A PAIR OF LETTERS RELATING TO HERBERT HOOVER’S ELECTION AS AMERICA’S FIRST QUAKER PRESIDENT

HERBERT HOOVER (1874-1964). Hoover was the Thirty-First President of the United States. He was the first Quaker to be President.

A pair of letters written in January 1929, just before Herbert Hoover’s 1929 Presidential Inaugural. A Washington D.C.-based minister named Moses R. Lovell wrote a lengthy missive to Hoover on the subject of Hoover’s becoming America’s first Quaker President. Lovell, who was not a Quaker, gave Hoover advice about how and where to worship during his Presidency. Hoover responded with a brief thank you. Both letters are in very good condition.

a) TLS. 1pg. January 27, 1929. Miami, Florida. A typed letter signed “Herbert Hoover” as President-elect. “My dear Dr. Lovell: I have your kind letter of January 19^th. I deeply appreciate the suggestion you make. Yours faithfully, Herbert Hoover”.

b) TLS. 2pgs. N.d. [January 19, 1929]. Washington D.C. A lengthy, typed letter signed “Moses R. Lovell” on letterhead of the Mount Pleasant Congregational Church in Washington D.C. “Honored Sir: Allow me to express my sincerest congratulations on your election to the Presidency of our country and my earnest wish that all the bright hopes promised by your wise and constructive leadership may be achieved to the great benefit of our country and the world. I realize how manifold must be the concerns pressing upon your time and thought for immediate consideration in these pre-administration days. Yet, as a clergyman in the city of Washington, having at heart the best interests of religion for our community and the nation at large, I would submit for your careful attention the following suggestions that seem to me both exceedingly pertinent and timely. I believe that all of us rejoice to see, for the first time in history, the elevation of a Quaker to the chief office of the land, knowing that so much that is inherent in Quaker philosophy and character can greatly benefit our day and generation by being brought into prominence. I would surely regret to have anything done in the course of the next four years that would minimize in any way your connection with the religious faith that is yours and that of your family’s tradition. But in the light of the following facts—desiring above all else not to seem to intrude in any way upon the sacred preserves of a man’s own spiritual life—I would modestly suggest the following for your consideration: Whereas the Quaker churches of our capital city are but two in number and the seating of both most limited; And since the very essence of the Quaker service is the spirit of quiet worship, reverent meditation and uninterrupted devotion; And since wherever the President attends service has always been the mecca for great crowds of curiosity seekers and idlers, furthest in spirit from the essential mood and temper of worship which would be most detrimental to the atmosphere in which Quakerism thrives; Allow me humbly to suggest that such being the case, it might be most in accord with the best interests of your own church, the true advance of your own religious philosophy and the best spiritual interests of the country at large, if during your Presidency you should find it possible to adopt relative to church attendance the following suggestions: (1) Never to announce previously what place of worship you will attend on Sunday. (2) More frequently than anywhere else to attend one of the two Quaker churches in Washington. (3) Draw a circle one mile and a half in radius from the White House (this excludes my own church else I might be accused of selfishness in the matter) and on any given Sunday attend one of the various denominational edifices within that circumference. Thus insuring to the church of your own connection an atmosphere of worship unbroken by the presence of the merely curious. Thus establishing more fully the chief principle of Quakerism—the free and non-sectarian moving of the spirit in the hearts and minds of men. Thus giving presidential sanction to the spirit of the new day, the spirit of interdenominational and inclusive Christian fellowship. These, my dear President-elect, I submit with al humility, seeking not at all to interfere in the most private and sacred rites of a man’s own life, believing however that under the circumstances they are worthy of your consideration and of fair treatment by your always wise and discriminating judgment and convinced that favorable action upon them would serve best the spiritual well-being of our city and of the nation at large. Again let me express my sincerest congratulations, my earnest prayers for the success and high achievement of your administration, and my eager desire to assist in every way the well-being and enhancement of our common interests. Respectfully, Moses R. Lovell”.

AN OVERSIZED HERBERT HOOVER SIGNED PHOTOGRAPH

HERBERT HOOVER (1874-1964).  Hoover was the Thirty-First President.

PS. 13 ½” x 20”. No date. No place.  A giant Harris and Ewing studio photograph signed “To the 16^th Assembly District Republican Club With Good Wishes of Herbert Hoover” on the lower mount.  The 16^th Assembly District was most likely in California.  It is mounted to a board and has some faults to the lower left margin.  It is in very good condition.  This is the largest Hoover signed photograph I have ever seen.

