by Spencer Howard One of the annoyances of modern life is the variety and volume of shady emails that clog our computers. Phony pharmaceutical ads, Nigerian investment schemes, too-good-to-be-true offers for jobs or relationships, the list goes on. Modern technology makes it much easier for the perpetrators, but all of these scams were tried through … Continue reading Telegram Scam
February 10, 1899 - Herbert Hoover (center) and Lou Henry (seated left) on their wedding day, with Lou's sister and parents. by Spencer Howard Presidential campaigns have changed tremendously over the last 70 years, but one aspect that continues to this day is the ritual unveiling of skeletons from the candidates' metaphorical closets. One example … Continue reading The Hoover Wedding Scandal
As the holiday season approaches, thoughts turn to family gatherings, festive celebrations, and delighted children. The Hoovers were not a typical family, and spent many Christmases in unusual circumstances. Take, for example, Christmas 1903. The year 1903 was significant because Herbert and Lou welcomed their first child, Herbert Charles Hoover, into the world on August … Continue reading Christmas 1903
On March 18, 1928, an urgent telegram was received by Lou Henry Hoover from Lady Lister-Kay, wife of Sir John Lister-Kay groom-in-waiting to King Edward VII. Lady Lister-Kay queried: "I was horrified to read in the papers this morning of the very narrow escape you had in your automobile yesterday which most happily and mercifully ended … Continue reading Making a Mountain out of a Mole Hill
One of the most requested Hoover photographs shows President Hoover with King Tut, the family German shepherd. The Hoovers were great dog lovers and as parents of two boys, frequently received pleas for yet one more pet. There is no complete listing of all the family pets over the years, but many creatures seemed to … Continue reading The Death of a King
The first volume of Herbert Hoover’s memoirs is probably the most revealing. It contains many entertaining asides that demonstrate his dry wit and self-deprecating humor. The volume also discusses his family in ways that is absent in later volumes. Owing to Hoover’s profession as a mining engineer, he was constantly traveling the globe to attend to … Continue reading The War through the Eyes of a Child
