Description:

Coolidge TLS Addressed to Former Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission

A 1p typed letter signed by 30th U.S. President Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933), as "Calvin Coolidge" near the bottom center. [Washington, D.C.], February 7, 1925. Typed on watermarked bifold stationery with "The White House / Washington" letterhead embossed on the first page. The remaining pages are blank. Expected wear including flattened folds and wrinkles, with a few paper clip impressions found at the upper left. Else near fine. 7" x 8.875."

President Coolidge wrote this note acknowledging receipt of a letter from Edward Nash Hurley (1864-1933), former Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission from July 1916 to January 1917.

In part:

"Thank you for your note of January 31st. The suggestion you make is a most interesting one, and, backed by your own experience both as a man of business and as the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, it is entitled to the careful consideration that it will receive…"

Hurley's suggestion to Coolidge was somewhat radical, as we can see by accessing a digital copy of his original letter through the Library of Congress's American Memory Project, specifically the Calvin Coolidge Papers, Federal Trade Commission, 1923-1929.

From Chicago on January 31, 1925, Hurley had recommended to Coolidge that "there should be some recognized closer cooperation between the two bodies [the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Federal Trade Commission] and I would therefore suggest that you ask Congress to amend the Federal Trade Commission Act so that the Secretary of Commerce [then Herbert Hoover (1874-1964)] would become an ex-officio member of the Federal Trade Commission…" Hurley pointed out a precedent for this measure; the fact that U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Andrew W. Mellon was already an ex-officio member of the Federal Reserve Board.

A review of Coolidge's subsequent correspondence shows that he was true to his word in granting Hurley's suggestion "careful consideration." Coolidge forwarded Hurley's letter to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover on February 9, 1925. Hoover reviewed it, sending a draft of a return letter to Coolidge's office, which the president approved and sent to Hurley on February 12, 1925. The verdict: the Commerce Department would remain separate from the Federal Trade Commission in order to keep free of undue government regulation.

Edward N. Hurley, a Chicago entrepreneur with an engineering background, had become increasingly involved in politics during the Wilson administration. Hurley had previously served as Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission from July 1916 to January 1917. The Federal Trade Commission, established in 1914, was tasked with enforcing antitrust law and protecting American consumers from corporate threats ranging from trusts to false advertising.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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