HERBERT HOOVER (1874-1964).  Hoover was the Thirty-First President.

Telegram. 1pg. May 29, 1929. Washington, DC.  A telegram sent by Herbert Hoover, wishing Adolph Lewisohn a happy eightieth birthday.  Hoover notes “Mr Lewisohns valuable and unselfish labors in philanthropy and enterprises of civil altruism…please present my heartiest congratulations upon his birthday…”.  The Western Union telegram has faults, and is framed with a photograph of Hoover at a dias.

AN ANDREW JACKSON AUTOGRAPH NOTE SIGNED AS PRESIDENT, REGARDING SURVEYING

ANDREW JACKSON (1767-1845). Jackson was the Seventh President.

ANS. 1pg. October 11, 1836. N.p. An autograph note signed “A.J.” as President. It concerns Major W. J. McNeill, an engineer who was engaged in surveying northwestern land for the President: “Commercial agent & corresponding secretary Major McNeil topographicol [sic] staff if not already let him be ordered to his topographicol [sic] duty on the north western frontier A.J.”. The note is in very good condition with dark writing. It is mounted to another sheet, with an unrelated letter overlapping with it, yet not obscuring any of the writing.

LETTER WRITTEN ON BEHALF OF PRESIDENT ANDREW JOHNSON DECLINING A DINNER INVITATION JUST ONE MONTH AFTER HE SURVIVED IMPEACHMENT TRIAL: “I LOVE GREATLY TO PAY TRIBUTE TO A SELF MADE MAN – A SELF MADE MAN MYSELF HAVING RISEN FROM THE POSITION OF AN ALDERMAN IN MY NATIVE VILLAGE THROUGH THE VARIOUS GRADES OF STATE LEGISLATOR GOVERNOR OF MY NATIVE STATE, REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS, SENATOR, VICE PRESIDENT TO THE HUMBLE POSITION I NOW HOLD AS PRESIDENT OF A GREAT AND GLORIOUS REPUBLIC”

ANDREW JOHNSON (1808-1875). Johnson was the Seventeenth President.

Letter. 2 pg. 8” x 10”. July 28. 1868. Washington, D.C. A letter written on behalf of “A. Johnson” to “Gentlemen” declining an invitation to a banquet celebrating the birthday of a mutual friend.  As Johnson disdained handwriting, this is in the handwriting of a secretary.  In giving the reason for declining the invitation, President Johnson cites “I regret exceedingly that my labors on behalf of an imperiled constitution will deprive me of the pleasure of paying due honors to your distinguished guest”. For Johnson, going to the banquet would be gratifying since he and the guest are self-made men: “I love greatly to pay tribute to a self made man – a self made man myself having risen from the position of an alderman in my native village through the various grades of state legislator Governor of my native state, representatives in Congress, Senator, Vice President to the humble position I now hold as President of a great and glorious republic…Permit me to thank you gentlemen, for your kind invitation and the opportunity it thus affords me to pay my humble tribute to a self-man made”. Johnson then concludes the letter by returning to his theme of an imperiled country: “Believe me, that pressing official duties alone prevent me from meeting around your festive band and raising my humble voice in offering a toast to that sacred and much violated instrument, the great work of our revolution of sires, a record which we are all bound to love and obey – the Constitution”. That year, President Johnson survived removal by the United States Senate by one vote over violations of the Tenure of Office Act, the culmination of a running feud with Radical Republicans in Congress over Reconstruction and civil rights for blacks. A list of the gentlemen addressed in the letter is given on the left side of the first page. The letter is in fine condition and an excellent example of Andrew Johnson’s mindset.

A BRIEF HANDWRITTEN NOTE BY ANDREW JOHNSON

 
ANDREW JOHNSON (1808-1875). Johnson was the Seventeenth President of the United States, attaining the position after Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. Johnson was a controversial President due to his Reconstruction-era policies, and he escaped impeachment by the narrow margin of a single vote.

 
ADS. 1pg. 6 ½” x 2 ½”. No date. No place.  An autograph document signed “Andrew Johnson” probably from his pre-Presidential days.  He wrote on a small slip of paper: Will Col  Edwards have this man replied to, and much Andrew Johnson”.  Johnson is one of the rarest Presidents in fully handwritten materials, such as this.  There is a small remnant of a wax seal at the bottom center and it is in fine condition overall with dark ink.