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Herbert Hoover: 31st President (March 4,1929 – March 4, 1933)
• Born: July 4, 1872
• Birthplace: West Branch, Iowa
• Died: October 20, 1964
• Best Known As: 30th President of the
United States; and “The Great
Humanitarian”
During his term the stock market crashed and led the country into the infamous Great Depression. Hoover was born in West Branch, Iowa on August 10, 1874. He was the first and only Iowan President in the history of the United States. His parents, both Quakers, are Jesse and Hulda Hoover. Jesse Hoover, who was of a German and German-Swiss descent, was a blacksmith and farm implement dealer. His mother, who was born in Norwich, Ontario Canada, was believed to have come from Scotch-Irish and English bloodlines.
Hoover was six when his father died from heart attack. Three years later, his mother also passed away due to pneumonia. Three years after his parents died, he left Iowa to live with his maternal uncle and aunt, John and Laura Minthorn in Oregon. Being a young orphan made Hoover self-reliant, industrious and independent. However, he was able to keep the values previously imparted by a very religious mother. He grew up with great concern for the less fortunate people. His passion for helping the poor, the abandoned and the oppressed will characterize him for the rest of his life. This passion will eventually lead him to become the most humanitarian President in the History of the United States of America.
In 1891, Hoover entered Stanford University as part of the new school’s first class. This is the place where he met his soon to be wife, Lou Henry Hoover. While he was at Stanford, he was the manager for football and baseball teams. In 1895, both Hoover and his girlfriend, Lou Henry, graduated with a degree in Geology.
It was during this time that he married Lou Henry. They had two sons, Herbert, Jr. and Allan Henry. They were transferred to China where Hoover became the company’s leading engineer. When the Boxer Rebellion began in Tianjin on 1900, Hoover helped the US Marines battle the enemy as he guided them using his familiarity with the territory. By 1901, Bewick, Moreing & Co. bestowed their trust on him as they made him a partner assuming responsibility for the Australia operations. He became an independent mining consultant in 1908.
By April 1917, the United States of America was opted to enter the war. The then President Woodrow Wilson tasked Hoover to become the head of the US Food Administration. Grounding from his belief that “food will win the war”, Hoover started encouraging people to avoid eating certain foods that they needed for their food distributions. Labelled as Hooverizing, this program facilitated the reduced consumption of food that they needed for the warrior’s ration.
A year after he was elected, the stock market crashed. It was considered as the worst downfall in the history of stock trading. Hoover took all possible actions to deal with the worsening economic predicament. He urged private sectors and business leaders to participate by cutting off wages or to lay off workers. The crisis was made even worst when the Great Depression surfaced in 1932. Despite all the efforts, the economy failed to counter Hoover’s initiatives. As time went by, the economic catastrophe led the United States of America to suffer the kind of poverty and hunger it had never experienced before. People began blaming Hoover’s policy and governance for the crisis.
In an effort to save American people from becoming homeless, Hoover approved the Federal Home Loan Bank Act to start new home construction and reduce property foreclosures. Even if the Bill made a difference, people still felt at that time that the effort should have been done a lot sooner. Before he stepped down from his office, he made ultimate attempts to save the economy. He passed the Emergency Relief and Construction Act and created the Reconstruction Finance Corporation. Although it has made some impact, the intensity was not as significant as he had desired.
Hoover left the White House as president in March 1933. He brought with him disappointments and resentment over the fact that the American people did not acknowledge the efforts he made in an attempt to provide them with a better economy and governance amidst the crisis that made the entire world suffer.
Hoover died on October 20, 1964 at the age of 90. His death was declared after he suffered massive internal bleeding. At the time of his death, he was able to vindicate himself and essentially improved his public image. His remains were buried at the Herbert Hoover President Library and Museum in West Branch, Iowa. He was honored with a state funeral.
Secretary of the Treasury appointed by President Hoover:
• Ogden L. Mills (Manhattan, New York)
February 12, 1932 – March 3, 1933
United States Mint Directors Appointed by President Hoover:
• President Hoover did not appoint any
United States Mint directors.
Coinage legislation under President Hoover:
• Act of March 4, 1931: Authorized the
secretary of the treasury to change the
design of the 25-cent piece to
commemorate the 200th anniversary of
the birth of George Washington.
Number minted: 20,000 Number sold: 12,586