HERBERT HOOVER AND THE SUPREME COURT

by Craig Wright Construction began on a permanent home for the Supreme Court, and Herbert Hoover’s three appointees to the Court facilitated the transition of the Court from judicial activism to judicial restraint in economic issues. The Hughes Era Begins In early 1930, Chief Justice William Howard Taft resigned because of ill health. Herbert Hoover … Continue reading HERBERT HOOVER AND THE SUPREME COURT

Better Living through Home Ownership

June is National Homeownership Month. It was initially National Homeownership week, established by President Bill Clinton in 1995. President George W. Bush first proclaimed National Homeownership month in 2002. While a whole month to recognize owning a home is less than twenty years old, the roots of celebrating home ownership with a day, a week, … Continue reading Better Living through Home Ownership

Herbert Hoover and American Presidents of the 20th century

by Matthew Schaefer Theodore Roosevelt Box 12 of the Allan Hoover papers contains an intriguing folder titled ‘People Herbert Hoover Knew.’  The names on these twenty-seven pages obviously did not list every one that Hoover knew, just those with sufficient political prominence to catch Hoover’s attention.  One page was especially noteworthy.  On it Hoover listed … Continue reading Herbert Hoover and American Presidents of the 20th century

Left to the Vagaries of History

August 13th is International Lefthanders Day, a day to celebrate the uniqueness of lefthanders.  First observed in 1976 by a small cadre of left-thinking individuals, International Lefthanders Day has grown over the years to become something of a social media phenomena.  This year’s version highlighted American Presidents who were left-handed.  Somehow Herbert Hoover is listed … Continue reading Left to the Vagaries of History

Days of Reckoning-Herbert Hoover’s Birthdays at age 80+

by Matthew Schaefer Many years after Hoover left the White House, he became a respected elder statesman.  Hoover relished this role, giving advice to Democrats and Republicans alike as he entered his eighties.  At this late stage of his life, Hoover came to be seen as a model of vigorous aging.  Magazine articles were written … Continue reading Days of Reckoning-Herbert Hoover’s Birthdays at age 80+

Washington in the Summer

by Matthew Schaefer Later this July, baseball’s annual All-Star Game will take place in Washington DC.  Among the featured stories that week will be the brutal heat and humidity attendant on any summer event in Washington.  Washington’s weather in the summer should surprise no one as the town is laid out on what had been … Continue reading Washington in the Summer

Hoover Ball Rejuvenated

Part 3 By Matthew Schaeffer After Herbert Hoover left the White House on March 4, 1933, Hoover Ball disappeared from the public awareness.  Clearly Franklin Roosevelt, suffering from the lingering impact of polio, was not going to throw a six pound ball over a net.  Like Calvin Coolidge’s mechanical horse, Hoover ball was consigned to … Continue reading Hoover Ball Rejuvenated

The End of the First Hoover Ball Era

Part 2 By Matthew Schaeffer Visitors to the Herbert Hoover Museum will find nearly seven hundred artifacts on display to tell his life story.  There is an entire exhibit case dedicated to documenting the Hoovers’ time in the White House.  It contains scores of artifacts, and it can be overwhelming.  One artifact that escaped my … Continue reading The End of the First Hoover Ball Era

Hoover Ball Genesis

Part 1 By Matthew Schaeffer The health of the President of the United States is often newsworthy.  President Trump’s height and weight made recent headlines.  Obama’s smoking drew public interest.  Clinton’s affinity for eating fast food, sometimes while dressed for jogging, was worth a news photo.  I would argue that the American public cares more … Continue reading Hoover Ball Genesis

Another Lou Henry Hoover Commencement Address

by Matthew Schaefer In the course of her life, Lou Henry Hoover gave many addresses to graduating classes: Radcliffe, Bryn Mawr and Whittier Colleges, Stanford University, and Castilla high school.  The first time that she spoke to a graduating class occurred in 1890, when sixteen year old Lou Henry spoke as valedictorian to her Bailey … Continue reading Another Lou Henry Hoover Commencement Address