1932 White House Letter Lawrence Richey Signed Hoover Lame Duck Era w/ Envelope For Sale

Rare 1932 White House Letter Signed by Lawrence Richey, Secretary to President Herbert Hoover, with Original Matching White House EnvelopeOffered here is an original 1932 White House letter, dated November 18, 1932, signed by Lawrence Richey, Secretary to President Herbert Hoover, and sent from The White House in Washington to Mr. Ronald Dexter Crafts of Newtonville, Massachusetts. The letter is accompanied by its original White House “Official Business” envelope, postmarked Washington, D.C., November 18, 1932, matching the date of the letter and the recipient address.This is a historically compelling piece from one of the most important and difficult moments in American presidential history. The letter was written only ten days after the 1932 presidential election, when Herbert Hoover had just suffered a landslide defeat to Franklin D. Roosevelt during the depths of the Great Depression. Hoover was still President of the United States at the time, entering what became one of the most tense lame duck periods in American history, as the nation faced unemployment, banking instability, economic crisis, and the transition toward Roosevelt’s New Deal era.The content of the letter is especially meaningful for the date. Richey writes that “The President was greatly touched to receive your message of confidence and good will,” and explains that Hoover was “so overwhelmed with work pressing for immediate action” that he could not write personally. This wording captures the pressure, urgency, and emotional weight surrounding Hoover’s final months in office.The recipient, Ronald Dexter Crafts, was a Newtonville, Massachusetts resident who appears in period Newton city directories as a Cambridge based “efficiency man,” a term used in that era for a professional involved in business efficiency, operations, process improvement, or industrial management. This adds an interesting historical connection, as Hoover himself was widely associated with engineering, organization, administration, and efficiency based leadership.This is not a Herbert Hoover signed letter. It is a White House letter sent on behalf of President Hoover and signed by Lawrence Richey, Hoover’s presidential secretary. Richey was a close Hoover aide and an important figure in Hoover’s administrative circle.The original envelope adds significant appeal, provenance, and display value. The letter and envelope both show the same recipient and address, and the envelope bears the White House official business imprint and a clear Washington, D.C. postmark dated November 18, 1932.Condition is consistent with age. The letter shows original fold lines, light toning, and normal handling wear. The envelope shows age toning, edge wear, small tears, and wear from opening and storage. Please review all photos carefully, as they are part of the description.A wonderful collectible for anyone interested in presidential history, Herbert Hoover, the Great Depression, White House correspondence, political memorabilia, postal history, or early 20th century American history.Includes both the original signed White House letter and the original matching White House official business envelope.