"WITH THE AFFECTION OF HERBERT HOOVER": FIRST EDITION OF PROBLEMS OF LASTING PEACE, INSCRIBED BY PRESIDENT HOOVER AND CO-AUTHOR HUGH GIBSON TO ADMIRAL PRATT, HOOVER'S CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS

HOOVER, Herbert and GIBSON, Hugh. The Problems of Lasting Peace. Garden City: Doubleday, Doran, 1942. Octavo, original blue cloth, original dust jacket.

First edition of President Hoover and co-author Gibson's critically praised analysis of a world in crisis, published in the midst of World War II, an exceptional presentation/association copy inscribed to Admiral William V. Pratt, Hoover's Chief of Naval Operations—"To Admiral Wm. V. Pratt, With the affection of Herbert Hoover," continued in the hand of Gibson, "and Hugh Gibson."

This thoughtful and timely work of statesmanship was written in the midst of WWII by former President Hoover and diplomat Hugh Gibson. On publication Problems of Lasting Peace was highly commended as a "sane, forceful, stimulating discussion filled with many shrewd truths. It would be a fine thing if many of our own leaders would read it… [Co-author] Wallace's fervent idealism and Hoover's conservative realism both lead to the same conclusion: America's necessity to play a far greater role on the international stage of the future" (New York Times). "First Edition" stated on copyright page. In this work Hoover singles out Admiral Pratt, stating that never "did American military leadership ever rise to greater heights than under General Pershing and Admiral Benson, Pratt and Sims" (90). Pratt "expertly managed the enormous burdens placed on the department by American entry into World War I. In August 1918 Pratt became assistant chief of naval operations, one of the most responsible positions in the navy…. By 1929 he had achieved an admiral's four stars as commander in chief, U.S. Fleet, the top seagoing command." President Hoover then "asked the admiral to head the technical staff at the London Naval Conference in 1930…. Hoover hoped the admiral's moderate views would neutralize the more conservative stance his colleagues in the department had adopted" (ANB). Hoover subsequently appointed Pratt chief of naval operations and later wrote: "Admirals Pratt, Hepburn, and Jones genuinely supported what we were trying to do (Memoirs II:341).

Book fine; light edge-wear to original dust jacket. A near-fine presentation/association copy, very scarce inscribed by both Hoover and his co-author.