Geologist by training and engineer by trade

444 to 87 electoral count in 1928; took Smith’s NY

Chief difference with wet Smith was Prohibition

Mutually antagonistic relations with press

Didn’t give Attorney General to Donovan; lesser Philippines post offered but refused

Feared being construed as “superman”, problem solver

First president to have telephone on desk

Debate at Fed about raising interest rates to dampen wild speculation, but raising would hurt little guys

Hoover recommended to friends to get out of market in April; saw it early but hamstrung by Fed

For a leader rooted in the public will, unable to connect personally

Could have recovered from initial crash of stocks, but job losses and layoffs (fear?) mounted

Hoover’s Farm Board created to steady prices, which spurred production – the surplus being an unintended consequence and killer after crash

Senator Bond, a supporter, turned on Hoover, who wouldn’t fight for increased agriculture tariffs, which industry got instead

Signed compromise bill for veterans benefits, after vetoing bonus-laden bill

Initial shocks from crash seemed to fade: previous market breaks had been deep but quick, so overall optimism for a time before the “whole mosaic” of the situation came together

Hoover’s focus on optimism clouded reality and made him brasher and combative with Congress

Response to flooding in South more vigorous and reminiscent of old Great Humanitarian

Opposed public aid: thought it would reward shirkers and discourage enterprise, and stifled American local impulse to charity

Repeatedly downplayed effects during the crisis

Combination of severe drought and economic dislocation motivated Congress to do more than usual private charity

Hoover deeply committed to voluntary giving and individual impulse to help one’s neighbor, and saw government as inefficient

Credit crunch of 1931 spread around the world and triggered proposal to suspend reparation payments from WWI

Creation of Reconstruction Finance Corporation in December 1931 the largest peacetime government intervention into private credit market in history; (perceived aid to institutions, subsidies to bankrupt railroads reminiscent of 2008 bailout)

Hoover feared Smith in 1932 more than Roosevelt

Appointed liberal Democrat Benjamin Cardozo to Holmes’ vacant Supreme Court seat to compromise and not fight with Congress

Despite the economy, Prohibition was big campaign issue; repeal vs. enforcement

Bonus Army ragtag vets camped in DC; Hoover brought it MacArthur and Maj. Eisenhower to quell, which turned into overreaction and completed picture of “cold and heartless president”

constitutionally gloomy, aloof, The Great Humanitarian, The Master of Emergencies, absent-minded professor, gregarious hermit