NARA Collection hh-fess — Collection hh-fess

Following a conversation with Senator Simeon Fess on 2/20/33, Herbert Hoover wrote Fess to record his analysis of key events and developments during the first five periods of Depression. Hoover's letter was written during the darkest days of his administration. The banking crisis of 1933 was entering its worst phase and Hoover was trying to reach an understanding with Roosevelt that would prevent a total collapse of the nation's banking system. Hoover also wrote a short letter to transmit his four page analysis in which he cautioned Fess that his letter "should not be communicated to anyone in the present time as it would only increase the conflagration."