 Exact forward-curve fit in the Hull-White model

Let $f_0(t)$ be the initial instantaneous forward rate curve and choose $r_0=f_0(0)$. In the Hull-White model, take $\beta (t)=f_0^{\prime }(t)+a{f}_0(t)+{\eta }^2(1-e^{-2at})/(2a)$. To verify the fit, write $r_t=x_t+\varphi (t)$ with $d{x}_t=-a{x}_{t}dt+\eta d{W}_t^Q$, $x_0=0$, and $\varphi (t)=f_0(t)+{\eta }^2(1-e^{-at}{)}^2/(2a^2)$. The Gaussian exponential formula gives $-{\partial }_T\log P(0,T)=\varphi (T)-{\eta }^2(1-e^{-aT}{)}^2/(2a^2)=f_0(T)$.