Archive dating from 1926 to 1953 featuring ten TLS signed by Hoover. Dated July 25, 1939 typed on Herbert Hoover’s personal stationery addressed to Congressman, Hamilton Fish, reads in full, “Dear Mr. Congressman: I have your telegram. I do not believe the suggestion of using Central Africa as a new homeland for refugees has come to a point where it bears consideration. I understand that there is some negotiation for the discussion of the matter with different governments and that there are indications of some support. But any discussion of it now would probably be embarrassing to those governments. Yours faithfully, Herbert Hoover.” In 1939, Hoover worked as Chairman of committees to raise funds for Polish, Finnish, and Belgian relief. Another letter from Hoover to Congressman Fish written on May 19, 1943 is in regards to Fish’s telegram requesting that a hearing should be held by the House of foreign Affairs Committee on food relief for the children of the small democracies. In part, Hoover writes, “I deeply appreciate the purposes which Mr. Bloom and you have by moving in this matter. So far as I am personally concerned I feel that the time is not yet right for such an inquiry. Negotiations, I understand, are in progress and I should not wish to be placed in a position of anyway intervening in them. At some later period such an inquiry might be of great help to these desperate people.” In 1919 Hoover directed the American Relief Administration which fed 350 million people in 21 countries in the aftermath of the war. In an April 3, 1926 letter to Fish written on Department of Commerce stationery, Hoover write that he wrote Representative [Joseph H.] Parker, Chairman of the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce “upon his reference of the resolution you mention to this Department. This must be necessarily be considered confidential until he chooses to disclose it.” At the time, Hoover was the Chairman, Street and Highway Safety Commission. Hamilton Fish (1888-1991) served in the New York state assembly (1914-16), distinguished himself in World War I as captain of an African-American infantry company, and from 1920 to 1945 was a U.S. Representative. A leading isolationist and vigorous anti-Communist, once accused of having connections with the Bundists and with other Axis supporters, he was opposed for renomination in 1944 by Gov. Thomas E. Dewey and other Republican leaders. Fish was a staunch isolationist and strongly opposed America's involvement World War II. His noninterventionist stance, one of Franklin's D. Roosevelt's pet peeves -- introduced a resolution in the House taking cognizance of the bloody ordeal of millions of peasants in Russia, but it was buried in committee. Fish nevertheless won the primary but was defeated for reelection in November. Some of the other letters are addressed to Walter Reynolds, Chief Clerk of the Committee of Operations. In one letter in particular dated March 22, 1951, Hoover writes to Reynolds, “Bob McCormick and Chuck Coates have told me of the fine support and work you did in helping to put forward the entire program of reorganization in the Senate. This was a remarkable job of preparation and steering and I feel that it greatly improves the chances for favorable action on the Commission's proposals.” In 1947, Hoover was chairman of the Commission on Organization of the Executive Branch of the Government (known as 1st Hoover Commission) for President Truman. In fine condition. COA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and R&R COA.
