Life, 1928-08-09 · page 5 of 40
Life — August 9, 1928 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **satirical open letter** from humorist Will Rogers to President Herbert Hoover, published in *Life* magazine. Rogers challenges Hoover to a public debate, using humor to mock the president's reluctance to engage directly with opponents. The satire works through **contrast**: Rogers catalogs his own modest accomplishments (traveling, telling jokes, observing politics) against Hoover's grander achievements (building dams, international diplomacy), then argues that despite these differences, Hoover should still debate him—suggesting Hoover is *avoiding* direct confrontation. The **cartoon below** depicts this challenge visually: a figure labeled "THE BUNK" lies in a bunk bed while two figures (likely representing Rogers and Hoover) discuss throwing things at a target, humorously illustrating the debate challenge. The piece lampoons Hoover's public persona as evasive and overly cautious during what was likely the **Great Depression era** (when public confidence in leadership was low).
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
OUR CANDIDATE CHALLENGES HOOVER “To Joint Debate — in Any Joint You Name”’ Mr. Hersert Hoover, Being informed, somewhere in California, Dear Mr. Ex-Secretary: Herbert I kinder hate to send you this challenge, For you are a good fellow and I think a lot of you, But it just looks like the only way we can get the “Issues” of the day straightened out is on the Platform in a Joint debate. You know the American custom is when you can’t beat a man at anything why the last straw is to Debate him. Judge Lindsey went around the Country meeting all comers, Nicholas Murray Butler will debate you quicker than he will agree with you. Now I am not one of those promiscious Debaters like the above mentioned, I won't just debate with anything, or any- body, | am kinder exclusive in my selec- tions. . There is just millions of Guys I wouldent waste a Debate on, But in the natural course of events it looks like I by WILL ROGERS am going to have to take you and Al on before the votes are in the can this fall. So I thought I would start in with you and see how I made out, and if I had any luck against you why then I would take on Al. You know Al will debate you, Where Al comes from all you need to do to start a Debate is drop a Hat. There was a fellow named Miller in New York that used to run for Governor, and the only times you ever heard of him was when he was either running against Al, or debating against him. Al could beat him as easy at one as he could the other. Now as to the place, as neither one of us seem to have any home, why we are just as liable to meet accidentally some place as we would be on purpose. We are both cosmopolitans in a way. You have traveled further than I have but you havent been any more places. While you know China, and India, I know Oklahoma, and Texas. If you think you have been to the far corners of the earth you ought to try to get back home from Seattle some ume. While you have mined for Gold in South Africa, I have told jokes and passed the Hat in North Carolina. While you was building a Dam in Hindustan, I was trying to find out where Pat Harrison lived in Mississippi. You hunted Diamonds in Kimberley, while I found a Democrat in North Da- kota. While you was feeding the starving Belgians, 1 was throwing Corn bread and bacon to famished little Rogerses in Bev- erly Hills. An Armenian never saw the day he could run through with more rub than one of my Gang. So I will meet you anywhere that you will draw up the Blue Prints for—in Joint debate—in any Joint you name. Now the rules of the Debate are as follows, the first half of the debate is to settle on what the “Issues” are that we are to debate on, and the last half of the Debate is just to Debate on ‘em. In case there is No Issues, like it would comicbooks.com