Hoover Thanks the Red Cross For Giving Medical Assistance

After World War I ended in late 1918, Herbert Hoover became head of the American Relief Administration, which organized shipments of food for millions of starving people in Europe. He did such a fine job in that capacity, saving millions of lives, that it made his reputation and led to his political career. In 1921, President Harding named him Secretary of Commerce. From there he would go on to the presidency. As for the American Relief Administration, it wound down its activities in early 1923 and concluded its efforts in June of that year.

Thomas Newkirk Phillips was a former White House pharmicist who went on to work for the Red Cross at its national headquarters in Washington. When World War I broke out, he was instrumental in coordinating Red Cross supplies being sent to Europe. After the war, he coordinated Red Cross medical assistence to Herbert Hoover and his American Relief Administration.

Typed Letter Signed on Commerce Department letterhead, Washington, February 3, 1923, to Phillips, thanking him as Red Cross representative for helping make the American Relief Administration’s work a success. “Now that the final reports have been sent to the President and to Congress on the disposal of the army surplus medical stocks, which by Congressional Act were turned over to the American Relief Administration, I want to express to you my warm personal appreciation for your very fine services in connection with the selection and handling of these stocks. Without your expert help it would have been a great test for us to build up a machine competent to take care of this intricate and highly technical problem. The way in which you handled the whole thing was more than satisfactory to us, and we are deeply in your debt.”