Hoover's History

• Herbert Clark Hoover was born in West Branch Iowa on August 1, 1874


• Father died when he was six


• He was an orphan by the age of nine


• lived with an uncle in Oregon


• moved to California


• Studied geology at Standford


• Married Lou Henry (the only girl geology major from Standford)


• became a miner in California and Colorado


• had two sons: Herbert and Allan


• Lived in China during the Boxer Rebellion


• Organized the American Relief Commitee during World War 1


• Established American Relief Administration after the War to help thousands of starving childern


• He had four million dollars


• returned to the States and was Harding's Secretary of Commerce


• Ran as Republican nominee for president

Random facts:

• Herbert Hoover and his wife Lou would speak mandarin in the White House


• Herbert was one of the seven left-handed presidents


• He was a Quaker


• He was the first President to have a phone on his desk


• He was on of the twp Presidents that did not accept the Presidental salary (he dedicated it all to charity)


• He was the first President that was also a millionaire


• He was the President that approved the Star-Spangled Banner to become the National Anthem

ELECTION!

For the 1928 election, Herbert Clark Hoover was the Republican nominee. His vice-president (to-be) was Charles Curtis. Herbert spoke about the "rugged indivisual" and talked about how America was drawing closer to its final triumph over poverty. He promised a "chicken in every pot and a car in every garage."

His opposser was the Democratic nominee, Alfred E. Smith. Alfred was a Roman Catholic, and many American's had fears about his religious views, and questions about it that he never clearly answered.

To many voters, it was clear that Herbert Hoover was the better choice. As it turned out, Herbert had 444 electoral votes and 21,392,190 popular votes, while Alfred E. Smith walked away with only 88 electoral votes, and 15,016,443 popular votes.

Herbert Hoover had become America's 31st president.

Problems and Policies Abroad

Herbert Hoover faced several domestic problems during his presidency, and he also faced many problems abroad. The Great Depression did not only affect the American economy - but econonmies in Europe as well. In Germany, the Germans were expericencing huge economic problems too. As their currency dropped in value, and the government realized that it was unable to pay the debts it owed from World War 1. And without the money that Germany owed them, other Allied Nations found themselves also unable to pay the American banks THEIR debt. It was a circle of currency and economic problems that brought down all the countries involoved.
Plus, the Smoot-Hawley tariff that Herbert passed resulted in slowing down world trade as other nations raised tariffs- instead of helping out America.
As Japan started to make advances in Manchuria, Herbert Hoover and his Secretary of State -Henry Stimson- disagreed on how to react. Together they wrote the Stimson Doctrine, that basically said that America was going to ignore Japan's military action in China.
Afraid of another World War erupting, Herbert wanted to stay away from all military action possible. Herbert even supported disarment, and begged nations to reduce their weapons.
Although the foreign affairs mentioned earlier were not successful, Herbert did achieve his goal to strenghtem America's relationship with the countries of South America. Before his presidency even began, Herbert Hoover spendt several weeks in countries of Latin America, trying to show that Latin America COULD trust America to honor their rights as independent countries. His goal was to affect Latin American government through friendship not force. He would not allow America to step in during the revolutions in South America - even though some revolutions were against America. And Herbert WAS successful at strengthening America's relationship with South America.

Home Policys and Affairs

Herbert Hoover's domestic side of his presidency involved several attempts to bring a end to racial discrimination, prision reforms, recognized Indian's rights and reform the Indian policy, carrying out the Agricultural Marketing Act, and many other public works (like the San Fransico Bay Bridge).
Herbert did not simply denounce racial discrimination and lynching publicly, he stepped out and invited several "blacks" to the White House. His wife, Lou Henry, invited Mrs. de Priest (an African American women, wife of an African American congressman) to tea at the White House. Herbert's first pardon was for an African American accused of murder. He also helped create a foundation for people to fight for black sharecroppers and tenants to recieve the ability to buy the land they worked on, just as a white man would.
His prision reforms compsed making new work camps and other such establishments to help solve the problem of overcrowding. Also the education and health benefits were improved for the prisioners.
The education and health benefits for the American Indians were also inproved after Herbert wisely put Charles J. Rhoads and J. Henry Scattergood over the Indian Bureau.
Some of Herberts other projects include: the Hoover Dam, St. Lawrence Waterway, the Los Angeles Aqueduct, the Grand Coulee Dam, and others.
Herbert Hoover is also known for the appiontment of Benjamin Cardozo, a Jew, in Supreme Court.

Remember Me ... Herbert Hooover

Before his time as President, Herbert Hoover was a "self-made" millionaire, as well as a man who put lots of time and energy into humanitariran relief efforts. As he lived out four years as "Mr. President", Herbert continued to believe in his ideas of individualism and volunterrism. During the beginnings of the Great Depression, Herbert believed that the U.S. citizens would voluntarily reach out and help each other. Instead of preparing a "New Deal" (or someting of that effect) that would pull America out of the deep trouble it was in, Herbert expected each individual to way their way out. After all, Herbert had no problem at making himself a success and then helping out others.Too much trust in volunteerism and the business economy-that he had thrived in-tarnished Herbert's legacy. Today he is mostly known for being a problem-solving guy who couldn't solve America's problems and help out during perhaps the darkest moment in America's history.