A ll my public life I have had four tests as to whether things are well with the American people: 1. Is representative government maintained in working order? 2. Are our defenses sufficient? 3. Is the Bill of Rights enforced in the country? 4. Are the doors of the churches and schools open, and are they contributing to the moral leadership in the country?

I have your most kind note of the sixteenth.

You are always able to put my conclusions in the better words.

All my public life I have had four tests as to whether things are well with the American people:

1. Is representative government maintained in working order?
2. Are our defenses sufficient?
3. Is the Bill of Rights enforced in the country?
4. Are the doors of the churches and schools open, and are they contributing to the moral leadership in the country?

I don't expect perfection. All I need to sleep well, is to know that they are moving in the right direction.

Now the essence of this is, Republicans cannot have a good campaign issue unless these things are being neglected or weakened. The Democrats already have an issue--give away all there is left.

So, can you pick a Republican issue which will stir emotions on these questions? Moreover, they must have a candidate who can pursue any failure in these tests with emotion.

If you think any of these angels would spark the mind of my good friend, Mr. Wood, you can show this letter to him. But being almost ninety, I am not certain but that these ideas are old stuff and banal at that.

Yours faithfully,

Herbert Hoover

Mr. Walter Trohan
Chicago Tribune Press Service, Inc.
Washington 5, D.C.

[The above letter is reproduced exactly as written and was obtained through the archives at the Library of Congress]