Herbert Hoover Autograph Statement Signed As President on the Death of a Great Publisher

Sent out as a telegram, it offered condolences upon the sudden death of the publisher of the Chicago Daily News, an early Hoover supporter

Hoover praised Strong as “Courageous, independent, wise, staunch in every course that led to betterment of the city and the nation.”

Walter Strong was the publisher of the Chicago Daily News, and an early Hoover backer for the presidency. The two remained friends when Hoover became president, with Hoover turning to Strong for advice about press relations. In one noted instance, Strong suggested that with the Depression on, Hoover ought to cultivate better relations with reporters covering the White House. Strong died suddenly of a heart attack on May 10, 1931, at the age of 47. Hoover was close enough to Strong and his paper that he was consulted about who the next owner should be.

Hoover was understandably upset by Strong’s death, and rushed to send condolences to his widow Josephine. Autograph letter signed as President, sent in the form of a telegram, Washington, May 10, 1931, to Mrs. Strong care of Charles H. Dennis at the Chicago Daily News, offering his condolences. “Mr. Walter Strong was an outstanding publisher of a great journal. Courageous, independent, wise, staunch in every course that led to betterment of the city and the nation. His passing is a national loss. It is a deep personal loss to his myriad of friends.” The American Presidency Project lists this as among the presidential messages of President Hoover, and as such it is printed in full on that website. Probably the greatest of presidential rarities are Hoover autograph letters signed as President (we have never before had one in all these decades).

After sending this telegram, President Hoover handed it directly to Leroy T. Vernon, head of the Washington Bureau of the Chicago Daily News – Strong’s newspaper – from 1903 – 1934. He was also on very friendly terms with Hoover, and his description of Strong’s death, Hoover’s writing of this letter, handing it to him, and being sent as a telegram, are at the Hoover Library.This was obtained from the estate of one of Vernon’s descendants and has never before been offered for sale.