Scarce handwritten draft by Hoover in pencil, unsigned, two pages, 8.5 x 11, no date; stapled to the corresponding transcribed TLS signed "Herbert," one page, 7.25 x 10.5, August 14, 1959. Letter to his friend and assistant Lewis Strauss. The TLS, in part: “Now that this ten-day celebration of a birthday is over, there must be an appraisal of what the Strausses were doing about it: 1. You sent several implements of usefulness, such as the best radio I ever had. 2. You used the Foreign Service of the United States to discover two bottles of brandy brewed immediately when I was born into a bone-dry family. And the powers of Government succeeded in delivering one of them. 3. You provided an elegant and huge feast…4. You joined in the traditional song and made a nice speech…I am grateful.” Hoover's draft varies only slightly from the text of the final letter. In overall fine condition, with scattered creases. Handwritten pieces by Hoover are quite scarce, particularly of this length. RR Auction COA.
