Herbert Hoover actually said...
As a result of meetings of General [William W.] Atterbury, Mr. [Patrick E.] Crowley, Mr. [Daniel] Willard, Messrs. [Mantis J. and Oris P.] Van Sweringen and other representatives of the Pennsylvania, New York Central, Nickel Plate, and Baltimore and Ohio Railroads, a plan for consolidation of the different railways in official classification territory (except New England) into four independent systems was agreed upon for presentation to the Interstate Commerce Commission.
Context
Statement on Railroad Consolidation.
12/29/1930