Presented in this lot are typed letter signed by the 31st President of the United States, Herbert Hoover, replying to a letter from a Dr. Robert A. Peers in regard to Truman’s efforts to alleviate the famine caused by the devastation of World War II. Hoover became the head of the Commission for Relief in Belgium, an international relief organization that provided food aid to occupied Belgium, and for his efforts was appointed to the Food Administration by President Woodrow Wilson. Known as the “Food Czar,” Hoover led the American Relief Administration that provided food to central and eastern Europe after the war. Hoover rode this wave of goodwill to the Republican nomination for President and won the 1928 Election. Shortly after he took office, the stock market crashed and his attempts at reviving the economy without federal intervention were as unpopular as they were unsuccessful, and he lost reelection to Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932. Truman, seeking Hoover’s counsel on how to best feed a war-torn populace, turned to Hoover, whom many deemed an expert in the field. The 11 x 8 ¾ -inch letter from Dr. Peers to Hoover is on yellow paper and is dated June 1, 1945. The letter is addressed to the Towers at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City, New York, and Dr. Peers refers to Hoover as “My dear Chief,” striking a deferential tone. Dr. Peers was an expert in Tuberculosis and served as the mayor of Colfax, California from 1922-1945. The contents of the letter decry former President Franklin D. Roosevelt, whom Dr. Peers calls, “A prima donna” and chastises the late President for his supposed shortcomings and goes on to state that he hopes Truman calls on Hoover for consultation and listens to the advice given by the former President. The typed letter by Dr. Peers features some edging and toning. Hoover responded on a “HERBERT HOOVER” black embossed letterhead on June 8, 1945, from the Waldorf-Astoria Towers, and expressed his appreciation for Dr. Peers letter and goes on to instill confidence in President Truman, noting, “He certainly wishes to do the very best for the American people” in the closing remarks of his letter. Hoover signed his name with a black steel-tip fountain pen. The 7 ¼ x 10 ½ -inch typed signed letter features some light paper folds and a few wrinkles and comes with an LOA from JSA (BB84010).

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