16, 1944.

TLS. ½p. 4to. New York, January 4, 1946. “I feel greatly flattered to be among those who are quoted by so discriminating a person. And I wish you all the agreeable things that can come out of this troubled year…” With Shaw’s retained carbon. Both pieces are damp stained.

TLS. ½p. 4to. New York, January 25, 1947. “It was good of you to write me. If I can hold up mentally as well as you have, I shall have led a satisfactory life from now on. When I get back from this journey, I will be delighted to have a talk with you about some of the things you suggest…”

A Quaker and a mining engineer, Hoover gained international attention during World War I when running the United States Food Administration, which distributed food and supplies to Europe. He was later appointed Secretary of Commerce by President Harding and promoted studies which led to the construction of the Hoover Dam and the St. Lawrence Seaway. During his term as president, from 1929 to 1933, he witnessed the stock market crash and hardships brought on by the Great Depression, for which he was blamed. Preaching a philosophy of “rugged individualism,” Hoover was soundly defeated by Roosevelt in 1932. He retired from public life until he was named chairman of a commission to reorganize the executive branch of government. Throughout the 1930s, “he opposed every substantive measure for depression relief, including attacking ‘radical influences’ in Washington,” (Encyclopaedia Britannica).

Hoover’s wife, First Lady Lou Henry Hoover (1874-1944), was a fellow Stanford graduate and the only female geology major at the time. She later accompanied her husband to China, where he worked as a mining engineer, and became fluent in the language; she remains the only first lady proficient in an Asian language. During World War I, Mrs. Hoover assisted her husband in his distribution of food and supplies to Europe. Lou Hoover served as president of the U.S. Girl Scouts from 1922 to 1925 and again from 1935 to 1937.

Shaw authored articles about Hoover in the Review of Reviews, including “Mr. Hoover as President” in July 1932.

Accompanied by a printed condolence card on the death of his wife, two form letters with stamped signatures and a copy of a talk Hoover gave at Wilson College October 13, 1945 “Moral and Spiritual Recovery from War,” which was later published in the July 1946 issue of American Scientist. In excellent condition except where noted.