Changes

At a young age, Hoover was self-reliant and ambitious. "My boyhood ambition was to be able to earn my own living, without the help of anybody, anywhere," he once said. As an office boy in his uncle's Oregon Land Company he excelled in bookkeeping and typing, while also attending business school in the evening. Thanks to a local schoolteacher, Miss Jane Gray, the young Hoover was introduced to the novels of [[Charles Dickens]] and [[Sir Walter Scott]]. ''[[David Copperfield]]'', the story of another orphan cast into the world, was Hoover's lifelong favorite.

At a young age, Hoover was self-reliant and ambitious. "My boyhood ambition was to be able to earn my own living, without the help of anybody, anywhere," he once said. As an office boy in his uncle's Oregon Land Company he excelled in bookkeeping and typing, while also attending business school in the evening. Thanks to a local schoolteacher, Miss Jane Gray, the young Hoover was introduced to the novels of [[Charles Dickens]] and [[Sir Walter Scott]]. ''[[David Copperfield]]'', the story of another orphan cast into the world, was Hoover's lifelong favorite.

===Stanford===

===Stanford===

In 1891, Hoover entered the new [[Stanford University]] in California. Hoover managed the baseball and football teams, started a laundry, and ran a lecture agency. With the support of other students from less wealthy backgrounds against campus "swells," he was elected student body treasurer on the "Barbarian" slate.  It was the only election he ran in until he ran for president.

In 1891, Hoover entered the new [[Stanford University]] in California. Hoover managed the baseball and football teams, started a laundry, and ran a lecture agency. With the support of other students from less wealthy backgrounds against campus "swells," he was elected student body treasurer on the "Barbarian" slate.  It was the only election he ran in until he ran for president.

Hoover majored in geology, studying with Professor John Casper Branner, who helped him get summer jobs mapping terrain in Arkansas and Colorado. Hoover met [[Lou Henry Hoover]], a banker's daughter from Waterloo, Iowa. They shared a love of geology and the environment, and were both remarkably strong willed. Lou said, "It isn't so important what others think of you as what you feel inside yourself".  She became a Quaker when they married in 1899; they had two sons.

Hoover majored in geology, studying with Professor John Casper Branner, who helped him get summer jobs mapping terrain in Arkansas and Colorado. Hoover met [[Lou Henry Hoover]], a banker's daughter from Waterloo, Iowa. They shared a love of geology and the environment, and were both remarkably strong willed. Lou said, "It isn't so important what others think of you as what you feel inside yourself".  She became a Quaker when they married in 1899; they had two sons.

===Mining engineer===

===Mining engineer===

After graduating in 1895 Hoover worked as a clerk with a San Francisco consulting firm of Louis Janin. He joined the British mining firm, Bewick, Moering & Co. which sent him to the new mines in far western Australia.

After graduating in 1895 Hoover worked as a clerk with a San Francisco consulting firm of Louis Janin. He joined the British mining firm, Bewick, Moering & Co. which sent him to the new mines in far western Australia.

==Humanitarian==

==Humanitarian==

Bored with making money, the Quaker side of Hoover yearned to be of service to others. When [[World War I]] started in August 1914, he helped organize the return home of 120,000 American tourists and businessmen from Europe. Hoover led five hundred volunteers to distribute food, clothing, steamship tickets and cash. "I did not realize it at the moment, but on August 3, [[1914]] my engineering career was over forever. I was on the slippery road of public life." {{dictatorship-democracy-Hoover}}

Bored with making money, the Quaker side of Hoover yearned to be of service to others. When [[World War I]] started in August 1914, he helped organize the return home of 120,000 American tourists and businessmen from Europe. Hoover led five hundred volunteers to distribute food, clothing, steamship tickets and cash. "I did not realize it at the moment, but on August 3, [[1914]] my engineering career was over forever. I was on the slippery road of public life." {{dictatorship-democracy-Hoover}}

===Hoover Library at Stanford===

===Hoover Library at Stanford===

During this time, Hoover realized that he was in a unique position to collect information about the Great War and its aftermath. He worked with Stanford to support his Hoover War Collection and donated to it the extensive files of the Commission for Relief in Belgium, the U.S. Food Administration, and the American Relief Administration. Scholars were sent to Europe to collect pamphlets, society publications, government documents, newspapers, posters, proclamations, and other ephemeral materials related to the war and the revolutions and political movements that had followed it. The collection was later renamed the Hoover War Library, and the Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace.

