Herbert Hoover smiled, bowed, but made no speech in York
This newspaper account tells about candidate Herbert Hoover’s campaign stop at the Pennsylvania Railroad’s South Duke Street station in York, Pa. Unlike other presidents who stopped in York, Hoover did not give a speech. Background posts: U.S. Grant dines at Mick E. Dee’s and About Gettysburg and its famous speech and Where was Thomas Jefferson when Congress met in York?
Republican presidential candidate Herbert Hoover’s train made a whistle stop in York in July 1928.
The president issued a lot of smiles and bows. But in a move unusual for a presidential candidate visiting York, the future president made no speech during his brief stop attended by 2,000 people at the Duke Street railroad station, according to a newspaper report.
At one point, he seemed worried about the safety of the crowd when the train backed up and moved forward several times… .
“Mr. Hoover seemed to be keeping his eyes all around the rear of the car, fearing that someone might get too close and be injured,” the newspaper reported.
The crowd called Hoover to shake hands with “the colonel,” meaning John Ott, a well-known 81-year-old Civil War veteran. The candidate immediately complied.
As the train pulled away, Hoover shook hands with a small child, Ira M. Resher Jr., sitting on his father’s shoulders.
