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Lot #93
Herbert Hoover

A decade after both men lost to FDR, Hoover contacts his one-time socialist presidential opponent and jabs his “mistaken” economic views

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A decade after both men lost to FDR, Hoover contacts his one-time socialist presidential opponent and jabs his “mistaken” economic views

TLS, one page, 7.25 x 9.25, personal letterhead, November 4, 1942. Brief letter to American socialist and presidential candidate Norman Thomas. In full: “Your fight is so honest and steadfast for the essentials of national life that I can forget your (mistaken) economic views!” In fine condition.

Neither the economic views of the incumbent president, Herbert Hoover, not those of socialist candidate Norman Thomas (a six-time presidential candidate for the Socialist Party of America) were sufficient to halt Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s bid for the high office in 1932. However, something in Thomas’ message prompted Hoover to write this letter to his former opponent a decade after squaring off against FDR. Interestingly, with Americans tired of the Hoover policies being blamed for the Great Depression and Thomas proposing massive increases in federal spending and sweeping interventions into the private economy—pledges that garnered him only 2 percent of the vote—historians note that FDR ultimately employed many of the economic programs touted by the socialist candidate. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.

Auction Info

  • Auction Title:
  • Dates: #359 - Ended July 14, 2010





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