During this time, Hoover realized that he was in a unique position to collect information about the Great War and its aftermath. He worked with Stanford to support his Hoover War Collection and donated to it the extensive files of the Commission for Relief in Belgium, the U.S. Food Administration, and the American Relief Administration. Scholars were sent to Europe to collect pamphlets, society publications, government documents, newspapers, posters, proclamations, and other ephemeral materials related to the war and the revolutions and political movements that had followed it. The collection was later renamed the Hoover War Library, and the Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace.

==Commerce Secretary==

==Commerce Secretary==

Hoover’s reputation, experience, and popularity together, along with the GOP record of peace and prosperity, made him the overwhelming favorite, especially since the Democrats were deeply split north and south over prohibition.  Hoover avoided the religious issue. (Quakers were themselves sometimes under attack as pacifists.) Historians agree that Hoover's reputation nationwide and the economic boom, combined with the deep chasm among the Democrats over religion and prohibition, led to his landslide victory.

Hoover’s reputation, experience, and popularity together, along with the GOP record of peace and prosperity, made him the overwhelming favorite, especially since the Democrats were deeply split north and south over prohibition.  Hoover avoided the religious issue. (Quakers were themselves sometimes under attack as pacifists.) Historians agree that Hoover's reputation nationwide and the economic boom, combined with the deep chasm among the Democrats over religion and prohibition, led to his landslide victory.

On the issue of poverty Hoover optimistically promised, "We in America today are nearer to the final triumph over poverty than ever before in the history of any land."

On the issue of poverty Hoover optimistically promised, "We in America today are nearer to the final triumph over poverty than ever before in the history of any land."  

Hoover won by a smashing landslide, carrying the more urban middle class areas of the South and nearly the entire North, apart from Catholic strongholds like New York City and Boston.

Hoover won by a smashing landslide, carrying the more urban middle class areas of the South and nearly the entire North, apart from Catholic strongholds like New York City and Boston.

==Presidency: Great Depression==

==Presidency: Great Depression==

Hoover later came under sustained and intense attack that he did nothing to reverse the depression. He tried any number of approached—but none worked and the economy continued to spiral downward.  His basic assumption, from 1929 to 1931, was that it was a temporary short cycle, and like all previous downturns would end shortly. Meanwhile, his job was to maintain public optimism, because pessimism would make people cut back further and prolong the downturn. Hoover was using the best available economic knowledge.  

 

 

Hoover later came under sustained and intense attack that he did nothing to reverse the depression. He tried any number of approached—but none worked and the economy continued to spiral downward.  His basic assumption, from 1929 to 1931, was that it was a temporary short cycle, and like all previous downturns would end shortly. Meanwhile, his job was to maintain public optimism, because pessimism would make people cut back further and prolong the downturn. Hoover was using the best available economic knowledge.

 

===Expanding public works===

===Expanding public works===

Hoover in late 1930 created The President's Emergency Committee on Employment (PECE), as unemployment reached 11%.<ref>Estimates of unemployment were only roughly approximate before 1933.</ref>  PECE tried to mobilize private charity and encouraged states, cities and Congress to increase public works spending as a stimulus.  They did so, and soon the states and cities were nearly bankrupt on their own. In August 1931, finally realizing this was not a normal cycle, Hoover replaced PECE with the President's Organization on Unemployment Relief (POUR), headed by Walter S. Gifford, president of American Telephone and Telegraph, the nation's largest private company.  POUR expanded, coordinated, and improved local and state relief efforts; but the economy relentlessly went lower.  

Hoover in late 1930 created The President's Emergency Committee on Employment (PECE), as unemployment reached 11%.<ref>Estimates of unemployment were only roughly approximate before 1933.</ref>  PECE tried to mobilize private charity and encouraged states, cities and Congress to increase public works spending as a stimulus.  They did so, and soon the states and cities were nearly bankrupt on their own. In August 1931, finally realizing this was not a normal cycle, Hoover replaced PECE with the President's Organization on Unemployment Relief (POUR), headed by Walter S. Gifford, president of American Telephone and Telegraph, the nation's largest private company.  POUR expanded, coordinated, and improved local and state relief efforts; but the economy relentlessly went lower.  

In early 1931 Hoover signed the Wagner-Graham Stabilization Act, which set up the Federal Stabilization Board to initiate public works such as dams and highways. Public works did increase throughout the decade after 1929, but not enough to cover the downturn in private construction, let alone all the other negative sectors.  In 1931 the mood in Congress—equally divided after the GOP lost seats in 1930—remained strongly opposed to federal relief; even the National Council of Social Workers refused to endorse relief as a principle at their convention in May. New urban slums—shantytowns derisively called Hoovervilles by the Democrats—were rising in the nation's largest cities.

