On April 29, 1931 several precedents were set at a State Dinner at the White House. The Hoovers hosted King Prajadhipok and Queen Rambai, monarchs of Siam. This was the first State Dinner where an ‘Oriental monarch’ met with the President. It was also the first time that the ruling monarch sat at the … Continue reading State Dinner at the Hoover White House for the King and Queen of Siam
History serves as a reminder that all political times are tempestuous. Ardent advocates champion their side of the cause no matter the year or the context. The President’s recent State of the Union message ballyhooed the accomplishments of the first year of his administration—emphasizing successes and downplaying disappointments. This is par for the course, drawn … Continue reading Assessing Presidents at One Year
By Thomas F. Schwartz Presidents receive endless unsolicited advice on what to do and how to do it. Modern Presidents, even with the most vigilant staff, cannot prevent unsolicited advice from reaching their boss, especially in open public settings. Hoover tended to be impatient with advice given by adults, especially from the general public. But … Continue reading Hoover and His Young Advisors
This piece was written by George Schaefer, for use at a corporate retreat with the theme ‘Building a Legacy of Success.’ He used this story to convey what it takes to create and sustain a legacy. It is used here with his permission. This is a story about a man named Bert. It is a … Continue reading What Will Be Your Legacy?
by Matthew Schaefer This has to do with the Stock Market Crash of 1929. Four score and seven years ago [give or take a year], the America nation was rocked by a series of crashes in the stock market. Black Thursday, October 24, 1929, saw the New York Stock Exchange lose 11% of its … Continue reading Four Score and Seven Years Ago
By Thomas F. Schwartz On March 30, 1932, a letter was sent to President Herbert Hoover from a young boy in Jackson, Tennessee along with a photograph. Perhaps his first letter ever written to a President, the young man wrote: Mr. Herbert Hoover This letter is going to be different from any other I … Continue reading A Boy Named Herbert Hoover
by Spencer Howard In late June, 1932, a few hundred unemployed World War I veterans boarded freight trains in Portland, Oregon. Out of work and overwhelmed by the Depression, they had decided to go to Washington, D.C. to lobby Congress for early payment of a soldier's bonus that was scheduled to be paid in 1945. … Continue reading Bonus Army
by: Matthew Schaefer It should come as no surprise that Herbert Hoover gave thought to the nature and operation of the National Archives. When World War I was winding down, Hoover [in addition to work with Wilson at the Paris Treaty talks and overseeing the feeding of Europe] created the Hoover Institution of War, Revolution … Continue reading National Archives and Herbert Hoover
By Thomas F. Schwartz Although Abraham Lincoln predates Sigmund Freud, the Illinois lawyer did write to famed Cincinnati physician Dr. Daniel Drake for help during his emotional crisis of “the hypo” in 1841. If Drake replied to Lincoln’s letter, it has never surfaced. Since then, both professionals and amateurs have tried to explain Lincoln’s personality. … Continue reading An Appeal to President Hoover to Prevent Putting Lincoln on the Couch
by Spencer Howard The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum presented a program by art conservator Barry Bauman entitled "The Demise of Mary Lincoln: An Artistic Conspiracy." In short, Mr. Bauman discovered that a painting that had hung for years in the Illinois governor's mansion, which was believed to be an original portrait of Mrs. … Continue reading Lincoln Portrait Fraud
