Mad Men and Miss Manners: A Hoover Christmas Carol

By Thomas F. Schwartz Bruce Barton is not a familiar name to most people but they certainly know some of his iconic brands such as Betty Crocker.  Barton was a principal in the advertising agency Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn.  The writer/director Matthew Weiner used the advertising industry as a model for his 2007 show … Continue reading Mad Men and Miss Manners: A Hoover Christmas Carol

Herbert Hoover’s Good Will Tour – by Battleship

by Spencer Howard When Herbert Hoover was elected President in 1928, long-distance air travel was still in the future; Franklin Roosevelt would become the first President to travel internationally by air.  Hoover left the continental U.S. twice: first, as President-Elect in 1928, he traveled to Latin America on a "Good Will Tour," then in 1931 … Continue reading Herbert Hoover’s Good Will Tour – by Battleship

The Purpose of Hoover’s 1928 Goodwill Tour

Shortly after Herbert Hoover won the Presidency in November 1928, he began planning a trip to Latin America. This would make him the first President-elect to make such a journey.  His experience as Secretary of Commerce convinced him of the economic importance of Latin America and of the need to walk back some North American … Continue reading The Purpose of Hoover’s 1928 Goodwill Tour

The Impeachment of Herbert Hoover

by Spencer Howard Some recent news articles have noted previous Presidents who have faced impeachment, including Herbert Hoover.  In a narrow sense this is true – on Dec. 13, 1932 and Jan. 17, 1933, Rep. Louis Thomas McFadden, a Republican from Pennsylvania, offered resolutions on the floor of the House calling for the impeachment of … Continue reading The Impeachment of Herbert Hoover

Joe Garagiola, NBC Broadcast on the Death of Herbert Hoover, October 22, 1964

President Lyndon Johnson in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda to pay respects to former President Herbert Hoover, as the remains of the former president lay in state. 10/23/1964 Following are excerpts from a transcript in box 182 of Hoover’s Post-Presidential Subject Files, ‘Hoover funeral,’ written and delivered by Joe Garagiola, NBC Broadcaster. Although the custom is … Continue reading Joe Garagiola, NBC Broadcast on the Death of Herbert Hoover, October 22, 1964

H. L. Mencken: Sage of Baltimore

Former president Hoover with Stanford University president, Ray Lyman Wilbur, enjoying the Yale vs. Penn football game at Franklin Field. 10/13/1935 Sometimes history—and this blog post—take shape through coincidence.  For instance, I was in Baltimore last week for a family event.  I took advantage of the situation to do some literary sight-seeing, visiting the homes … Continue reading H. L. Mencken: Sage of Baltimore

Lou Hoover and the Early Days of World War I

London, 1914, American Women's Committee. Lou Hoover is sitting at the table, the fourth one from the right. Last month we made a presentation to our local Questers group. They are big fans of Lou Hoover, so they asked us to speak on Lou and relief work during World War I.  I felt that we’d … Continue reading Lou Hoover and the Early Days of World War I

Naturalization Ceremony

Naturalization ceremony at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum. The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum will host a naturalization ceremony on Friday, September 20 at 2 p.m.  Seventy candidates from thirty countries will take the oath of allegiance to the United States of America renouncing and abjuring all allegiance and fidelity to any … Continue reading Naturalization Ceremony

Seasons Change, but Football Remains

1940 official rule book - American Football for Boys A Safe Game. Official Rules If it is autumn, Americans’ attention turn to football.  The cool crisp autumnal air is the perfect vector to carry the satisfying sound of leather meeting leather on the gridiron.  The satisfaction of a well-executed tackle was held just as dear … Continue reading Seasons Change, but Football Remains

Tangible and Intangible Uses of Historical Knowledge

Lou Henry Hoover sitting at the "Monroe Desk" which was reproduced for the White House collection. ca 1931 By Thomas F. Schwartz Another of Lou Henry Hoover’s undeveloped musings addresses the problem of people who only mine the past for practical applications in the present.  A deeper understanding of the context that gave rise to … Continue reading Tangible and Intangible Uses of Historical Knowledge