In early 1931 Hoover signed the Wagner-Graham Stabilization Act, which set up the Federal Stabilization Board to initiate public works such as dams and highways. Public works did increase throughout the decade after 1929, but not enough to cover the downturn in private construction, let alone all the other negative sectors.  In 1931 the mood in Congress—equally divided after the GOP lost seats in 1930—remained strongly opposed to federal relief; even the National Council of Social Workers refused to endorse relief as a principle at their convention in May. New urban slums—shantytowns derisively called Hoovervilles by the Democrats—were rising in the nation's largest cities.

===Mortgages===

===Mortgages===

Hoover had played a major role in creating the long-term (20-year) mortgage in the 1920s. In times of prosperity mortgages accelerated national growth, as houses were built and lived in before people had saved enough to pay cash for one.  But in a downturn mortgages debt hurt the economy. people sacrificed current consumption to pay the mortgage so they would not lose the house and all the money they put in it. To pay the mortgage they gave up luxuries (like a telephone or new car), made do with old clothes, canceled vacations. The foreclosure rate pushed up and construction of new houses ceased.  It was much like 2008-09.  Like President Obama, Hoover moved to resolve the mortgage crisis. He called for the Federal Home Loan Bank Act (passed in  July 1932), that created a system of federal home loan banks to discount home mortgages. The Federal Home Loan Banks received $125 million in capital (comparable to $32 billion in 2009) to fund the home mortgages held by financial concerns.<ref>The "comparable" figures here are calculating by taking the same % of the GDP in 2009 as the sum was a % of GDP in 1930, 1931 or 1932.  This can be found by using these multipliers: to compare spending in 1929 versus 2009, multiply by 146; use 167 in 1930; 197 in 1931; 259 in 1932, and 268 in 1933.</ref>  Hoover believed that the ability of private lending institutions to secure new sources of capital would encourage them to make more construction loans and revive the industry. But it had little effect.

Hoover had played a major role in creating the long-term (20-year) mortgage in the 1920s. In times of prosperity mortgages accelerated national growth, as houses were built and lived in before people had saved enough to pay cash for one.  But in a downturn mortgages debt hurt the economy. people sacrificed current consumption to pay the mortgage so they would not lose the house and all the money they put in it. To pay the mortgage they gave up luxuries (like a telephone or new car), made do with old clothes, canceled vacations. The foreclosure rate pushed up and construction of new houses ceased.  It was much like 2008-09.  Like President Obama, Hoover moved to resolve the mortgage crisis. He called for the Federal Home Loan Bank Act (passed in  July 1932), that created a system of federal home loan banks to discount home mortgages. The Federal Home Loan Banks received $125 million in capital (comparable to $32 billion in 2009) to fund the home mortgages held by financial concerns.<ref>The "comparable" figures here are calculating by taking the same % of the GDP in 2009 as the sum was a % of GDP in 1930, 1931 or 1932.  This can be found by using these multipliers: to compare spending in 1929 versus 2009, multiply by 146; use 167 in 1930; 197 in 1931; 259 in 1932, and 268 in 1933.</ref>  Hoover believed that the ability of private lending institutions to secure new sources of capital would encourage them to make more construction loans and revive the industry. But it had little effect.

===Reconstruction Finance Corporation===

===RFC===

The most successful Hoover program—one that continued under FDR—was the [[Reconstruction Finance Corporation]], proposed by Hoover and created by Congress in early 1932. The collapse in the value of  assets combined with demands from panicky depositors to get their money out meant that many banks that were otherwise solvent, hoarded their money and refused to make loans.  It was much like the [[Financial Crisis of 2008]]. The RFC could make loans to banks, insurance companies and railroads. The Emergency Relief and Construction Act of  July 21, 1932, enlarged its power to allow for loans to state government and to farm agencies. The immediate aim was to restore confidence in  financial institutions generally and encourage them to start lending again, prevent ruinous bankruptcies that would further destabilize the shaky economy, and—hopefully—revive the economy  through the restoration of credit.  The RFC was capitalized at $500 million (comparable in size to $130 billion in 2009), provided by the  federal government, and it was empowered to sell $3.3 billion (comparable to $850 billion in 2009) of debentures. Through  the end of the Hoover administration $2.2 billion was actually loaned to authorized  borrowers (comparable to $590 billion). The RFC saved many railroads, banks, and insurance companies. Democrats limited its effectiveness by overly stringent security requirements for loans and by the decision of Congress to require public disclosure of borrowers, which virtually forced a bank to admit publicly it was in trouble.

