Herbert and Lou Henry Hoover were experienced travelers when they embarked on their trip to Latin America in late November 1928. This was not the case for many of their fellow travelers. Lou Hoover felt that it was incumbent on her to bring everyone up to speed by distributing a three-page typed memorandum on the … Continue reading The Second Purpose of Hoover’s 1928 Goodwill Tour
Shortly after Herbert Hoover won the Presidency in November 1928, he began planning a trip to Latin America. This would make him the first President-elect to make such a journey. His experience as Secretary of Commerce convinced him of the economic importance of Latin America and of the need to walk back some North American … Continue reading The Purpose of Hoover’s 1928 Goodwill Tour
by Spencer Howard Some recent news articles have noted previous Presidents who have faced impeachment, including Herbert Hoover. In a narrow sense this is true – on Dec. 13, 1932 and Jan. 17, 1933, Rep. Louis Thomas McFadden, a Republican from Pennsylvania, offered resolutions on the floor of the House calling for the impeachment of … Continue reading The Impeachment of Herbert Hoover
President Lyndon Johnson in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda to pay respects to former President Herbert Hoover, as the remains of the former president lay in state. 10/23/1964 Following are excerpts from a transcript in box 182 of Hoover’s Post-Presidential Subject Files, ‘Hoover funeral,’ written and delivered by Joe Garagiola, NBC Broadcaster. Although the custom is … Continue reading Joe Garagiola, NBC Broadcast on the Death of Herbert Hoover, October 22, 1964
Former president Hoover with Stanford University president, Ray Lyman Wilbur, enjoying the Yale vs. Penn football game at Franklin Field. 10/13/1935 Sometimes history—and this blog post—take shape through coincidence. For instance, I was in Baltimore last week for a family event. I took advantage of the situation to do some literary sight-seeing, visiting the homes … Continue reading H. L. Mencken: Sage of Baltimore
1940 official rule book - American Football for Boys A Safe Game. Official Rules If it is autumn, Americans’ attention turn to football. The cool crisp autumnal air is the perfect vector to carry the satisfying sound of leather meeting leather on the gridiron. The satisfaction of a well-executed tackle was held just as dear … Continue reading Seasons Change, but Football Remains
By Thomas F. Schwartz New York Stock Exchange, ca. 1929 Much of the negativity connecting Herbert Hoover to the Great Depression was a relentless effort on the part of Charles Michelson a publicist hired by the Democratic National Committee in 1930 to attack Hoover’s policies and person. It was Michelson who created a series … Continue reading Parodies of the New Deal
This Royal typewriter is on display at the Hoover Museum, it is typical of what Herbert Hoover would have used while living in the Waldorf-Astoria. By Thomas F. Schwartz As the manuscript collections clearly document, Herbert Hoover was a compulsive writer. Typically, drafts were typed, edited, amended, and retyped ad nauseam before Hoover was … Continue reading When Typewriter Rentals Were Banned
Secretary Hoover had this small radio receiver installed in his home in order that he could better understand the complaints received by the Commerce Dept. from citizens with similar equipment. By Thomas F. Schwartz An old joke in the media industry is to indicate to something that they have “a face for radio.” I have … Continue reading A Face for Radio
In 1980, President Jimmy Carter proclaimed June 27th Helen Keller Day in America. This proclamation coincided with the 100th anniversary of Helen Keller’s birth. It was an apt way to celebrate the life of this remarkable woman. Keller lost her hearing and vision at a young age, but was able to have a long career … Continue reading Helen Keller and the Hoovers
