Western civilization has long esteemed heroes on horseback, those men who rode valiant steeds into battle then rode them into political power. Perhaps the first such hero on horseback was Alexander the Great who rode Bucephalus into battles that led to Alexander ruling the known world before age 33. Tales of such heroes echo down … Continue reading Heroes on Horseback; Hoover on Horses
By Thomas F. Schwartz Alphonse “Al” Capone remains one of the most legendary mobsters. His extensive empire of bootlegging during Prohibition and bribing leading political figures from the mayor to law enforcement officials in Chicago, made him the kingpin of the city. Capone tried to soften his ruthless acts protecting his criminal empire by providing … Continue reading Hoover’s Efforts to Jail Al Capone
Iowa Senator Guy Gillette wrote to Hoover in early September 1951 seeking advice on how to draft legislation that would ensure federal elections were a ‘fair and honest expression of the will of the electorate.’ Hoover answered the question with his customary thoroughness, detailing six needed changes. Hoover opened his letter to Gillette by writing: … Continue reading Hoover letter to Guy Gillette on the Election of Federal Officials, September 28, 1951
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
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
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
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’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
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
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
