During The Post-World War II Economic Funk, President Truman Asks Banker Edward Hopkinson To Join An Economic Committee

HARRY S. TRUMAN (1884-1972). Truman was the Thirty-Third President, serving in that role during the end of World War Two and in the post-war period.TLS. 1pg. June 17, 1946. The White House, Washington. A typed letter signed Harry S Truman as President on official The White House letterhead. In the wake of World War Two, Truman wrote to investment banker Edward Hopkinson Jr. of Drexel and Company, asking him to serve on a Presidential economic committee. Dear Mr. Hopkinson: It is of vital importance to our country and to the stabilization of the international economy, that we proceed as rapidly as possible with another of the major objectives of our reconversion program: namely, to tie in our national productive capacity with the worlds reconstruction requirements. The conduct and financing of our foreign trade should be handled by private industry with the cooperation and such assistance as is necessary from the proper Government agencies. I am asking you to serve on a committee of 12 leading industrialists and bankers to draft a report on the problem, and recommendations for handling it, to be presented to the National Advisory Council which has the duty of preparing a definite plan of procedure. I do not hesitate to ask for your time and effort because it is a service which the country and the world gravely need at this time. A list of the members of this Advisory Committee is attached and I hop you will wire me your acceptance. Sincerely yours, Harry S Truman. A typed list of committee members is also included, as is the telegram by which Hopkinson accepted Trumans invitation. All three pieces are in very good condition with some toning.