One and a half pages, 4to, on his personal stationery. In part: “I was delighted to see the Nebraska result. I would like to know what interpretation the primaries permit in respect to your chances. The [William Jennings] Bryan vote (some of it) ought to go to you. I suppose Smith supported the New Deal, and some of his vote will go to your opponent. I am issuing a small book in mid-September which will express part of my ideas and I would be proud if any of it contributed to your ammunition…The continuation of AAA restrictions on a farmer’s liberty of action after the Almighty has removed the surplus would seem to me to disturb the Farmer’s mind. If they would take off the NRA so that the farmer could buy things at reasonable prices and let him have a free market for his own produce, he would, so far as he has anything to sell, be much better off. In any event, the farmer ought to wish he had those pigs back. I am afraid, however, that with all the New Deal activities they have subsidized about 80% of the people of Nebraska directly or indirectly and you may have a hard time. It is difficult to get the people to see that they are paying for this. The AAA hog tax is coming directly off the price of hogs, for the consumer has shown plainly that he will turn to other products and not pay the tax…” In the right margin of the first page, Hoover has written in his own hand: “Also how about maintaining a 30% tax on food in the presence of famine?”

The Agricultural Adjustment Acts and National Recovery Administration were the cornerstones of the New Deal. IN 1933, the AAA tried to reduce crop surpluses and raise prices; one program was to pay farmers not to grow. The program did increase national farm income, but the Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional in 1936. The NRA attempted to foster business by suspending anti-trust and price fixing laws. It hurt small businesses and raised consumer prices, and like the AAA, was declared unconstitutional. These government programs went against what Hoover believed would end the Depression, namely individualism, hard work and toughness.