511912
Herbert Hoover
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Herbert Clark Hoover, 1874-1964. 31st President of the United States, 1929-1933. Typed Letter Signed, Herbert Hoover, one page, 7¼” x 10½”, on imprinted personal stationery, The Waldorf Astoria Towers, New York, New York, August 25, 1962.
Hoover writes to thank his correspondents for their words about his speech at the dedication of the Hoover Library in West Branch, Iowa, on August 10, 1962. In full: “That was indeed a heartwarming note - and I want you to know of my deep appreciation for your friendly expressions. / I am grateful for your approval of my suggestion for a stronger organization for peace.”
In his library dedication speech, Hoover called Communist nations “disintegrating forces” in the United Nations membership that had “destroyed the usefulness of the United Nations to preserve peace” because the Communist leaders sought world domination. He said:
But now we must realize that the United Nations has failed to give us even a remote hope of lasting peace. Instead, it adds to the dangers of wars which now surround us.
The disintegrating forces in the United Nations are the Communist nations in its membership.
The Communist leaders, for forty years, have repeatedly asserted that no peace can come to the world until they have overcome the free nations. One of their fundamental methods of expanding Communism over the earth is to provoke conflict, hostility and hate among other nations. One of the proofs that they have never departed from these ideas is that they have, about one hundred times, vetoed proposals in the Security Council which would have lessened international conflict. They daily threatened free nations with war and destruction.
In sum, they have destroyed the usefulness of the United Nations to preserve peace.
Hoover called for creation of “a new and stronger world-wide organization,” which he called a “Council of Free Nations,” that would “include only those who are willing to stand up and fight for their freedom.” It would not replace the United Nations, he said, but would act alongside it and “step in” when “the United Nations is prevented from taking action, or if it fails to act to preserve peace.”
It was an inflammatory speech of sorts. Little did Hoover expect that just over two months later, the United States and the Soviet Union would teeter on the verge of nuclear war over Soviet-supported installation of medium- and intermediate range ballistic missiles in Cuba—13 tense days of the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962.
This letter is in near mint condition. It has two normal mailing folds, but neither affects the signature. Hoover has signed boldly in black.
Unframed. Please ask us about custom framing this piece.
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