The most successful Hoover program—one that continued under FDR—was the [[Reconstruction Finance Corporation]], proposed by Hoover and created by Congress in early 1932. The collapse in the value of  assets combined with demands from panicky depositors to get their money out meant that many banks that were otherwise solvent, hoarded their money and refused to make loans.  It was much like the [[Financial Crisis of 2008]]. The RFC could make loans to banks, insurance companies and railroads. The Emergency Relief and Construction Act of  July 21, 1932, enlarged its power to allow for loans to state government and to farm agencies. The immediate aim was to restore confidence in  financial institutions generally and encourage them to start lending again, prevent ruinous bankruptcies that would further destabilize the shaky economy, and—hopefully—revive the economy  through the restoration of credit.  The RFC was capitalized at $500 million (comparable in size to $130 billion in 2009), provided by the  federal government, and it was empowered to sell $3.3 billion (comparable to $850 billion in 2009) of debentures. Through  the end of the Hoover administration $2.2 billion was actually loaned to authorized  borrowers (comparable to $590 billion). The RFC saved many railroads, banks, and insurance companies. Democrats limited its effectiveness by overly stringent security requirements for loans and by the decision of Congress to require public disclosure of borrowers, which virtually forced a bank to admit publicly it was in trouble.

==Presidency: Other actions==

==Presidency: Other actions==

Hoover was a reformer who expanded [[civil service]], canceled private oil leases on government lands, and prosecuted notorious criminals, most notably [[Al Capone]].  He negotiated a treaty with Canada on the [[St. Lawrence Seaway]]; it in the Senate. He wrote a Children's Charter that advocated protection of every child regardless of race or gender, built the [[San Francisco Bay Bridge]], created an antitrust division in the [[Justice Department]], required air mail carriers to improve service, and proposed federal loans for clearance of urban [[slum]]s.

Hoover was a reformer who expanded [[civil service]], canceled private oil leases on government lands, and prosecuted notorious criminals, most notably [[Al Capone]].  He negotiated a treaty with Canada on the [[St. Lawrence Seaway]]; it in the Senate. He wrote a Children's Charter that advocated protection of every child regardless of race or gender, built the [[San Francisco Bay Bridge]], created an antitrust division in the [[Justice Department]], required air mail carriers to improve service, and proposed federal loans for clearance of urban [[slum]]s.

Hoover organized the [[Federal Bureau of Prisons]], reorganized the [[Bureau of Indian Affairs]], proposed a federal [[United States Department of Education|Department of Education]], advocated fifty-dollar-per-month [[pension]]s for Americans over 65, chaired [[White House]] conferences on child health, protection, homebuilding and homeownership, and signed the [[Norris-La Guardia Act]] that limited judicial intervention in labor disputes.

Hoover organized the [[Federal Bureau of Prisons]], reorganized the [[Bureau of Indian Affairs]], proposed a federal [[United States Department of Education|Department of Education]], advocated fifty-dollar-per-month [[pension]]s for Americans over 65, chaired [[White House]] conferences on child health, protection, homebuilding and homeownership, and signed the [[Norris-La Guardia Act]] that limited judicial intervention in labor disputes.  

 

===Indians===

===Indians===

Hoover's Quaker upbringing influenced his views that Native Americans needed to achieve economic self-sufficiency. He chose Senator [[Charles Curtis]], an Indian—as his Vice President. (Curtis was the first and last Indian to hold high national office, but he was a figurehead, not a policy maker.) Hoover appointed Charles J. Rhoads as commissioner of Indian affairs. He supported Rhoads' efforts to achieve Indian assimilation and sought to reduce the federal role in Indian affairs to the minimum. He wanted to have Indians acting as individuals instead of as tribes, and assuming the responsibilities of citizenship which had been granted pursuant to [[Indian Citizenship Act of 1924]].<ref>Thomas A. Britten, "Hoover and the Indians: the Case for Continuity in Federal Indian Policy, 1900-1933" Historian 1999 61(3): 518-538. Issn: 0018-2370</ref>

Hoover's Quaker upbringing influenced his views that Native Americans needed to achieve economic self-sufficiency. He chose Senator [[Charles Curtis]], an Indian—as his Vice President. (Curtis was the first and last Indian to hold high national office, but he was a figurehead, not a policy maker.) Hoover appointed Charles J. Rhoads as commissioner of Indian affairs. He supported Rhoads' efforts to achieve Indian assimilation and sought to reduce the federal role in Indian affairs to the minimum. He wanted to have Indians acting as individuals instead of as tribes, and assuming the responsibilities of citizenship which had been granted pursuant to [[Indian Citizenship Act of 1924]].<ref>Thomas A. Britten, "Hoover and the Indians: the Case for Continuity in Federal Indian Policy, 1900-1933" Historian 1999 61(3): 518-538. Issn: 0018-2370</ref>

===Foreign Policy===

===Foreign Policy===

Regarding to foreign policy, Hoover originated what Roosevelt later called the "[[Good Neighbor Policy]]" by withdrawing American troops from [[Nicaragua]] and [[Haiti]]. He proposed an arms embargo on [[Latin America]] and a one-third reduction in the world's naval, which was called the [[Hoover Plan]]. The [[Roosevelt Corollary]] was dropped as a part of U.S. foreign policy. He and his powerful Secretary of State [[Henry Stimson]] formulated the [[Stimson Doctrine]] that said the United States would not recognize territories gained by force. This meant the U.S. refused to recognize Japan's seizure of Manchuria.

