A short time ago, I wrote a blog on Herbert Hoover as a paragon of aging. Well into his 80s, Hoover was still writing books, giving speeches, and serving as elder statesman to the Republican Party. This caught the attention of Hoover’s long-time friend Bernard Baruch, who wrote a magazine article about Hoover’s vitality and … Continue reading Joseph Pilates and Herbert Hoover
Category: Herbert Hoover
Freedom Betrayed
Freedom Betrayed: Herbert Hoover's Secret History of the Second World War and Its Aftermath by Spencer Howard Nearly eighty years ago, during World War II, former President Herbert Hoover began writing the first words of what was later to be called his “magnum opus.” The "magnum opus" originated as a volume of Hoover’s memoirs, a … Continue reading Freedom Betrayed
The Internal Fight Over Showing Master of Emergencies to the Public
By Thomas F. Schwartz One of the most successful campaign films was the Will Irwin, Master of Emergencies silent film promoting Hoover’s presidency in 1928. Irwin used materials from the lost silent film on the Commission for Relief in Belgium made by Rosalie Ashton and the subject of previous blog posts. The battle within the … Continue reading The Internal Fight Over Showing Master of Emergencies to the Public
August Days Grow Shorter, Winter is Coming
Every August brings me face to face with another birthday. Now aged 64, I began to physically challenge myself each August. Coincidentally, August is State Fair season in the Midwest. For the past few years, I’ve challenged myself by entering the Iowa State Fair bench press competition and by taking the Army pullup challenge at … Continue reading August Days Grow Shorter, Winter is Coming
Herbert Hoover and Boys’ Clubs of America
Herbert Hoover’s favorite philanthropic endeavor was promoting the Boys’ Clubs of America. He gave this his usual full-bore effort. Hoover embraced the Boys’ Clubs of America mission ‘to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens.’ The Boys’ Clubs of America trace … Continue reading Herbert Hoover and Boys’ Clubs of America
Happy Birthday Mr. President
Herbert Hoover celebrated his 80th birthday in his hometown, West Branch, Iowa. It was a celebration of small-town America, a time capsule of the ‘good old days’ when friends and neighbors got together to share life’s big events. Hoover’s birthday party drew on the volunteer efforts of local citizens to cook, organize the parade, and … Continue reading Happy Birthday Mr. President
Charles Michelson’s Campaign Against Herbert Hoover
By Thomas F. Schwartz In many ways, Herbert Hoover represents a transition from a pre-modern presidency to what is more familiar to us as the modern presidency. In the pre-modern presidency, campaigning occurred only in brief periods before an election and not in off years. Press conferences were few and often the press corps were … Continue reading Charles Michelson’s Campaign Against Herbert Hoover
“Show your Heart”: A Reader’s Comment on Hoover’s First Inaugural Address
By Thomas F. Schwartz As has been mentioned in previous blog posts, Herbert Hoover was the last president to write complete drafts of all his speeches. He welcomed comments from individuals whose insights he trusted although he did not always incorporate their suggestions. Following his election in 1928 and in advance of his March 4, … Continue reading “Show your Heart”: A Reader’s Comment on Hoover’s First Inaugural Address
Federal Home Loan Banks
by Spencer Howard Economists are still divided about what caused the Great Depression, and what turned a relatively mild downturn into a decade long nightmare. One contributing problem was that the United States had too many small banks (branch banking was illegal at that time), and many banks made risky loans during the late 1920s. … Continue reading Federal Home Loan Banks
Herbert Hoover on the Kings of Belgium
On May 28, 1959, Herbert Hoover gave the keynote at a dinner honoring the King of Belgium. Given that his ties to Belgium dated back to the early days of World War I, Hoover was the natural candidate to give this speech. In October 1914, Hoover was called upon to lead famine relief for … Continue reading Herbert Hoover on the Kings of Belgium