Gibson wrote this daily journal when he accompanied Herbert Hoover around the world on the so-called food mission to assess needs and coordinate efforts in alleviating the famine caused by severe droughts and the devastation wrought by World War II. After Hoover’s successes in similar humanitarian ventures decades earlier, he was the perfect choice to head the Famine Emergency Committee established by President Truman on March 1, 1946. Hoover and his delegation traveled to nearly forty countries in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America between March and June 1946 (and again to Europe in February 1947). As Hoover’s close associate, Gibson provides a fascinating and lively account of the mission, making incisive comments on a wide range of topics, from their meetings with heads of state and other prominent figures to the general political situation and overall living conditions.

Beyond the focus on food, these fascinating and lively diaries cover a wide range of political and social issues. In the words of his son, Michael Gibson, “The result is a dizzying cross-section of the world just one year after the war ended.” Gibson often relates Hoover’s state of mind and some of his conversations with various heads of state and did, on occasion, paste newspaper clippings and menus into his diary.

ITINERARY

United States: New York (February 2)—pages 1–2

Bermuda (February 2–3)—pages 2–3

The Azores: Lagens (February 3–4)—pages 3–4

Germany: Frankfurt (February 4–5)—pages 5–17

Berlin (February 6–9)—pages 18–35

Hamburg (February 10)—pages 36–42

Stuttgart (February 11)—pages 43–53

Austria: Vienna (February 12–14)—pages 54–69

Italy: Rome (February 14–16)—pages 70–84

Germany: Berlin (February 16–20)—pages 84–96

Great Britain: London (February 20–22)—pages 97–106

Ireland: Shannon (February 22)—pages 106–7

Canada: Stephenville, Newfoundland (February 22)—page 107