Regarding to foreign policy, Hoover originated what Roosevelt later called the "[[Good Neighbor Policy]]" by withdrawing American troops from [[Nicaragua]] and [[Haiti]]. He proposed an arms embargo on [[Latin America]] and a one-third reduction in the world's naval, which was called the [[Hoover Plan]]. The [[Roosevelt Corollary]] was dropped as a part of U.S. foreign policy. He and his powerful Secretary of State [[Henry Stimson]] formulated the [[Stimson Doctrine]] that said the United States would not recognize territories gained by force. This meant the U.S. refused to recognize Japan's seizure of Manchuria.

Hoover's wife, Lou Henry Hoover, served as the president of the Girl Scouts.<ref>http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/firstladies/lh31.html</ref>

Hoover's wife, Lou Henry Hoover, served as the president of the Girl Scouts.<ref>http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/firstladies/lh31.html</ref>

Hoover was against the U. S.'s entry into World War II.  In a radio address to the nation from Chicago on September 16, 1941, he said, "...And what happens to the millions of enslaved people of Russia and to all Europe and to our own freedoms if we shall send our sons to win this war for Communism?" Ref:  ''Freedom Betrayed'', Hoover Institution Press, Stanford, California, by Herbert Hoover, page 259, published 2011.  Throughout his life, Hoover also had several books published.

Hoover was against the U. S.'s entry into World War II.  In a radio address to the nation from Chicago on September 16, 1941, he said, "...And what happens to the millions of enslaved people of Russia and to all Europe and to our own freedoms if we shall send our sons to win this war for Communism?" Ref:  ''Freedom Betrayed'', Hoover Institution Press, Stanford, California, by Herbert Hoover, page 259, published 2011.

{{Dictatorship-democracy-Hoover}}

{{Dictatorship-democracy-Hoover}}

==Bibliography==

==Bibliography==

* Hoover, Herbert C. ''Freedom Betrayed'', 2011

* Hoover, Herbert C. ''Freedom Betrayed'', 2011

* Dwight M. Miller and Timothy Walch, eds; ''Herbert Hoover and Franklin D. Roosevelt: A Documentary History.'' Greenwood Press. 1998. [http://www.questia.com/read/15310403 online edition]

* Dwight M. Miller and Timothy Walch, eds; ''Herbert Hoover and Franklin D. Roosevelt: A Documentary History.'' Greenwood Press. 1998. [http://www.questia.com/read/15310403 online edition]

==External links==

==External links==

* Herbert Hoover's 1946 - 1947 factfinding mission to Germany. [http://www.trumanlibrary.org/whistlestop/study_collections/marshall/large/documents/index.php?pagenumber=1&documentid=24&documentdate=1947-02-28&studycollectionid=mp&nav=OK (Report No.1)], [http://www.trumanlibrary.org/whistlestop/study_collections/marshall/large/documents/index.php?pagenumber=1&documentid=22&documentdate=1947-03-24&studycollectionid=mp&nav=OK (Report No.3)]

* Herbert Hoover's 1946 - 1947 factfinding mission to Germany. [http://www.trumanlibrary.org/whistlestop/study_collections/marshall/large/documents/index.php?pagenumber=1&documentid=24&documentdate=1947-02-28&studycollectionid=mp&nav=OK (Report No.1)], [http://www.trumanlibrary.org/whistlestop/study_collections/marshall/large/documents/index.php?pagenumber=1&documentid=22&documentdate=1947-03-24&studycollectionid=mp&nav=OK (Report No.3)]

* [http://www.trumanlibrary.org/hoover/book.htm Hoover and Truman]

* [http://www.trumanlibrary.org/hoover/book.htm Hoover and Truman]

* [https://librivox.org/author/11298 Works by Herbert Hoover - text and free audio] - [[LibriVox]]

 

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{{USPresidents}}

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[[Category:Presidents of the United States]]

[[Category:Presidents of the United States]]

[[Category:Great Depression]]

[[Category:Great Depression]]